Attractions
Barcelona:
One of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities, traveling through Barcelona is like traveling through time. From the Barrio Gotico, the Gothic Quarter, to the 19th-century Eixample District and Gaudí’s masterpieces peppered throughout the city, Barcelona is truly an art-lover’s dream.
Columbus Monument At the center of the Plaça de la Porta de Pau (Square of the Gate of Peace) stands a monumental column topped by a statue of Christopher Columbus. The 60m / 197ft high monument, known as the Monument a Colom, was designed by Gaietà Buigas i Monravà for the Universal exhibition of 1888.
Maritime Museum Opposite the Christopher Columbus statue, at the bottom of Las Ramblas, the maritime museum is one of the most imaginative museums of the city—and one of the most visited too. Installed in the royal arsenals, which date from 1378 and are the biggest and most complete Medieval dockyards in the world, it has animated presentations and houses a big exhibition including model ships, drawings, replicas, paintings, figureheads and an interactive exhibition, "The Great Adventure of the Sea".
Barrio Gótico The Barri Gotic contains a concentration of medieval Gothic buildings only a few blocks northeast of Las Ramblas, and is the nucleus of old Barcelona. It's a maze of interconnecting dark streets linking with squares, and there are plenty of cafes and bars, as well as the cheapest accommodation in town. Most of the buildings date from the 14th and 15th century, when Barcelona was at the height of its commercial prosperity and before it had been absorbed into Castile. Around the Cathedral, one of Spain's greatest Gothic buildings, you can still see part of the ancient walls incorporated into later structures. The quarter is centered around the Plaça de Sant Jaume, a spacious square, the site of a busy market and one of the venues for the weekly dancing of the sardana. Two of the city's most significant buildings are here, the Ajuntament and the Palau de la Generalitat.
Montjuïc Hill Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city center from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Approach the area from Plaça d'Espanya and on the north side you'll see Plaça de Braus Les Arenes, a former bullring where the Beatles played in 1966. Behind it lies Parc Joan Miró, where stands Miró's highly phallic sculpture Doña i Ocell (Woman and Bird). Nearby, the Palau Nacional houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, which has an impressive collection of Romanesque art. Stretching up a series of terraces below the Palau Nacional are fountains, including the biggest, La Font Màgica, which comes alive with a free lights and music show on summer evenings. In the northwest of Montjuic is the 'Spanish Village', Poble Espanyol. At first glance it's a tacky tourist trap, but it also proves to be an intriguing scrapbook of Spanish architecture, with very convincing copies of buildings from all of Spain's regions. The Anella Olímpica (Olympic Ring) is the group of sports installations where the main events of the 1992 games were held. Down the hill, visit masterpieces of another kind in the Fundacio Joan Miró, Barcelona's gallery for the greatest Catalan artist of the 20th century. This is the largest single collection of Miró’s work.
La Sagrada Familia La Sagrada Familia is truly awe-inspiring—even if you don't have much time, don't miss it. The life's work of Barcelona's favorite son, Antoni Gaudí, the magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling outlines inspired by the holy mountain Montserrat. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into the stone. Gaudí died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, and since then, controversy has continually dogged the building program. Nevertheless, the southwestern (Passion) facade, with four more towers, is almost done, and the nave, begun in 1978, is progressing. Some say the shell should have been left as a monument to the architect, but today's chief architect, Jordi Bonet, argues that the task is a sacred one, as it's a church intended to atone for sin and appeal to God's mercy on Catalunya.
Plaza Catalunya The Plaça de Catalunya, a large plaza surrounded by monumental buildings, is Barcelona's busiest square. It is located between the old city (Ciutat Vella) and the 19th century Eixample district.
Picasso Museum- The Picasso museum is the museum to visit in Barcelona. On Montcada street, in the Gothic area, five medieval palaces have been linked together to make a museum that is so charming to visit and provides a very fast immersion in Catalan’s ambient. Concerning Pablo Ruiz Picasso, the museum is indispensable for understanding his formative years. The genius of the young artist is revealed through the more than 3,500 works that make up the permanent collection. It also reveals his relationship with Barcelona: an intimate, solid relationship that was shaped in his adolescence and youth, and continued until his death. Be sure to see the oils and drawings from Picasso's Barcelona period and even some works from later stages in his career. The Museum also has a set of 42 pieces of ceramic (vases, dishes and plates) made in the 1950s and bequeathed by Jacqueline Picasso in 1982.
