The best places in madrid. First time in Madrid: what to see for a Russian traveler. What to see in Madrid with kids

There are many tourist attractions, such as the famous Prado National Museum of European Fine Art or the picturesque Plaza Mayora. But let's not delve into listing the most popular tourist routes, but rather, in order, consider the places that are worth visiting in Madrid.

1 Plaza Mayor ("main square")

The most famous square in Madrid. Adjacent to it are stunning three-story residential buildings with large entrances in an arch, and on the other side one of the most magnificent buildings on the Plaza Mayor flaunts - Casa de la Panaderia. This square is very significant for Spain, because on this very square there used to be markets, bullfights and public executions of prisoners and heretics during the Spanish Inquisition. In fact, you should definitely visit the Plaza Mayor, wander through the old traditional shops and cafes.

Plaza Mayor, Madrid spain

2 Palacio Real de Madrid(Royal Palace of Madrid)

The official residence of the royal family, stands proudly in all its original glory. This is a magnificent building, and definitely worth a stroll to see it from all sides, only then you can appreciate its true size (eight floors and 3,000 bedrooms). If you have time, take your time to leave, find some shade and relax in the gardens of Campo del Moro or the gardens of Sabotini. They are so quiet and beautiful that it seems as if you are far from the city. Also be sure to see the neoclassical Almudena Cathedral, which is on the left side of the palace.

Price: 11 euros - adult ticket; children under 16 years old - 6 euros (from 14 to 16 years old, on presentation of a passport); children under 5 years old - free of charge.

Calle de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain

3 Museo del Prado (Prado Museum)

The Prado Museum is the main Spanish national art museum, as well as one of the most visited places in the world as " the greatest museum art. "It presents the world's best collections of Spanish and European art, dating from the period from the 12th century to the early 19th century. If you are not an art fan, it is still worth visiting, because the museum is not only a collection of works of art, it is also a beautiful building If you are not a fan of classical art at all, go to the Reina Sofia Museum (Reina Sofia) - it will the best choice for lovers of contemporary art.

Price: 15 euros - adult ticket; children under 18 years old - admission is free; students (18-25 years old) - admission is free; disabled people - admission is free; 7.50 euros - pensioners, large families.

Free admission to the museum: Monday to Saturday (from 18:00 to 20:00) and Sunday (from 17:00 to 19:00)

Maximum number of visitors: from 11:00 to 13:30 (more people on weekends).

Best time to visit: after 15:00, well, or come 10 minutes before the opening, so you will provide yourself with about an hour of quiet time in the museum.

Prado Museum, Paseo del Prado, s/n, 28014 Madrid, Spain

4 Parque del Buen Retiro

Park Buen - Retiro, translated as "good retreat", also known as the green lungs of Madrid, is one of the largest parks in the city. Initially, the park belonged to the Spanish monarchy, but at the end of the 19th century it became a public park. It is an ideal place for walking, contemplating the great monuments and relaxing on the grass. With plenty of shade to hide from the relentless afternoon sun.

In the park you can see many amazing objects:

• Elegant crystal palace
• The Rosaleda Rosary is a small beautiful garden with arches, fountains and all kinds of roses
• Fountain "Fallen Angel"
• Estanque del Retiro ("Retiro Pond") is a large artificial pond where you can rent and sail a boat. On one side you can see a huge semi-circular colonnade with monuments to King Alfonso XII and an equestrian statue of the monarch from above.

Cost of visiting: For free

Parque del Retiro, Plaza de la Independencia, 7,Madrid,Spain

5 temple debod

Here you will definitely feel like Indiana Jones when you visit this ancient Egyptian shrine, which was presented to Spain as a token of gratitude for helping Egypt. Debod is located on a hill in Oeste Park. The area around the temple is a popular place with locals, they like to get out here for a picnic and this is one of the best places in Madrid to relax. We recommend you go here in the evening to see the sunset (21:00), the temple looks brighter against the background of the sunset.

