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 Northern boundary of the old town |
Calle De Alberto Aguilera-Génova Madrid, Madrid 28015 Spain +34 91 588 2900 (Tourism Office) |
Three roundabouts (Ruiz Jiménez, Bilbao and Alonso Martínez) connect these four tree-lined boulevards - Alberto Aguilera, Carranza, Sagasta and Génova - to each other. They correspond to what was the northern part of the old city wall. The northern gate was where the Bilbao roundabout now stands. It's an area that's well worth a visit if you want to really get to know Madrid because it's full of the usual contradictions - it's calm and noisy, elitist and working class - all at the same time. There are lots of good bars around Bilbao and Alonso Martínez for drinks and tapas. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 1800 hectares of parkland |
Calle del Campo Madrid, Madrid 28041 Spain |
The capital's largest parkland area attracts thousands of madrileños during sunny weather. It's the nearest some of them get to a day out in the country and a great picnic spot. As for entertainment, there's the Zoo Aquarium, an amusement park, a boating lake and a cable car. You'll find some good restaurants here, and the trade centre usually has some sort of exhibition going on. To get to the park, head down Cuesta San Vicente from Plaza de España and cross Puente del Rey. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: WonderFool |
 Photo: jmtomasena |
 Photo: Juan Diego Bueno |
 Photo: fayu |
 Photo: Javier Sánchez  |
 Photo: Fernando Prado |
 Photo: Calacarbon |
 Unique masterpiece |
San Lorenzo de El Escorial Madrid, Madrid 28200 Spain +34 91 890 5902 http://www.patrimonionacional.es/ info@patrimonionacional.es |
This historic complex is divided into three parts: the monastery (with Lucas Jordán's frescoes), the royal mausoleum, and the palace. The palace's magnificent rooms are decorated with paintings by Titian, El Greco, and Claudio Coello, as well as wonderful 18th-century furniture. The library contains a fascinating collection of manuscripts and the Museum of Painting and Architecture is worth a look. Felipe II commissioned Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera to build everything between 1563 and 1584 to commemorate Spanish victory in the battle of San Quintín (1557). Transport: 50km by car from Madrid on N-VI then M-505 roads. Regular trains every day from Madrid's railway stations and buses from Moncloa. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Johannes Marosi |
 Photo: Maradentro_ |
 Photo: Dirk Auerbach |
 Photo: herman VANDEWIELE |
 Photo: individuart |
 Photo: Miguel Angel Alvarez |
 Photo: William Heaven |
 Photo: Nils Appel |
 Photo: Renato Saavedra |
 Photo: Leandro López |
 Photo: filiperspoa |
 Photo: Iñigo López Díez |
 Photo: Marco Masip |
 Photo: jose_miguel |
 Photo: Sid Wray |
 Photo: besia |
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Franco's palace |
Paseo del Pardo s/n Madrid, Madrid 28048 Spain +34 91 376 1136 http://www.arsvirtual.com/monu... |
El Pardo palace began life as a royal hunting lodge. It later became General Franco's official residence, and nowadays it is a museum and accommodation for visiting foreign leaders. Its great collection of paintings, textiles, antique furniture, and porcelain is open to the public. Roberto Michel's decorative ceilings and Bayeu y Maella's murals are particularly worth seeing. The prince's palace and the Quinta palace (closed for restoration work) are also part of this complex, 8km away on the outskirts of Madrid. The wooded gardens and restaurants here are popular with locals relaxing at weekends. Take the public bus (El Pardo-Mingorrubio) from Moncloa. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Charming aristocratic landscape |
Avenida de la Alameda de Osuna Madrid, Madrid 28042 Spain http://www.arturosoria.com/art... |
This park was the 18th-century home belonging to one of Madrid's aristocratic families. The main palace houses paintings by Goya and the other buildings worth looking at are the casino, the chapel and the "Old Woman's House". It's located on the east side of the city and features smartly kept groves of poplars and pretty walkways lined with hundred-year-old trees. No dogs allowed. Group admission can be arranged during weekdays in advance. Admission: free. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: DeViajes |
 Photo: Elena |
 Photo: JAVIER ESCUDERO |
 Photo: Dave Nunez |
 Photo: Juanma Izquierdo |
 Photo: Augustus H. Lippincott |
 Photo: Diana G. Toledano |
 Photo: Rafa Fernández |
 Photo: Clickor |
 Photo: JFSAL /Juan Sánchez |
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A large park with lots of activities |