Pueblo Español Built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition, the Pueblo Español (or Spanish village) brings together some attractive traditional architecture from all over Spain and stuffs it full of handicrafts and souvenir shops, packing the place with concerts and bars that somehow do not seem so tacky on hot summer nights.
La Rambla Five separate streets strung end to end, La Rambla (also called Las Ramblas) is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buskers, living statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jewelry. The noisy bird market on the second block of La Rambla is worth a stop, as is the nearby Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, with arts and entertainment information and a ticket office. Next door is La Rambla's most colourful market, the Mercat de la Boqueria. Just south of the Boqueria the Mosaic de Miró punctuates the pavement, with one tile signed by the artist. The next section of La Rambla boasts the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house. Below the Plaça Reial, La Rambla becomes decidedly seedy, with strip clubs and peep shows. La Rambla ends at the lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and the harbor. For great views, ascend the monument by elevator. Just west of the monument, on Avinguda de les Drassanes, stand the Reials Drassanes (Royal Shipyards), which house the fascinating Museu Marítim. It has more seafaring paraphernalia than you'd care to wave a sextant at—boats, models, maps, paintings, ships' figureheads and 16th-century galleys.
Joan Miró Foundation The Joan Miró Foundation is one of our favorite museums in Barcelona. Designed by Josep Lluís Sert, it offers a moment of calm and beatitude as you experience the light-filled, beautiful spaces. Through the trees, you’ll get a stunning view of the city and a chance to discover the work of Miró. Throughout his life, Miró took a particular interest in the diversity of materials, forms and colors. It led him to explore and experiment with different art forms such as painting, sculpture, printing techniques, ceramics, theatre and tapestry.
Park Güell Park Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí is the most famous park in Barcelona, and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has been subject to all types of praise and criticism, including comments such as outrageous modernism, surrealistic island and nightmare expressionist park. First conceived as a private estate, it became a public park in 1922. The main entrance to the park and the stairway leading to the Hundred Columns Room are structures where Gaudí clearly let his imagination run free.
Zaragoza
Aljaferia The Aljaferia was built in the 11th Century as a palace for Zaragoza`s Moorish rulers. Since then modifications have taken place, and the building has been used as a hospital and a barracks. During the 20th Century the monument was carefully restored and is now open to visitors. The palace is centered on a courtyard bordered by beautiful arches, and nearby is the prayer room with examples of Moorish art. On the upper floor, visitors can see the sumptuous rooms added by Christian rulers and Catholic monarchs.
Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Pilar Several churches have stood on this site where, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared before James the Apostle on the 2nd of January AD 40, bringing the pillar that was used to build the first chapel. The present, huge basilica designed by Felipe Herrera dates from the late 17th century, and has additions by Ventura Rodriguez. Inside the Lady Chapel is the legendary pillar and part of it is accessible on the outside of the chapel. In the center of the basilica is a fine 16th century altarpiece by Damian Forment.
Cathedral of San Salvador Known as La Seo, the enormous Cathedral of San Salvador displays many architectural styles from Romanesque to Baroque. Dating from the 12th Century, it stands on the site of a former mosque. Part of the exterior is covered with Mudejar decoration. Much of the inside is Gothic and above the altar is a superb altarpiece with work by both Pere Johan and Hans of Swabia. The chapels are in a variety of styles, and in the Parroquieta is a cupola of polychrome wood.
Museo Camon Azar The Museo Camon Azar contains a collection of Spanish art from the 16th to the 20th centuries, whose exhibits are the eclectic collection of a local art historian. The museum is housed in the Renaissance mansion Palacio de los Pardo. There are many etchings by Goya and some paintings by El Greco. Works by several other artists of different periods are exhibited and the collection includes contemporary art.
San Sebastian
The Chillida-Leku Museum The Chillida-Leku Museum is located in the grounds of this 16th-century Zabalaga country house surrounded by gardens, trees and fields. Outdoors is a collection of more than 40 sculptures, the work of the renowned Basque artist Eduardo Chillida. In the restored house is a collection of the artist`s early sculptures, as well as sketches. One of his sculptures, The Comb of the Wind, can be seen near Ondarreta Beach.
