Spain: Magical Madrid

By Author: Devon Jenkins
Total Articles: 6
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Madrid, Spain's capital and its largest city, with its rich history and venerable monuments, vibrant art scene and lively night-spots, festivals, cuisine and wines, cultural heritage, museums, beautiful parks and modern shopping centers, is a delightful mix of the old and the new and offers endless entertainment and exciting discoveries for travelers.

However, there are some places that simply must not be missed when you're in Madrid.

City Walls: surrounding the old city, these ancient fortifications date back to the 9th century. Rebuilt and renovated by successive conquerors, the walls, a protected National Monument, now enclose the beautiful Royal Palace or Palacio del Oriente and the lovely park of Emir Mohammed I. Strolling through the gardens and ruins can be exhilarating for history-buffs. There are plenty of open-air cafes and coffee-shops/restaurants, etc here which are great hang-out places for youngsters, and the gardens are also the venue of events and shows.

Playa Major: The heart of Madrid, this beautiful square, lined by heritage buildings and beautiful fresco-decorated walls is where ...
... you have your heart's fill of people-watching! With lots of al fresco dining, tapas cafes under the graceful arches, Playa Major is also located within walking distance of other important monuments.

The Prado: This is the art-lover's heaven. One of the greatest collections of European art is housed in this gracious 19th century building and you'll need at least a week to get to see even a glimpse of all that it contains. From the medieval artists to contemporary moderns, the Prado houses a wonderful collection of Spanish art too. It's worth taking an Art Walk here and stopping at the museum shop for souvenirs and prints.

Madrid Cathedral: Associated with beautiful legends of Mother Mary, this magnificent edifice offers a glimpse of Spain's religious foundations.

Puerta del Sol: Another lively city-plaza, this ancient square is the hub of Madrid and you can see the Km 0 marker, from where all Madrid streets are measured. Lined with cafes, restaurants and tapas cafes, there are pretty fountains, shopping areas, magicians, street performers, musicians, to give you a real feel of Spanish life.

Royal Palace: For a glimpse of Spanish royal history, this city palace is Madrid's loveliest and largest building. Built on the ruins of the Moorish Alcazar, the palace is also a treasure-trove of art.

Flamenco: Unimaginable to visit Madrid, vakantiehuis spanje and not catch a flamenco show! El Corral de la Morreria is considered to be the restaurant that hosts the best and oldest flamenco in Madrid. Along with a set supper, wine and dessert, you can enjoy the hour long flamenco by some of Spain's most accomplished artistes.

As with any city, it would be impossible to take in everything that the city has to offer in a limited time.

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