Cost of visiting: for free

Debod, Calle Ferraz, 1, 28008 Madrid, Spain

6 Atocha Railway Station

This is not just a transport hub, it is home to an indoor botanical garden and a haven for a large colony of turtles. Discovered in 1992, the rows of tropical trees and plants stretch for 3.96 km. under the arched roof of the station. You can relax under leafy palm trees and watch the turtle pond. For a better view of this creation, take the escalator up to the top level.

Price: for free.

Atocha Cercanias,Madrid, Spain

7 La catedral de Santa María La Real de La Almudena (Almudena Cathedral)

The cathedral is opposite the Royal Palace. There is a museum in the temple itself, where state and church relics are presented. On weekends, the cathedral often hosts concerts of chamber and organ music.

An interesting fact is that the cathedral is the place where the current King and Queen of Spain held their wedding ceremony.

Entrance: free (but you can make a donation - 1 euro)

Almudena Cathedral, Calle de Bailén, 10, Madrid, Spain

8 Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol is the most central place in all of Madrid and that's where all the city's roads start from. This area is located near shops, hotels and restaurants, is not only tourist place, but also one of the main centers of public transport in Madrid. It is always a bustling place where locals, tourists, street vendors and artists gather. This is a meeting place for friends.

Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain

9 Palacio de Cibeles

The Plaza de Cibeles (Palace of Cibeles) is a Gothic-style building, once the main post office of Madrid, but since 2007 is the Madrid City Hall. Plaza de Cibeles is primarily a square that serves as a cultural center for many events throughout the year. We suggest that you first admire the building from the square and appreciate its impressive size, and then come closer and personally appreciate its many details. If you wish, you can go inside the palace and enjoy its interior. Inside there are art exhibitions, a library, a restaurant and even an auditorium for recreation and study. On the top floor there is a terrace and an observation deck, but you have to stand in line to get there.

The Cibeles Fountain (located on the square of the same name) is an unofficial meeting place for Real Madrid fans and players to celebrate the victories of their favorite team

Entrance to the palace building: for free

Entrance to the observation deck: adult ticket - 2 euros; children under 12 years old - 0.5 euros.

Palace opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 20:00

Opening hours of the observation deck: from Tuesday to Sunday (from 10:00 to 19:30) break from 13:00 to 16:30

Palacio de Comunicaciones, 28014 Madrid, Spain

10 City of Toledo (Toledo)

Really good in Madrid transport connection, so if you are here for more than 3 days, be sure to go to the former capital of Spain, Toledo. This is a medieval town, located on a hilltop, very picturesque and beautiful. Attractions in Toledo include St. Mary's Cathedral, Alcazar Fortress, El Greco Museum, Santo Tome Church, and Santa Cruz Museum. Walk around the city and just enjoy the history of the city. The town is not big, you may only need half a day.

How to get there: sit on high speed train AVE from Madrid's Atocha station

Travel time: 35 minutes

Round trip ticket price: EUR 20.30

Madrid (Spain) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Madrid with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Madrid (Spain)

Madrid is the capital of Spain and The largest city countries. This is a modern and noisy metropolis, located almost in the center Iberian Peninsula. Madrid is the third largest city European Union. It constantly buzzes like a disturbed beehive and is filled with vigorous activity and life that does not stop even at night. The capital of Spain may lack the wildness of Barcelona and the charm of Andalusia, but the energy and atmosphere of the city, its cultural and artistic heritage is definitely a reason to visit it.

Madrid with its architecture is a bit like Paris: wide avenues and beautiful monumental buildings, squares, parks and museums. But despite rich history, there are few symbolic attractions that are in the same Paris, Rome or Barcelona. Madrid can rightly be considered one of the cultural capitals of Europe. Over the centuries, the Spanish crown has accumulated masterpieces of art, which are now exhibited in numerous museums. Also, the capital of Spain is famous for its cuisine and nightlife. The concentration of nightlife (clubs and bars) is off scale here.

Geography and climate

Madrid is located slightly northeast of the geographical center of the Iberian Peninsula at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range on the banks of the small river Manzanares. Height above sea level - 667 meters.

The climate is continental with hot dry summers and rather cool winters. Madrid is much colder than mediterranean coast. Winters are sometimes quite cold and snowy. But, basically, the temperatures are positive even in the cold period.

