CENTRAL SPAIN
Attractions
Madrid has a unique atmosphere due to the
combination of its high altitude and the mountain breeze. At an altitude of
2,100 feet, this is Europe's highest capital. Madrid is alive with bars and
cafes and has some of the finest shops in Europe. Located virtually in the
centre of the country, Madrid is in close proximity to Segovia in the north and
Toledo in the south, two other very important cities. Also close by is Avila an
historic centre.
Madrid has always been at the forefront of Spain's history;
King Philip II promoted Madrid from a provincial town to his national command
post in the middle of the 16th century. Since then Madrid hasn't stopped
growing.
Nowadays many of Spain's leading companies have head offices here as
well as many major factories. Being such an economic centre, Spaniards have
converged upon Madrid from every corner of the country. The Puerta del Sol is
the centre of Madrid and is the point from which all Spain's radial highways
begin; 'kilometre 0'. In the central area of the Puerta del Sol you will find a
statue based on Madrid's coat of arms. It shows a bear standing against a tree.
You will find the very same bear all over Madrid. When you
arrive to explore the centre of Madrid you will be subjected to a culture
overload. You will however, find it difficult to get lost; all over the city you
will find well placed city maps and helpful tourist offices.
You will find every
mode of transport possible including an underground Metro and all are easy to
use and efficient. You will find driving in Madrid to be an absolute nightmare
and rush hours run into each other. There are very few quiet periods where
traffic jams are not the norm. You will have no trouble finding a taxi; there
are thousands of them. There is also a first class bus service. A great way to
see the city is by open-top tour bus. The Madrid Vision service is first class
and cheap there are also child reductions. You can hop on and off the bus as
many times as you like and there are three routes to cover. The easiest place to
start is the Prado Museum or Puerta del Sol. Madrid also has an efficient and
cheap Metro service.
Madrid has so much to offer, you will need a week to see it
all. Here are the places you must see; The Palacio Real, or Royal Palace is
probably one of the most important places in Madrid and it is open to the
public, except when official business is taking place. It is set in formal
gardens on the site of a Moorish fortress that burned down in 1734. Tickets to
view inside the palace are very reasonable. There is a small supplement if you
want to be guided round. There are many rooms to be seen including the throne
room and the Royal Farmacia. Across the courtyard you will find the Royal
Armoury with an impressive display of armour; this is included in the tour
price. There is also a large gift shop. Outside the palace are wonderful gardens
with many statues of past royals.
Close by is the Cathedral of the Almudena,
currently being restored. The Plaza Mayor is a huge square constructed in 1617.
It has been pedestrianised and can be entered by any one of nine arches. The
famous square has played host to fiestas and even public executions. From time
to time, events such as concerts and fiestas are still staged here. The square
contains 136 houses with 437 balconies from which people used to watch the
events held here. The square has always been a popular meeting place, especially
on Sundays when the many bars and restaurants complement the weekly stamp and
coin fair. In the centre of the square stands the statue of Philip III on
horseback. The statue dates from 1616 and was placed in the square in 1847 after
the wedding celebrations of Isabel II, during which the last bull run was held
in the square. It has been said that the people of Madrid (Madrilenos), never
sleep. This is partly true. They have the least amount of sleep of all
Europeans. They live to extremes. This may have something to do with the
weather. It's either too hot or too cold. The city is constantly vibrant and has
a pulsating nightlife. Whatever you do, enjoy Madrid. There are enough museums
alone to keep you fully occupied for a week.
If you want to see as much of Madrid as possible, you will have to divide it into sections and take them one
by one. The best place to start is in the heart of the city and especially in
the old Madrid. The Puerta de Alcala can be seen in the centre of the Plaza de
la Independencia on Calle de Alcala. This street is without doubt, the most
important in Madrid. It is also the longest. There are many important buildings
located in this street. See the Church of the Calatravas and the Church of San
Jose. You will also find the Fine Arts Museum and the Casino on this street. At
the other end of the street is the Puerta del Sol. In the Plaza Colon you will
find several monuments to Columbus and his travels.
The Gardens of Discovery in the centre of the square are towered over by huge blocks of stone on which
details of the travels of Columbus and his men are inscribed. The tall monument
of Columbus is in Neo-Gothic style and dates from 1885. Beneath the square is
the Cultural Centre. This building houses a theatre, concert hall and exhibition
rooms. The centre is masked by a wall of water. Close by is the Wax Museum
(Museo de Cera) which has over 450 sculptures and a 'horror train' ride, the
Palace of Justice and the Archaeological Museum with its impressive dinosaur
collection.
There are many parks and gardens to explore including the Botanical
Gardens with their exotic plants. These can be found alongside the Prado Museum.
You must also see the massive Parque del Buen Retiro. The park has a central
lake, numerous fountains and statues and pleasant walkways. The park comes alive
at weekends and is the place to be seen. It consists of 12 hectares and
originally formed part of the Palace of Buen Retiro, constructed in the 17th
century by Philip IV. There are two palaces in the park at which many
exhibitions are held. Hire a boat on the lake or just sit and enjoy the many
street entertainers that converge here.