Cristina Enea Park The Cristina Enea Park is the largest of San Sebastian`s many parks and it was given to the city by the owner Duke of Mandras in 1917. Previously, in the 19th Century, it had been a meeting place for politicians. One of the conditions of the donation was that none of the park`s many trees should be felled. The park has many species of trees, including cedar, gingko, giant sequoia, chestnut, plane, elm and magnolia. Other attractions are peacocks, swans and a children`s playground.
Miramar Park Located between the La Concha and Ondarreta beaches, Miramar Park is a popular place for relaxation with its many species of trees and flowers, and its many paths and views. Located here is the Miramar Palace, built in 1889 in the English cottage style by the Basque architect Jose Goicoa, who was influenced by the designs of British architect Selden Wornum. The palace was built as a summer residence for Queen Maria Cristina, whose statue can be seen at the far end of Ondarreta Beach.
Monte Igueldo Located between the La Concha and Ondarreta beaches, Miramar Park is a popular place for relaxation with its many species of trees, flowerbeds, paths and views. Here is the Miramar Palace, built in 1889 in the English cottage style by the Basque architect Jose Goicoa. He was influenced by the designs of British architect Selden Wornum. The palace was built as a summer residence for Queen Maria Cristina, whose statue can be seen at the far end of Ondarreta Beach.
Mont Urgull Mont Urgull is now a public park, and an easy walk to the summit earns you splendid views of the city and the bay. The 30-meters-tall statue of the Sacred Heart by Federico Coullast, erected in 1950, stands on the top of the hill. There are also the remains of the 12th-century Castillo de la Mota, and on the north side is the English Cemetery with its monument dedicated to British soldiers who died in the Wars of Independence.
Naval Museum The Naval Museum is housed in an 18th-century building that was the former Guildhall of the San Sebastian Consulate. This was an organization of those engaged in the maritime trade. The museum is devoted to the importance of the sea in the history of the Basque region. The exhibits include traditional tools and materials used in boat building, as well as navigational instruments and models.
Plaza de Gipuzkoa An attractive square with gardens, the Plaza de Gipuzkoa is a favorite meeting place. On one side is the Palacio de la Diputacion de Gipuzkoa, a neo-classical building designed by the architect Goikoa. In the gardens are palm, banana, chestnut, yew and lime trees, and a pond with swans and ducks. Other features to look out for are a weathervane and a bust of the musician Usandizaga.
San Sebastian Aquarium San Sebastian`s newly designed aquarium is one of the best in Europe. The original museum dates from 1928. It now has an oceanarium with a tunnel totally surrounded by water where visitors can view the fish, including rays and sharks. More than 5,000 fish inhabit the aquarium’s tanks, and there is a pool where harmless species can be touched. In the museum are displays about natural history and seafaring.
San Telmo Museum San Telmo Museum is housed in a former 16th-century Dominican monastery. The Renaissance cloister contains a collection of Basque funerary crosses dating from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Above is a gallery with an ethnographic collection. In the museum are displays of furniture and other artifacts, as well as paintings by El Greco, Ribera, Vicente Lopez and Ignacio Zuloaga. The chapel was decorated by the Catalan artist Josep Maria Sert with scenes depicting the city’s history.
Santillana del Mar
Altamira Caves The Altamira Caves, discovered by Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola in 1879, are located in one of the hills above Santillana village. Its discovery started large polemics between the archaeologists, because they did not believe that prehistoric men were able to do such perfect paintings. The main gallery, called the “polychromes chamber,” is also known as the “Cappella Sistina” of the quaternary art. In its ceiling there are nearly a hundred animals and signs, especially bisons in different postures (21), along with deer, horses, wild boars and bulls, sometimes superimposed and made with different techniques—engraving, print, scraping—that produce a splendid composition, full of movement and beauty that is unique in the Palaeolithic art. They were painted 14,000 years ago. The rest of the cave (270 meters/890 feet long) has plenty of engravings, some of them older than the paintings, and an important archaeological deposit in the hall. Near the original caves there is an Investigation Center and a Museum. The Altamira Caves were declared by UNESCO protected cultural heritage site, so visit are restricted to nine thousand people per year, to preserve the paintings (breath exhaust and body heat caused damage to the fragile paintings in the past). The visit is possible after previous appliance to the Altamira Museum (very long waiting lists). To solve these problems, they have recently built an excellent copy of the caves that remain faithful to the originals and will satisfy the interest and curiosity of the millions of tourists that visit Santillana each year.