Practical information

1. The population is 3.1 million people.
2. The area is 604.3 square kilometers.
3. The language is Spanish.
4. Currency - euro.
5. Visa - Schengen.
6. Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
7. Shops are open from 8-9 am to 8-10 pm. Some shops may be closed from 14.00 to 17.00 (siesta) and on Sundays.
8. You can drink tap water in Madrid.

Addresses of tourist information centers:

• Plaza Mayor, 27
• Plaza de Neptuno
• Ronda de Atocha, s/n (junto al Museo Reina Sofia)
• Plaza de Callao
• Paseo de la Castellana, 138 - Junto al Santiago Bernabéu
• Plaza de Cibeles, 1
• Avenida Hispanidad
• Calle Leganitos, 19

Story

The first mention of the city dates back to the 10th century, when the Emir of Toledo Mohammed I founded the Majirit fortress here. A small town grew up around the fortress, which was conquered by Alfonso VI in the 11th century. From the name of the old Arab fortress most likely comes the modern name of the city.

Until the 16th century, Madrid was a provincial Spanish city, the development of which largely depended on the state of relations between the Arabs and the Spaniards. Everything changed in 1561, when King Philip II moved the capital of Spain here.

The golden age of Madrid began under King Charles III of the Bourbon dynasty. At this time they were invited famous architects which significantly changed the face of the city. Madrid received many neoclassical buildings and was greatly improved. In 1808, Madrid was captured by Bonaparte's troops. A few years later began liberation war which led to the revolution. Subsequently, Ferdinand VII became king of Spain. Under his daughter Isabella II, almost all city fortifications and gates were demolished in order to ensure the rapid growth of the city.

Further serious reconstruction of Madrid happened in the late 19th - early 20th century. The capital of Spain received wide avenues and spacious squares, and the Art Nouveau style was the soloist in architecture. In the 40s of the 20th century, many historical buildings and monuments were damaged during the civil war. After Franco's death and the end of his dictatorship, Spain became a constitutional monarchy.

How to get there

Getting to Madrid is not difficult. This is one of the largest transport centers in Europe. The airport is located 13 km from the center and has four terminals. The most convenient way to get to historical center are 24-hour express buses that will take you to the main train station (Atocha). The fare is 5 euros. Payment in cash to the driver. The cost of a taxi is about 30 euros. A 10-minute walk from terminal 1 there is a metro stop (line 5 - green line), which takes you directly to the center. You can also take line 8 (pink line) to Nuevos Ministerios station and then with transfers to the center.

The capital of Spain is connected by rail with almost all major cities in Spain and Europe: Barcelona, ​​Paris, Milan, Valencia, Lisbon, etc. Bus service is also well developed.

Public transport in Madrid is considered one of the best in Europe. The length of the underground lines is second only to the London Underground. Metro and buses have single ticket. A ticket for five stations costs 1.5 euros, for ten - 2 euros. You can buy a ticket for 1,2,3 ... 7 days. A few words about Madrid traffic - we strongly do not recommend moving around the city by car, because in the city center there are often problems with parking and traffic jams.

Shopping and shopping

Shopping areas and markets:

• Sol-Salamanca (Gran Vía area) is the most popular shopping area. On Calle Ortega you can find many branded and designer shops. Here is one of the largest shopping centers Spain - El Corte Ingles.
• Chueca (Fuencarral Street) is the most avant-garde and modern part of Madrid. Here you can find many shops and restaurants.
• Calle Toledo - shops with traditional Spanish goods.
• El Rastro is the largest swap meet which works on Sundays.
• El Mercado de San Miguel is a traditional market.

In the suburbs of Madrid, at Calle Juan Ramón Jimenez 3, Las Rozas, there is a large outlet.

Food and drink

Madrid is famous for its food and typical Spanish cuisine. From traditional dishes worth a try:

• Gallinejas - roast lamb
• Callos a la Madrileña - spiced beef in a pot
• Cocido Madrileño - stew with chickpeas and vegetables
• Oreja de Cerdo - pork ears in garlic
• Sopa de Ajo - garlic soup

Of the traditional products, it is worth trying meat products (for example, jamon), Spanish wine.

Attractions

The main attractions and the most interesting places in Madrid.