Glorieta Hamburgo Madrid, Madrid 28042 Spain +34 91 721 0079 http://www.arturosoria.com/art... |
With 220 hectares of land in total, this is undoubtedly one of Europe's largest parks. Everything here is on a grand scale. The massive olive grove has a diameter of 1km. The avenues that cross the fields are huge. There is even a 2km-long river where you can sail a catamaran. The most impressive feature, however, is the water-show, accompanied by music and lights that takes place at 10:30pm Thu-Sun between June and September in the auditorium. You can take a cute little train ride round the most important sites, depending on the weather, of course. Admission: free. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Alvaro Munoz-Aycuens |
 Photo: Javi.Madrid |
 Photo: C l i o |
 Photo: Emilio A. Pacios |
 Photo: Daniel Villoldo |
 Photo: Laura Arana |
 Photo: Rafael Luque Ruiz |
 Photo: faustocam |
 Photo: Mariano |
 Photo: Liam Tumas |
 Photo: Virginia Cutule |
 Photo: Alex Ruiz |
 Photo: cocolima |
 Photo: dug_da_bug |
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Boulevard Madrid |
Paseo de Recoletos (Between the Plaza de Cibeles and the Plaza de Colón and Jardines del Descubrimiento) Madrid, Madrid 28001 Spain |
This is the stretch of Paseo de la Castellana that connects Plaza de Colón to Cibeles Fountain. It's spacious and attractive with garden boulevards between the sidewalks. On your way, you'll pass by some famous landmarks worth visiting, like the Banco Hipotecario building (number 10), El Espejo Café and Café Gijón. During Christmas holidays, craft stalls are set up here selling all sorts of authentic work. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jaime Perez |
 Photo: Jose M. Mendez Magan |
 Photo: OriginalTebas |
 Photo: Pablo Garcia |
 Photo: Eiki Usagi |
 Photo: Mírian Bruckschen |
 Photo: Michaela Poppe |
 Photo: ferminadaza1964 |
 Photo: Alejandra |
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Madrid's most famous avenue |
Paseo de la Castellana Madrid, Madrid 28046 Spain |
Madrid's greatest and grandest avenue runs between Plaza de Colón and Plaza de Castilla. During the 1950s and 1960s this became an exclusive residential district when the aristocracy and wealthy upper-middle classes decided to move in. Today, their lovely palaces and mansions stand side by side with the headquarters of foreign and national banks. These skyscrapers - Europa, Windsor, Torre Picasso and Puerta de Europa - offer an overview of styles in contemporary architecture since the 1960s. Look out for the ABC building, which is decorated in fabulous ceramic tiles, and the Palacio de Congresos, with its murals designed by Miró. Come on October 12 and you'll see Spanish army's spectacular military parade pass by. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Stewin |
 Photo: Pedro Palmero |
 Photo: Ireth Tinúviel (spain) |
 Photo: Migraña |
 Photo: isdulcinea Turin, Italy |
 Photo: Rolando Carrillo |
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Close to Parque del Oeste |
Paseo del Pintor Rosales, s/n Madrid, Madrid 28008 Spain +34 91 588 2900 (Tourism Office) |
Elegant, distinguished and attractive are the three adjectives most commonly used to describe this peaceful avenue that runs parallel to Calle Princesa. It's a perfect location for a leisurely stroll. During summer it's somewhat livelier than usual as the bars set out their outdoor terraces to attract a trendy young crowd of drinkers until late at night. It's not far from here to the old town and you can easily visit the Templo de Debod or take a trip on the cable car for the panoramic views. The apartments along this avenue are in great demand because they offer fantastic views of Parque del Oeste and the mountains beyond. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Maria Jesus Serrano |
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Plants from around the world |
Plaza de Murillo, 2 Madrid, Madrid 28028 Spain +34 91 420 3017 / +34 91 420 0438 http://www.rjb.csic.es/ |
It is a real pleasure to wander around these attractively landscaped gardens. You will see examples of a wide variety of plants from all five continents - 30000 different species in total. They are all labeled with their Latin and Spanish names. Among them are medicinal herbs, sweet-smelling plants and flowers, food-bearing plants, and a collection of roses. There is also a greenhouse with tropical, subtropical and desert plants. The gardens have been open since 1791. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Karim Ameur |
 Photo: Michael Seidel |
 Photo: Colleen Kerney |
 Photo: Elizabeth Willson |
 Photo: Dan Caporale |
 Photo: Stuart Jeckel |
 Photo: Andi Cohen |
 Photo: Natalija Jovanovic |
 Photo: katoismike47 |