Altamira Museum and Investigation Center This museum has a didactical exhibition about rock art and the prehistory of Cantabria, and honors requests to visit the genuine Caves.
Regina Coeli Museum An old Dominican monastery, today under the order of Saint Clare, this museum preserves, studies and exhibits most of the religious heritage of the diocese.
Santa Juliana Collegiate Church Cloister Its importance comes from the synthesis shown by its sculptures. The Romanesque iconography covers oriental topics, fantastic animals, biblical and profane topics, geometrical Arabian and Norman motives and vegetal symbols.
Santillana Foundation In the “Torre de Don Borja”, the Santillana Foundation organizes big exhibitions and cultural acts during the year, with a special interest in didactical activities related to Iberian culture. Free. Open every day.
Jesús Otero Museum Dedicated to the local sculptor Jesus Otero. You can find many of his works in its three rooms, and the biggest ones in the garden.
Merino’s Tower Interesting cultural center with temporary exhibitions.
Santilliana del Mar Zoo Located in the stream bed by the Puente San Miguel Road, this is a biological complex where hundreds of species live together in a singular environment; from the bison to the donkey, reptiles to butterflies, in a space with exuberant vegetation and colors.
Oviedo
Museo Arquelógico de Asturias The museum is set in part of the San Vicente Monastery and brings together items belonging to the historic and ethnographic heritage of the Asturias Region. You can see materials and collections from periods such as the Early, Mid and Late Palaeolithic, the Epipalaeolithic and the Metal Ages. There are also important pieces from the period of Romanization in Asturias—special mention here should be made of the Vega del Ciego mosaic, epigraphs and ceramics. Not to be missed are the San Miguel de Lillo and Santa María del Naranco altar stones, along with the splendid 12th-century sarcophagus of Doña Gontrodo Petri.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Asturias The Museum is located in three buildings in the old quarter of Oviedo: the 18th-century Velarde Palace, which is joined to a building from 1940, and the Casa de Oviedo Portal, dating from the 17th century. With over 8,000 pieces, this museum represents the largest public art collection in Asturias, comprising painting, sculpture, drawing, engraving, photography and applied and industrial arts. The collections encompass span from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Especially worthy of note are the Spanish paintings and the significant examples of other European schools, in particular the Italian and Flemish ones. The museum has a specialized library, expanded in 1995 through the acquisition of the private library of the art historian Diego Angulo.
Catedral de Oviedo The Oviedo Cathedral, although Gothic in origin, also offers the visitor a unique opportunity to view an array of both Baroque and Renaissance art. The cathedral towers over a basilica built by Fruela I in honor of San Salvador. Building began towards the end of the 13th century and ended in the second half of the 16th century. The main façade is by Juan de Badajoz and Pedro de Buyeres. The 15th-century tower is notable because of its thin ornate spire. The temple has three naves with side chapels, a transept and a renaissance ambulatory. Several vegetable motifs adorn the capitals of the long pillars that support the cathedral roof. The main altarpiece, with canopy fretwork, recounts the life of Christ in pictures in a Flemish influenced Gothic style. The Baroque style Royal Pantheon is in King Casto's chapel, in which the former Kings of Asturias lie. The fresco on the sacristy vault is also Baroque and was painted by Martinez de Bustamante. The Diocesan Museum lies in the cloister and is home to a number of major archaeological exhibits.
Iglesia de Santa Maria de Naranco The architectural structure that was once the residence of King Ramiro I, later became a church and served as a Romanesque reference point for other buildings. A pre-Romanesque architectural monument, it stands on the slopes of Mount Naranco and comprises of one of Oviedo's and Asturias' most precious buildings and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. King Ramiro I ordered the building work in 848 AD and used it as a royal palace; subsequently it was to become a church. The base of the edifice is rectangular with two floors, both with a central section and two shorter side sections. The whole building is covered by a barrel vault, except for the side rooms of the lower floor, which are covered with wood. On the altar that lies outside the temple, there is still an inscription that dates back to June 23, 848 AD. The barrel vaulted crypt is also well worth a visit, divided into five different chambers by several arches, with its vaulted hall that looks out onto the outside world thanks to its arched viewpoints.