Puerta del Sol ("Gate of the Sun") is one of the most famous squares Madrid and one of the busiest places in the capital of Spain. It is the central point of the city and the radial center of all Spanish roads ( zero kilometer). In the Middle Ages, there was one of the city gates, which were oriented to the east. Puerta del Sol received its modern form during the reign of Isabella II.

Attractions:

• Large equestrian statue of Charles III.
• The 20-ton statue "The Bear and the Strawberry Tree" is one of the symbols of the capital of Spain.
• 18th century post office building with clock.

One of Madrid's main shopping streets, Preciados, begins at Puerta del Sol.

Plaza Mayor (Main Square) - a grandiose square with arcades, one of the most popular places in Madrid. It was founded in the 17th century during the reign of Philip III. The area has a rectangular shape of 129 by 94 meters and is made in the same Spanish Baroque style. Plaza Mayor has 9 streets, more than 100 buildings and 400 balconies. In the past, various ceremonies and bullfights were held here. Currently, the Plaza Mayor houses traditional shops and cafes, and a Christmas market is held.

Attractions:

• Bronze statue of Philip III, erected in the first half of the 20th century.
• Casa de la Panaderia - building on north side squares with corner towers. It was built during the reign of Charles II.

Cibeles is one of the most emblematic places in the Spanish capital. The square is located at the intersection of Alcala, Paseo de Recoletos and Paseo del Prado. In the center of the square is the famous fountain dedicated to the Roman goddess of nature. This marble sculpture is one of the important symbols of Madrid. The fans of Real Madrid celebrate their victories at this fountain. Each of the square's four corners is dominated by historic buildings built in the late 18th and early 20th centuries.

Attractions:

• Marble fountain from the 18th century with a sculpture of the goddess Cybele
• The Communications Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Cibeles Square, which now houses the city hall.
• Paseo del Prado Boulevard
• Linares Palace is a Baroque palace from the 19th century.

The Royal Palace is one of the main attractions of Madrid. This monumental building was built in the 18th century on the model of Versailles. Interestingly, the palace is not the official residence of the King of Spain, but is used mainly for receptions and ceremonies. The palace is often erroneously called the Palacio de Oriente due to its close proximity to the Eastern Square.

In the 9th century, on the site of the modern building, there was an Arab fortress of the Muslim state of Toledo. In the 16th century, the kings of Spain built the Alcazar Castle, which was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve in 1734. The new building began to be built under Felippe V. The famous Versailles served as a model. The palace became the official residence in 1764. Spanish marble and mahogany were used for interior decoration. The interior is decorated with frescoes and paintings by the leading artists of that time - Giakino, Tiepolo, etc. Inside the palace there is an armory and a royal pharmacy.

Plaza de Oriente (East Square) is a square on the east side of the Royal Palace. It was formed in the first half of the 19th century. In the center stands a monument to Philip IV. Also on the square are sculptures that are widely known as Gothic kings. The collection of sculptures includes twenty pieces, corresponding to five kings of the Visigoths and fifteen kings of Spain during the Middle Ages. The building of the Opera House is located on the square.

The Cathedral (Almudena Cathedral) is the main temple of Madrid. The construction of the cathedral began in 1884 under Alphonse XII and was completed only in 1993. religious building was consecrated by John Paul II. The interior of the cathedral is made in neo-gothic style. Interestingly, the temple was built on the site of an ancient mosque.

The Monastery of Encarnacion is an Augustinian monastery founded in the early 17th century. The building was built in the Madrid baroque style of brick and stone.

Plaza de España is located near the Royal Palace and Plaza de Oriente. Its main attraction is the monument to Cervantes.

Gran Via - the most famous and popular tourist street in Spain. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It is famous for its shops, restaurants and clubs. The street ends at the Plaza de España.

The Alcal Gate is a neoclassical granite gate in the Plaza de la Indepensia, one of Madrid's iconic landmarks. The gate was built by Francesco Sabatini in the 18th century. They have three large arches and two rectangular aisles. The facade is decorated with a number of decorative elements with groups of sculptures, capitals, reliefs.

