Spain Travel Guide
Madrid
Geographically an ideal capital city, Madrid is smack bang in the middle of Spain. Here its natural advantages end. It sits on a 650 metre high plateau; the weather is cold in winter and baking hot in the summer and has no access to the sea. To be at the centre of the various kingdoms was the only reason for putting it here in 1561.
Today Madrid is a success despite itself. It is a large modern city that continues -by means of urban regeneration - to improve itself.
The people are the main strength of the city and they are slightly apart from the people in other parts of Spain possibly due to the idiosyncratic nature of their location.
The city is not ugly but neither is it over blessed by the quality of its architecture. The city suffered heavily during the Civil War but the city centre is still attractive and full of surprises. However, its chief attraction is the quality of its Museums.
Where to Go and What to See
Museo Del Prado
Simply put this is one of the most important and extensive collections of art in the world. It is based around the collections put together by the extremely wealthy Spanish royal families over several generations (and one dynasty change). It opened in 1819 and generally exhibits some 1500 of the 7000 paintings in the collection. As one might expect there is a strong emphasis on Spanish artists and the works of Valazquez, Goya and El Greco are prominently featured. The Italian Renaissance, with works by Titian, Caravaggio and Raphael, are well represented. The northern Europeans of the Dutch and Flemish schools are also in evidence including several significant pieces by the terrifying Hieronymous Bosch.
This museum is so large it is impossible to 'do' in just one visit but there is so much here you may want to come back.
But that's not all…
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Formerly a private collection, Madrid has done well to acquire this wide range of paintings. The collection was accumulated by the family of the fabulously wealthy Baron von Thyssen who, as luck would have it, was married to a Spaniard. It was she - Tita Cervera - who managed to secure the collection for her mother country.
The collection includes some of the world's finest paintings from all eras. There are Dutch Masters, Italian Renaissance and Spanish school, Impressionists, Post Impressionists, Modern and Avant-Garde; all are worth studying in full.
Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
A museum of modern art. Two of Spain's most famous sons are well represented here. Pride and joy of the museum is Picasso's 'Guernica' an angry riposte to the Nazi bombing - under Franco's guidance- of the town of Guernica. Salvador Dali is featured both as surrealist and in his earlier guise as cubist artist.
These are just the three main museums there are others, all of which house some wonderful works of art. Check out the Museo Lazaro Galdiano or the snappily titled (deep breath) Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando or Fine Arts Museum for short.
All Cultured Out?
There are many ways to unwind. Take a stroll in one of the Parks. The Casa de Campo and Parque del Retiro are both former royal playgrounds that are now for public consumption. Both are well stocked with a variety of trees and have a lake. The 350 acres of the Parque del Retiro is most popular at weekends with the locals. Strolling in these parks is one way to work up an appetite for that other great Madrid experience...
Tapas
Many bars in the city serve this quintessential cuisine. Essentially it is small portions of food that are served at the bar whilst enjoying a few drinks. Another way of indulging yourself with this is to go from bar to bar sampling - and drinking - as you go. This may be your big chance to try a particular Spanish delicacy, bulls testicles.
El Rastro
This is a jumble sale gone nuts. This is Camden Lock Market on speed. For 500 years, this seething market has been a part of Madrid's weekend. In its packed alleys, you can find all manner of goods; there is a lot of junk, loads of second hand clothes, books, records. There are antiques, fake antiques, some bargains and some rip offs. There is a lot of illicit trading goes on here and street crimes, especially pickpocketing, are common. All of which misses the point; it is not the quality of the shopping but the vibrant atmosphere that comes with it that counts. Pretty much like the city itself.
Eating, Drinking, Clubbing and Sleeping
Tapas bars offer good value and there is a large number of more conventional restaurants. There are also numerous cafes where the people of Madrid go to meet and chat. Great places for people watching.
There is a huge culture in Madrid of clubbing 'til the sun comes up and there are a large number of Discotecas to support this.
Bar or pubs wise there are many to choose from catering to all tastes.
There are plenty of different levels of price when it comes to accommodation. Location is as always the key but bargains are to be had all over the city.
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