Iglesia de San Miguel de Lillo This religious building, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument that was used as a chapel by King Ramiro I, has been badly affected by the passing of the years. This monument, belonging the collection of monuments in Oviedo and the kingdom of Asturias, which have been declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO, was built in the Naranco Mountains during the reign of king Ramiro I, in order to pay homage to Michael the Archangel. Today, only a third of the original building remains. Specifically, the portico, the access to the choir and the beginning of the three naves. However, it is still possible to see the decoration of the bases and capitals, and some vestiges of the window lattices.
Iglesia de San Julián de los prados
San Julián de Los Prados, also known as Santullano, was the largest Christian construction on Spanish territory until the 11th century. The church of San Julián de Los Prados or Santullano belongs to the collection of monuments in Oviedo and the Kingdom of Asturias that have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is situated in Pumarín, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Oviedo, on the right-hand side of the A-6 motorway. The pre-Romanesque temple was built between the years 812 and 842 AD in honor of the martyrs Julián and Basilisa, a couple who retired to monastic life. The roof of the building is wooden, with the exception of the three apses of the sanctuary, which have vaulted barrel domes. Its layout is that of a basilica plan with three naves, a transept and three porticoes, two of which are lateral. The naves are separated by pillars and semicircular arches. There is a closed residence above the central chapel whose function may have been merely aesthetic, according to the authors of today. In Santullano the mural paintings full of geometric figures stand out, with their great variety of colors.
Monasterio de San Pelayo It is home of the convent of the Benedictine cloistered nuns. It was founded in the Medieval period.
Palacio de Conde de Toreno This palace was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument. It is a Baroque building with a rectangular floor plan, arranged in three corridors around a central courtyard, from which the staircase begins. It was built in 1675 by Gregorio de la Roza. The exterior of the building is marked by its asymmetrical Baroque façade, made with ashlar stones and flanked by two Tuscan columns. At present, it houses the Royal Institute of Asturian Studies (RIDEA), an institution that was founded by the Provincial Council in 1946.
Palacio de Camposagrado Declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1943, this building is presently the site of the Supreme Court of Asturias. This mansion was built in the middle of the 18th century for the third Marquis of Camposagrado, José Manuel Bernaldo de Quirós. It was started by the architect Francisco de la Riba, who conceived it as a free-standing, cubic palace, and was finished by the architect Pedro Antonio Menéndez, who added a Baroque touch to it. It has two monumental façades: the main one is located across the palace of Valdecarzana, while the second one, a Rococo structure, faces Porlier square.
Universidad de Oviedo Founded by Fernando Valdés Salas on September 21, 1608, the university originally housed four faculties: Art, Law, Canon Law and Theology. Today, the university has five campuses in and around Oveido.
Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa Picos de Europa is the first Spanish National Park. Its origin dates back to 1918, when Don Pedro Pidal, the Marquis of Villaviciosa, helped establish the law to create Montaña de Covadonga National Park. Since 30 May 1935, it has been called Picos de Europa National Park, and consists of three important massifs that go by the names of the Eastern Massif or Andara, Central Massif or Urrielles and Western Massif or Cornión. The climate is characterized by humidity and constant rainfall, a fact that is determined by its proximity to the sea (barely 20 kilometers). The Park's special climate means that there are frequent fog banks, something greatly feared by mountaineers. As for its geography, high summits alternate with deep gorges and canyons. The park boasts 200 heights of over 2,000 meters, and vertical drops of over 2,300 meters. The Central Massif is the most abrupt of the three that make up the Park and the greatest heights can be found there: Torrecerredo (2,646 m), the highest summit in the Picos, Naranjo de Bulnes (2,519 m) or Pico Tesorero (2,570 m). The Western Massif is the most extensive, and it possesses high summits, like Peña Santa de Castilla (2,596 m), intermingled with meadows, hillside forests, beech and oak groves and moors. The famous Covadonga lakes can be found on this massif. The Eastern massif, shorter and lower, blends sharp crag with green pastures. The Park is crossed by four rivers channeled in deep gorges: la Hermida defile, crossed by the river Deva; los Beyos defile, by the river Sella; la Garganta Divina (Divine Gorge) through which the River Cares runs, and La India defiles, though which the River Duje flows. There are numerous viewpoints in the Park from where you can admire its beauty. An interesting alternative is to use Fuentedé funicular, via which you can go up to a height of more than 1,800 meters above sea level.