Las Ventas is a bullring. Located in the eastern part of Madrid in the Salamanca area. The red brick structure was built in the 40s of the 20th century and can accommodate about 24,000 inhabitants.

The Retiro Park is the largest and most famous park in Madrid. Its area is approximately 1.5 square kilometers. The park is located on the outskirts of the historical center. This great place for walks.

Temple of Debod - unusual monument close to Plaza España. This ancient Egyptian temple dates back to the second century BC and was donated to Spain in gratitude for helping build the Aswan High Dam.

Ermita de San Antonio is a small chapel with fantastic frescoes by Goya near the Royal Palace.

The Basilica of San Francisco El Grande is an 18th century Franciscan church. It has a neoclassical façade and a dome.

The Santiago Bernabéu is one of the most famous football stadiums in the world. Home arena of Real Madrid.

Major museums:

• The Prado Museum is the largest and most famous museum in Madrid. It houses over 5,000 paintings that rival the Louvre collection in Paris. Most of the collection are Spanish paintings from the 12th to the early 19th century, many of which are well-known masterpieces. The museum's exhibits also cover Italian, Flemish, French, British and German painting, as well as neoclassical Italian sculpture.
• Centro de Arte de Reina Sofía is a contemporary art museum. The elegant modern building is reminiscent of the Pompidou Center in Paris. The art collection includes wonderful masterpieces by Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
• Thyssen-Bornemisza - museum fine arts. The collection contains about 1000 works of art. The collection spans the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism, Impressionism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Modern Art and Pop Art.
• National Archaeological Museum- has a rich collection of artifacts from prehistoric times to the 19th century.
• The Lazaro Galdiano Museum is the private collection of the financier Galdiano. The museum has an extensive collection of around 9,000 works of art displayed in 30 rooms.

Every Madrid has a dozen favorite bars for all occasions: to chat with friends, cheer for your favorite football team or just relax in familiar surroundings. Until recently, admiring the city, tourists added with regret: "Only there is no beach in Madrid." But it is - in the Ojala bar, which is located in the Malasaña area. There is fine sand under your feet, in the bar itself there are summer cocktails, sun loungers and nightly concerts all year round. Places on this beach are not reserved, so it is better to take them early.

Retiro Park

Plaza de la Independencia, 7

When the weather is good (and there is almost no bad weather in Madrid) you can keep company local residents and take a walk in the parks. The most popular among Madrid residents is Retiro Park, which was founded in the 17th century. Entrance to royal park ordinary Madrid were allowed only after 200 years and with certain conditions: neat clothes and decent behavior. Today it favorite place for running and family walks. Here you will also find three exhibition pavilions where contemporary art exhibitions are held. The most beautiful is the Glass Palace, built in 1887. Another pavilion, Velazquez Palace, was built to International Exhibition 1883, and received the name not on behalf of the artist, but on behalf of the architect Ricardo Velasquez, according to the project of which both palaces were built. The third pavilion - "House of cows" - a former milk collection point. Previously, pastures began immediately behind the park and small villages which have now become districts of Madrid. Entrance to the pavilions is usually free.

Bullring Las Ventas

C/ Alcala, 237

Passion for holidays and spectacles is a national trait of the Spaniards. If you want to see their emotions in pure form, then choose the entertainment of your choice: football, flamenco, bullfighting or any street celebration (for example, St. Madrid's Day on May 15). But, unlike football, the Spanish bullfight is unique, as is the Las Ventas arena. It accommodates 23,000 people in its stands. The most important bullfights with star matadors are televised and are as intense as football matches. To complete the ox theme, Rabo de Toro, a traditional Madrid dish, is an oxtail roast that is prepared in many restaurants in the city.

Tablao Casa Patas

De los Cañizares, 10

Madrid dance traditional Spanish flamenco as often as Russians dance. However, there are bars where the spirit of flamenco reigns - people come here to chat, try and improvise. They are called tablaos. If in search of flamenco you wander into the Tirso de Molina area, where tourists are still not very common, then look at the flamenco in the Casa Patas tablao. Of course, the best flamenco dancers live in Madrid, and where to watch their performances is a matter of taste and chance.

