Travel Spain Madrid
From LoveToKnow Travel
Madrid's Museo del Prado
The Prado is one of Europe’s most important museums. Opened to the public in 1819, the museum is built around the former royal Hapsburg art collection. This comprehensive museum’s permanent exhibits contain over 5000 paintings, including works by El Greco,Goya,and Velazquez as well as a sizeable exhibit of Flemish art, containing works by Rubens, Van Dyck, and Durer.
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is Madrid’s geographic and cultural center, and no one set to travel Spain should miss it. Built in the 17th century during the reign of Phillip III, this large cobblestone square has been important commercially and culturally for centuries. It has seen royal coronations, bullfights, and canonizations as well as the terrible executions and public burnings of heretics during the Spanish Inquisition.
Today, this charming square is lined with sidewalk cafes and is an excellent spot to sip a cup of coffee and watch the crowd stroll by. In December, the square transforms itself into a Christmas fair, with dozens of arts and crafts vendors arranged in brightly-lit rows, selling nativity sets, ornaments, wrapping paper, and other holiday decorations.
Royal Palace (Palacio Real)
Madrid’s massive Spanish Royal Palace was begun in 1725,commissioned by King Philip V after the original Hapsburg palace burnt to the ground on Christmas 1724. The palace is built entirely of stone – white Colmenar stone and granite from Sierra de Guadarrama. The seemingly endless rooms (2000 of them) are arranged on four floors and surround a central courtyard. The palace is filled with important artwork, tapestries, and furniture from all periods of Spain’s rich history, including works by Goya, Bosch, and Velazquez. Of particular note are the extensive tapestry collection, the Stradivarius collection (the world’s largest), the royal apartments, and the royal library, which contains over 300,000 books.
Today, the Spanish royal family lives in a smaller estate just outside of Madrid, and only uses the Palacio Real for important state occasions.
Retiro Park (Parque del Retiro)
Retiro Park is a 350-acre, green oasis in the middle of bustling Madrid. Built by King Philip IV in 1632, this park was originally reserved for royal use only. Retiro Park was opened to the public in the early 19th century and is noted for its many fountains and monuments, including the ornate statue of King Alfonso XIII. A serene pond sparkles in the center of the park, surrounded by a number of small cafes. Retiro Park is also home to the Victorian, greenhouse-like, Crystal Palace, a 19th century exhibition hall, surrounded by an extensive rose garden. Today, enjoy a summer evening concert, sip a Sherry or cup of coffee, or just stroll amidst the lovely grounds.
Just outside of Madrid: Toledo
Travel Spain today and you must see Toledo, the ancient outpost of the Roman Empire and former Spanish capital. Just an hour’s drive away from Madrid, Toledo is centuries away with its massive stone facades, ornate cathedral, and narrow streets. Toledo was a major cultural center in the 13th and 14th centuries and was also the home of the painter, El Greco in the later part of his life. Many of his works, including the important, Burial of the Count of Orgasz, are displayed in the city.
Toledo’s cathedral towers over the town center. Its delicate, stained glass windows sparkle in the sunlight and the ornate, multi-story altar, designed by Naciso Tomei, is awe-inspiring. Ignore the ever-present tour busses that line the town square and explore the maze of narrow streets that criss-cross the old town. This fascinating area resembles a North African bazaar, a legacy of the Moorish influence here.
Make sure to include Madrid when you plan your European travel. Spain is rich with culture, history, and interesting sights just waiting for you to explore.
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