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago Cathedral The Cathedral of Santiago undoubtedly the city's highlight where you'll find hundreds of pilgrims milling around (including when mass is taking place). A pilgrim's mass takes place at midday and if you're very lucky you might see the botafumeiro being used. This is the enormous incense burner, which swings from the roof on strong ropes with flames burning inside (centuries ago this acted as an air freshener when the 'sweaty' pilgrims attended mass after their long walk across northern Spain). The architecture of the Cathedral is mainly Romanesque but due to many extensions you'll also notice Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical styles, which have been added over the years. The Cathedral has three naves containing various chapels and cloisters and the altar is quite stunning. You can visit a crypt where the remains of Saint James are kept in a silver urn. Entrance to the main Cathedral building is free though there is a charge to enter the museum (containing the cloister, treasury and crypt) and the Pazo de Xelmírez. The Cathedral is open daily throughout the year from 7am to 9pm. Hours for the Museum and the Pazo de Xelmírez vary throughout the year.
Hostal de los Reyes Católicos The building to your left as you look at the Cathedral from Plaza del Obradoiro (also called Plaza de España) was formerly a hospice built by Fernando and Isabella for pilgrims to the city. Today it is the city's Parador and the city's most prestigious place to stay. You cannot wander around at will as it is a private hotel you can see the fountains and chapel of the cloistered courtyard, provided you are accompanied by an official guide from the Cathedral.
Santiago University The Faculty of Geography and History and history is well worth a visit. It was built in the 18th century and is the most impressive building of the University of Compostela where you can visit the Central Hall, the Rectory and the Libraries. It is also home to the Institute for Galician Languages.
Centro Gallego de Arte Contemporáneo In a city focused on the old and the ancient, the opening of this gallery was a breath of fresh air. Here you can browse works by contemporary Galician artists and enjoy splendid views of the city's old town from the balconies of this impressive building.
Monastario de San Martín Pinario One of Galicia's most important monasteries, it is located in Praza da Immaculada. The Baroque façade of San Martín Pinario dates back to 899 AD and is one of Spain's largest religious buildings.
Pilgrimage Museum This museum is dedicated to the countless pilgrims who have journeyed to Santiago to pay tribute to Saint James over the centuries. It outlines the various pilgrimage routes to Santiago and how they developed with all kinds of interesting objects and images related to the routes on display.
Madrid:
Prado Museum From its privileged location surrounded by trees and some of Madrid´s greatest monuments, the National Museum of the Prado is one of the most visited attractions in the capital. The museum is home to the most important Spanish painting collection in the world.
Royal Palace Discover the new painting gallery, with works by Velazquez, Goya, Caravaggio, Sorolla and Juan de Flandes. Home to the Kings of Spain from Carlos III all the way through to Alfonso XIII, Madrid´s Royal Palace is now open to anyone who wants to take a trip through Spanish history. Visitors can wander through the many rooms, enjoying its beautiful architecture and art collections. Though it is no longer the current royal family’s home, it is still its official residence and the place where public acts and official ceremonies are held.
Parque del Buen Retiro Literally Park of the Pleasant Retreat, this park is a large and popular 1.4 km² (350 acre) park in Madrid's city center, very near the Puerta de Alcalá and not far from the Museo del Prado. Once situated outside Madrid, the park is now entirely surrounded by the modern-day city. The park was originally the site of a royal palace (alcázar) built in 1632 under the reign of King Philip IV. Most of the palace was destroyed during the Peninsular War, leaving a space that was eventually opened to the public in 1868. The few remaining buildings of the palace now house museum collections. Within the park is the Estanque del Retiro ("Retiro's Pond"), a large artificial pond. Next to it is the Monument to King Alfonso XII, featuring a semicircular colonnade and an equestrian statue of the monarch on the top of a tall central core. From late May through early October, every Sunday at midday, the Banda Sinfónica de Madrid gives free concerts from the bandstand in the park near the Calle d'Alcala.
