Madrid Spain - Take A Tour Of A City That Rocks

By Author: Linda Plummer
Total Articles: 14
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One thing is for sure, "Madrileños" certainly know how to
enjoy life to the full, and you should too whilst in Madrid,
for the capital of Spain is a charming city, rich in culture
and, at night it really rocks!

For shopoholics, its bustling Gran Via offers some of the
finest stores in Europe.

For the children, there is plenty to keep them amused with the
Zoo-Aquarium, the Faunia Theme Park, the Wax Museum, the
Amusement Park, Warner Bros-Madrid Theme Park ...

And the city comes alive at night for everyone. Cinemas,
theaters, nightclubs, restaurants, floorshows, ballet,
opera ... the choice is yours!

During the day, there are all those sensational sights to see,
many of which can be viewed from an open-top tour bus if
you´re feeling too lazy to walk!

The Palacio Real or Royal Palace has been the residence of
the Spanish Royal Monarchy in Madrid since 1764. Across its
courtyard is the Royal Armoury and, close by, are the
beautiful Sabatini Gardens and Cathedral of the Almudena,
where ...
... Prince Felipe recently married his true love.

The Plaza Mayor is a huge square of 3-storey buildings
constructed in 1617 with a statue of Felipe III on horeseback
in its center.

The Puerta de Alcalá, located in the center of the Plaza de
la Independencia, is on the calle de Alcalá, where you will
also find the Fine Arts Museum and the Casino.

At the other end of the street is the Puerta del Sol.

Moving along to the Plaza Colón, you will find monuments
dedicated to Colombus and his travels. In the center of
this square are the Gardens of Discovery, towered over by
huge blocks of stone, inscribed with details of
Colombus´ travels.

Madrid is famous for its museums and a major attraction is
the Prado Museum, housing the world´s greatest collection
of Spanish paintings.

Two other museums well worth a visit are the Museo
Thyseen-Bornemisza in the Palacio de Villahermosa, and
the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

Madrid also has many pleasant parks and gardens, the main
one being the huge, 12-hectare Parque del Buen Retiro with
its two palaces and central lake.

Madrid is also noted for its beautiful fountains, for
example, la Cibeles in the central Plaza de la Cibeles,
and the Fountain of Neptune, close to the Prado Museum.

So ... make your way to Madrid. You´ll love it!

About the Author Linda Plummer is webmistress of
Top Tour of Spain
providing comprehensive information on Spain for travel, food,
language or living.