There are more than enough museums including the famous Prado Museum. This is without any doubt the pride of Madrid
and is one of the most important museums in the There are more than enough
museums including the famous Prado Museum. This is without any doubt the pride
of Madrid and is one of the most important museumiworld. It houses the world's
greatest collection of Spanish paintings. If you were to allow a full day visit
you would struggle to see all of its treasures but at the very least you should
allow a couple of hours to see the best old masters in the world. Goya, El Greco
and Picasso are just a few of those artists represented. Entry is cheap.
Close to the Prado Museum is the fountain of Neptune which stands in the middle of the
roundabout. Another important fountain is that of Cibeles, the Greek Goddess of
fertility which stands in front of the Bank of Spain in the Plaza de la Cibeles.
The fine arts museum is also a 'must see'. This can be found on Calle de Alcala.
There are two railway stations in Madrid. The main one being Estacion de Atocha.
This station is of huge proportions and includes a tropical garden in the main
hall. The station is well organised and easy to use. Here you can catch all the
national high speed trains. There are ample shops and cafes at your disposal.
The station stands on the site of the old city gates and was opened in 1851. It
was destroyed by fire in 1892 and reconstructed in iron and glass. It was
refurbished in 1992 to cope with the new AVE high speed lines. The Gran Via is
one of the most animated and commercial streets in the city. Along its length
you can see very different styles of architecture and some very well preserved
buildings. The Telefonica building was the first ever sky-scraper of Madrid,
completed in 1929. There are also several important hotels to be found here.
The road has six lanes of traffic and is more often congested. There is little left
of Medieval Madrid but you will find the original layout of narrow streets
meandering south from Main Street (Calle Mayor). You will find an array of shops
selling the same things they have sold for hundreds of years. Craftsmen still
work their wood and leather, cheese shops sell famous cheeses and antique shops
trade in bygones. The Ayuntamiento (council) building dates from the 17th
century and is typical of many buildings in Madrid with their slate spires and
towers.
There are more than 200 churches in Madrid and it has its own cathedral.
The Catedral de San Isidro is located in Calle de Toledo and has a massive dome.
It needed major rebuilding after the Civil War. Close by you will find the
Capilla del Obispo dating from 1520, an outstanding church. San Andres Church is
located behind it. The financial area of Madrid houses the head offices of more
than 100 banks. The Plaza del Callao is the centre for department stores and
cinemas yet just a couple of streets away you will find a 16th century convent.
In the Plaza de Espana you will find the statue of Cervantes set amid trees,
gardens and fountains. Several important streets lead from here, each with their
own famous buildings and museums.
Markets and shopping Sunday in Madrid is just
as vibrant and exciting as any other day. It is a great time to explore one of
the popular markets. On the streets of old Madrid, the Rastro is one of the
world's largest flea markets. It begins near the Cathedral. The Plaza Mayor
plays host to the stamp Fair where hundreds of collectors converge every Sunday
to deal in stamps, coins, banknotes and anything else vaguely collectable. Close
to the Botanical gardens is the weekly Book Fair where new and used books can be
found by the thousand. Whatever you want to buy in Spain you are sure to find it
in Madrid. You will find the ceramics and leather extremely good value as well
as the fine linen and needlework. Artisan shops happily trade alongside major
department stores and world famous brand names.
Nightlife
One of Spain's most famous traditions is the art of Flamenco and in Madrid you
will not be short of venues in which to sample the delights of this centuries
old dance. Many say that Madrid is not the best place to see true flamenco but
you will certainly enjoy the night out. The residents of Madrid come alive at
night and you will find hundreds of cinemas, theatres and nightclubs as well as
the many smaller, lesser known tapas bars.
You will find every musical taste catered for. Madrid
has two symphony orchestras that produce regular performances and there are
regular ballets and operas.
Fiestas
If you happen to be in Madrid during a
fiesta, you are at a distinct advantage. You will be rewarded with an explosion
of sound and colour. The largest celebration is that of Holy Week at Easter
where the fiesta is unforgettable. In May Madrid honours San Isidore, the
capital's patron saint. Half a month of parties, contests, concerts and plays.
Check with the tourist board for a full list of activities and smaller, regional
fiestas.
Sports
You name a sport and you will find it in Madrid. There is a
handful of golf courses, football grounds, swimming pools and athletic tracks.
Indoor sports are well catered for too with stadiums, halls and bowling alleys.
Dog racing is held at the dog track, car racing is held at the Jarama cicuit,
26km north of Madrid and horse racing is to be found at the Hippodrome, 7km from
central Madrid.
Major villages, towns and cities in Central Spain
Albuquerque, Alcala de Henares, Alcazar de San Juan, Almendralejo, Badajoz, Caceres, Cifuentes, Ciudad Real, Corla, Cuenca, Don Benito, Getafe, Guadalajara, Hellin,
La Roda Albacete, Madrid, Merida, Molina de Aragon, Moraleja, Navalmosal de la Nata, Plasencia, Puertollano, Siguenza, Talavera de la Reina, Talayuela, Taranoon, Toledo, Tomelloso, Valdepenas, Vilarrobledo, Villanueva de la Serena, Yeste and Zafra.
