Madrid Travel Guide
The sword fighting Madrid feels like a never ending party, calibrating the joy of life. Spain, after being trapped under a totalitarian regime for the most of the last century, feels like country born again, becoming a vivid player on the world stage, its growth unseen since the 16th century, when playwrights and painters would travel to preform at Madrid’s royal courts. A crossing point for Iberia, the Spanish capital of Madrid as become a city with a large hunger for art music and epicurean joys.
When you first arrive in Spain and Madrid, and the first breath of fresh cool mountain air reaches your lungs, the first thing to strike you is the large empty beautiful sky’s legendary in the famous painting of Spain. “From Madrid to Heaven (Or “De Madrid a cielo” in Spanish.) is the saying of the area, andif you enter the Two thousand foot high castilian plateau, it really does feel as if the heavens are reaching down to touch you. Perfect can be the only description of this area of grey spired 16th century Hasburg churches, and the red tiled Medejar churches which made Madrid the famous capital it is today.
One of the main attractions of the Spanish capital is the artistic collection that can be found inside the many galleries that cover the capital. King Carlos one, who lived 58 years, is the main reason so much of Europe’s art came into possession of Spanish galleries (at that time most of Europe was under some kind of Spanish control at the time of his rule, and this is why many French, German, Italian and Dutch artist now have their works of art inside the Spanish galleries. There are tens of galleries all around the capital, containing thousands of pieces of art, more then any person could hope to look at and contemplate in a lifetime.
Noways Madrid spread far eastwards into the 19th century area of Barria de Salamanca and compasses Northwards to the houses of Chamberi and chamartin. But it is the old Madrid that should be explored in detail on foot, the center of Madrid. Between the midtown forest and the royal Palace is the area known as the Parque del Buen Retir. These neighborhoods are a brilliant stage to show Madrid’s greatest resources, the people of Spain. Whether at play or work their constant energy drives the town into a great holiday experience.
When To Go
As the highest capital in Europe, Madrid is hot in summer and freezing in winter, with temperate springs and autumns. Especially in winter — when steamy café windows beckon you inside for a hot caldo (broth) and the blue skies are particularly bright — Madrid is the next best place to heaven.
With the highest altitudes of a capital in Europe. Madrid can be boiling in the summer and freezing in the winter, with average autumns and springs. Surprisingly for some, the winter can be the best time to visit, with restaurants that can beckon with hot beverages and foods against the cold weather, and the breathtakingly clear blue sky above can make Madrid seem like a heaven on earth for travelers
Journey Plan for a short stay in Madrid
2 Day trip
Day one of your Madrid holiday
On the first day, spend the morning looking through the gallery of the Museo del Prado at the masterworks and take a tour (There are many on offer) of the Paseo del Prado, past the great fountains of the Plaza de la Cibeles and Fuente de Neptuno. Have lunch around the area of the Plaza anta ana. Then walk through the Puerta del Sol to reach Madrids times square, the area the natives of Spain gather to ring during the new year. From there head towards the plaza Mayor. Then rush behind the magnificent modern Iron and glass Mercado de San Miguel, cutting through the small Calle Puñonrostro and Plaza de la Villa, keep going until you reach the brilliant church of San Nícolas de los Servitas moving onto the Plaza de Oriente, where there are many tours going around the Teatro Real and Palacio Real area. If you decided to take a holiday during the summer months you can now sit at a terrace table at El Ventorrillo (Found in the southern area of Calle Bailén’s Viaducto) to take in the wondrous Spanish sunset. To finish off you can try one of the many tapas bars found at the Cava de San MigueL.
Day two of your Madrid holiday
On day two, start out at the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, famous for its works of Picasso’s art. Have a quick lunch at the Cava Baja, found at La Latina, then call in at the close by Basílica de San Francisco el Grande. If your hunger for art isn’t satisfied yet. you can venture into the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza finishing the day with a walk at sunset around the Parque del Buen Retiro area.
Day Three and four of your Madrid Holiday
If you are lucky enough to have more then two days to travel to the great capital of Spain, follow the step above on your first two days, and then on day number three go visit either the Toldedo, or the Segovia for the day. When you reach day four, use this day to take a break the art galleries and walk around the wonderful neighborhoods of Plaza Santa Ana, Chueca, taking a lunch break at the lovely Calle Barbieri and Calle Libertad. Task a brisk stroll from Centrode Conde Duque to the Templo de Debod, to catch a great view of the setting Spanish sun. Finnish off your four day holiday by having a small drink on any of the terraces on Calle Rosales.
More then four days in Madrid
If you are planning on having more then a four day holiday, there is still much to see, whether spending an entire day shopping at the Salamanca neighborhood, or any of the other tens of galleries of art on offer. Look out for shows and concerts to be done, and spend a little time at any of the nightclubs that can be found
The next part of this guide will cover a guide about the bullfighting shows in Madrid.
Madrid Bull Fighting
Unlike popular assumption, bullfighting isn’t a spot, it is an artistic. It isn’t for the faint hearted, and many will disagree with it, but for the ones who can stand the sight of 6 dying bulls you can get the excitement of any major stadium event. These shows are held every Sunday afternoon from April though to early November. There are other parts of Spain that practice this art, but there is no place better then Madrid’s Las Ventas on Calle Alcalá in Salamanca.
Tickets can be purchased at the ring or, for a 20% surcharge, at one of the agencies on Calle Victoria, just off the Puerta del Sol. Most corridors start in late afternoon, and the best fights of all — the world’s top displays of bullfighting — come during the three weeks of consecutive daily events that mark the feast of San Isidro, in May. Tickets can be tough to get through normal channels, but are always available from scalpers on Calle Victoria and at the stadium. You can bargain, but even Spaniards pay prices of perhaps 10 times the face value — up to EUR 120 or more.
Places can be brught at the stadium, or for 20% extra at one of the many agencies. Most will begin in the late evening, and the best of all bullfights will be shown during the feast of San Isidro, in May. Tickets can sometimes be hard to get, and many have to be brought from individuals. Look around for a good deal, but remember that even the native Spaniards will pay up tom 120 EUR or more to get into a heavily anticipated bullfight.