Thyssen-Bornemiza Museum The Thyssen Museum, along with the Prado and the Reina Sofía, is one of the main attractions on the Art Walk. With a collection of over 1,000 works of art, the Thyssen-Bornemisza is a key stop on one of the world's most singular cultural and artistic touring routes. Just meters from the Prado and the Reina Sofía, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum allows visitors to embark on an exceptional journey through seven centuries of paintings or to contemplate any one of the 50 universally-renowned paintings it holds.
The Reina Sofia National Museum The Reina Sofia National Museum and Art Centre brings together the new trends in contemporary art and undertakes the task of showing the backbone of Spanish art of our times. The extension of the museum, conducted by renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, has increased the museum’s facilities and has complemented its activities with two exhibition rooms, a library and an auditorium.
Plaza Mayor The Plaza Mayor is a central plaza in the city of Madrid, Spain. It is located only a few blocks away from another famous plaza, the Puerta del Sol. Built during the Austrian period, the Plaza Mayor is rectangular in shape, measuring 129 by 94 meters, and is surrounded by three-story residential buildings with 237 balconies facing the Plaza. It has a total of nine entranceways. The Casa de la Panadería, serving municipal and cultural functions, dominates the Plaza Mayor.
Descalzas Reales El Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, literally the Monastery of Barefoot Royals, resides in the former palace of Carlos I and Isabel of Portugal. Their daughter, Joan of Spain, founded this convent of Franciscan nuns in 1557. Throughout the remainder of the 16th century and into the 17th century, the convent attracted young noblewomen that were either disappointed by love or looking for love in Christ. Each woman brought with her a dowry. The riches quickly piled up, and the convent became one of the richest convents in all of Europe. Tomás Luis de Victoria, Spain's finest Renaissance composer, worked at the convent from 1587 to the end of his life in 1611. Today the Monastery invites visitors into the once secret halls of arguably the most mysterious building in Madrid.
Puerta del Sol Spanish for "Gate of the Sun" it is one of the most well known and busiest places in Madrid. This is the center of the radial network of Spanish roads. The square also contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year. The New Year's celebration has been broadcast live on TV since December 31, 1962.
Las Ventas The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas is a famous bullring in Madrid.
Situated in the barrio of Guindalera in the district of Salamanca, it was inaugurated on June 17, 1931. It has a seating capacity of 25,000 and is regarded as the home of bullfighting in Spain and arguably in the world.
Torre España The Torre España is a 231-meter steel-and-concrete television tower located in Madrid. National terrestrial television channels RTVE, Telecinco and Antena 3, as well as the autonomic channel Telemadrid, along with a few radio stations, broadcast from this tower. The tower was built in 1982, commemorating the FIFA World Cup celebrated in Spain that year. The building was administered by RTVE until the year 1989, when control over radio and television emissions in Spanish territory was given to Retevisión.
Puerta de Europa The Puerta de Europa towers (Gate of Europe) are two twin office buildings in Madrid. Each building is 115 m tall with an inclination of 15º.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium- A football stadium in Madrid, it is the home of Real Madrid. Work on the grounds started on October 27, 1944. Originally called Estadio Chamartín after Madrid's previous stadium, it was inaugurated in December 1947. Real Madrid officially adopted the present name, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, on January 4, 1955 in honor of the club president Santiago Bernabéu.
Plaza de Cibeles- An attractive square featuring a famous sculpture with fountains that have been adopted as a symbol for the city of Madrid. The fountain of Cibeles is found in the part of Madrid commonly called the Paseo de Recoletos. It depicts the goddess Cibeles (Cybele), the Phrygian goddess of fertility, who is seen sitting on a chariot and being pulled by two lions. On one side of the fountain of Cibeles, the Paseo de Recoletos starts, heading north to join up with the Paseo de la Castellana. On the other side, the Paseo del Prado begins and heads off south, towards the fountain of Neptune, in the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, and on until Atocha. Up until the 19th century both the fountain of Neptune and Cibeles looked directly at each other, until the city council decided to turn them round to face towards the centre of the city.
Teatro Real The Real is an opera house in Madrid. It was inaugurated on 19 November 1850, with Donizetti's La Favorite and is one of the world's finest stage and acoustic settings for opera. It is one of the world's most famous opera houses, comparable to many in Europe and elsewhere.The construction of the Real was ordered by the Queen Isabel II, hence its name, the Real (royal in Spanish). The Teatro Real is located just in front of the Palacio Real, the official residence of the Kings of Spain.
