Of the many European capitals I have visited, I have yet to see one of the most beautiful: Madrid. Besides being the capital of Spain, it is also the seat of government and the residence of the monarchy.
I would not have imagined a city so majestic and imposing. The treatment of the buildings hints at details of imperial constructions. It may be that I have a soft spot for Spain and its inhabitants but Madrid will remain, for me, one of the most beautiful and perfect capitals for a four-day weekend.
I leave you with the small itinerary I followed during my weekend with places to visit and places to eat not to be missed. I stayed at the Soho Boutique Congreso which I recommend as value for money. I then recommend that you book museums in advance that allow free admission on certain days and time slots!
Day 1
I landed at the Madrid-Barajas airport, in no time at all I picked up my transportation card (which in my opinion you don’t need, everything is easily accessible on foot and without transportation), and on the metro, I headed downtown to Plaza Mayor with its arcades and numerous bars and restaurants, it almost felt like a typical square in Italy. To get there you go through Puerta del Sol the city’s living room and the cradle before every commercial, cultural, and administrative activity in Madrid. Since it was lunchtime, I headed to the Mercado San Miguel via the magnificent Plaza del Sol and Plaza Mayor. This traditional indoor market, founded in 1916, offers more than 70 stations with Spanish culinary delicacies. I tried tapas from La casa del bacalao (codfish)!
From there I headed straight to Madrid’s main attraction, the Royal Palace also called the Palace of the Orient, which is still the official residence of the Spanish royal family. Today the palace is used exclusively for ceremonies, conferences, and official acts, as the monarchs live in the Zarzuela Palace, located on the outskirts of Madrid. The palace was built on the same site as the Alcázar, a 9th-century Muslim fortress. On Christmas Eve in 1734, the palace was destroyed by fire and rebuilt under King Philip V from 1735 until 1761. The palace consists of 3418 rooms making it the largest royal residence in Europe.
Just in front is Almudena Cathedral, Madrid’s main Catholic place of worship. After a quick visit, you can head to Plaza de España, a large square in the center of which is a fountain dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes. Two important buildings overlook the square: the Torre de Madrid and the Edificio España.
To end the day, the first restaurant I recommend is Botìn, a historic restaurant with typical Madrid cuisine!
Day 2
The second day’s itinerary seems almost more “boring.” I started by passing through the Puerta de Alcalá, one of Madrid’s most significant monuments. It was ordered by King Carlos III and was put in place by architect Francesco Sabatini and is located near the main entrance to Retiro Park. I then headed to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern and contemporary art in Madrid, dedicated to artistic production from the early 20th century to the present. The museum’s big attraction is Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. The Reina Sofía also has works by Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Vassilij Kandinsky, Georges Braque, René Magritte, Lucio Fontana, and other significant artists.
After visiting the museum (usually, large museums point directly to the rooms with works that interest me) I went to see the famous Atocha Station, the city’s central station, dating from the mid-19th century. The station is a complex consisting of two different stations: the old and the new, and it also features a magnificent tropical garden that houses 7,000 plants of 400 different species.
Before relaxing at Retiro Park go to Casa Julio and try its tapas. A very small place (smaller than our taverns) but super typical. You hope to find a place so you can eat a lot and well while spending little! After this, you need to go to Retiro Park, a park that covers 118 hectares and is one of the main sights of the Spanish capital. From 2021 it forms part of the World Heritage properties.
Finally, as a restaurant for dinner, I recommend La Posada de la villa, dating back to 1642 always presents typical and excellent cuisine!
Day 3
Having visited Retiro Park quickly I returned to enjoy it on a beautiful sunny day. In addition, a visit to the Palacio de Cristal de la Arganzuela was a must. Once popularly known as the Potato Shed, it retains its large rectangular structure with steel profiles, now used as a botanical museum with plants from different places around the world.
Not to be missed is the Prado Museum where works by major Italian, Spanish, and Flemish artists are on display, including Andrea Mantegna, Raphael Sanzio, Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Paul Rubens, Titian, Caravaggio, Diego Velázquez, Rembrandt and Francisco Goya! I visited almost every room here, in fact, I recommend lots of patience and comfortable shoes!
A must-see treat is the Church of San Jerónimo el Real, popularly known as Los Jerónimos, which is an early 16th-century Catholic church. The church, which has undergone numerous renovations and restorations over the centuries, is the remaining structure of the Jerónimos monastery that stood next to the Buen Retiro royal palace. Its proximity to the royal palace also underscores a connection to royalty, as it was for centuries the church used for the investiture of the Prince of Asturias.
Another unmissable and historic place is the Chocolateria San Gines with its delicious hot chocolate and dipping churros. To work off some of this calorie bomb, relax by taking a long walk through the center and enjoying the relaxed air of the city. If by doing so, you arrive at least slightly hungry at dinner time, the last restaurant I recommend is La Barraca where you must try the paella and the baked rice with Cocido (too good!).
Day 4
Last day in Madrid and fortunately there were few “essential” attractions left to visit! Not to be missed is the Church of St. Anthony of the Alemanni dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. An obvious example of Madrid Baroque, low-cost materials such as brick and plaster were used in its construction, with a sober facade. The main novelty of this church is its elliptical plan, one of the few in Spain, as well as the ceiling, which is entirely frescoed, including the dome, and likewise the walls. The facade is crowned by a statue of the saint.
My favorite museum in Madrid turned out to be the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, a major art gallery, and cultural center. The approximately eight hundred works currently housed there range from Italian Renaissance to modern painting, from a private collection of the family of the German-Hungarian steel magnate Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Having then decided to relax and enjoy the strange calm air one can breathe in this capital city, one can stroll along the famous Gran Vía, founded between 1919 and 1929, which is the most famous street in Madrid. It connects the Salamanca district with the Argüelles district and offers a plethora of stores and restaurants. And it is there that you can admire the symbol of the city, the Metrópolis, which is a five-story Beaux-Arts building. At the top, you can notice the Corinthian-type columns. There are allegorical statues representing agriculture, industry, and commerce; the top is concluded by a slate dome with gold leaf trim.
Finally, delving into the side streets you can discover the Longoria Palace, a Spanish Art Nouveau building from the early 20th century. A fantastic gem that almost runs the risk of being lost in the anonymity of the surrounding buildings.
Ps: for shopaholics, I recommend a quick trip to WOW Concept!
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