Mercado de las Maravillas Market

Mercado de Maravillas, Calle de Bravo Murillo, 122, 28020

The Madrid Market is one of the places to visit, even if you don't plan on shopping. The market for the Spaniard is a club of communication. Perhaps there is no guide that would not mention the San Miguel deli and snack market - it should definitely be in your program. Following it, you should plan a visit to, for example, the Mercado de las Maravillas market, and it’s better on a noisy Friday to see the whole range and flavor. Take a closer look at the simple snacks that Madrid people order at the market, and feel free to ask for the same thing, remembering the three main words - bueno, bonito, barato (“good”, “beautiful”, “cheap”).

Madreat Festival

Plaza Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 1, 28020

Every third weekend of the month, Madrid hosts the MadrEat street food festival and citywide picnic. It is traditionally held in the AZCA park near the Nuevos Ministerios metro station.

Flea market Rastro

Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores, s/n, 28005

In the most multinational area of ​​the city - Lavapies - you can not ignore the Rastro flea market, which on Sundays from 10 am until lunch occupies the area between the Latina and Embajadores quarters. Madrid people come here for cheap things, antiques, paintings, magazines and postcards from the last century.

Tabacalera Creative Center

Calle de Embajadores, 51, 28012

Closer to Embajadores is an old tobacco factory, which, thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts, has turned into an informal creative center for Tabacalera. It hosts exhibitions of contemporary art and photography, admission to which is free. If you want to see the interior galleries of the factory, painted by street artists, it is better to come on Saturday - perhaps you will get to a party with live music and meet the authors of the design.

Vistillas Park

Another secret about the inhabitants of the Spanish capital: Madrid people love to gather on the city's hills and enjoy the sunsets. If you want to join them, come to Vistillas Park, which is right behind the Bailen Bridge.

Center Platea Madrid

Goya, 5-7

By evening, Madrid is transformed. To become a witness to this, it is enough to walk along the street that never sleeps - the noisy and crowded Gran Via. But we will follow further, to the fashionable center of Platea in Columbus Square. After a renovation costing 60 million euros, restaurants and bars, gastronomic boutiques, a pastry shop, a market, a stage and a large movie screen were located under the roof of the former cinema. In addition, it is here that the best chefs of Madrid and all of Spain, marked by Michelin stars, create.

photos: 1 - Bar Ojala, 2, 3, 7, 8 - Wikimedia Commons, 4 - casapatas.wordpress.com,
5 - MadrEat Market, 6 - www.madridtourist.info, 9 - www.construnario.com

The capital of Spain, Madrid is the main Cultural Center country full of various museums, art galleries, theaters and palaces. Mass building in the Art Nouveau style in the first half of the 20th century made the city one of the most elegant European capitals, so any tourist will find something to see in Madrid.

Madrid on the map in Russian

Autonomous Community Madrid- the largest city, whose population exceeds 3 million people.

This population allows the Spanish capital to be one of the most populous cities in Western Europe.

Where is?

Madrid is located in the geographical center of Spain far from the seas and is the center of the homonymous provinces Madrid. Distance above sea level - more than 660 meters.

Read in what are the weather conditions in Spain by months, and choose the best time to explore the capital.

Main excursion areas

In total, in the Spanish capital there are 21 district, but not all of them are of great interest to tourists. The main areas visited by guests of the city are:

• Centro, or simply Center. The oldest part of the city, in which sights are concentrated from the founding of the city to the 19th-20th centuries. The center, in turn, is subdivided into the Austrian region, Chueca, Malasaña, Chamberi and some others. It is in the Centro area that the main part of museums, architectural masterpieces and just interesting places cities;
• Area Salamanca- an elite district of the city, built up since the end of the 19th century. Salamanca is full of expensive restaurants and chic boutiques, so the prices and the audience here are appropriate;
• Area Castellana named after the avenue of the same name, stretching from Spanish Square to Columbus Square. The Castellana area is famous for its shops and restaurants, as well as the Santiago Bernabeu stadium;
• Arganzuela And Retiro- "lungs" of Madrid. In these areas are the main parks of the city: Madrid Rio and Buen Retiro;

Not only residents of Madrid, who take a break from the bustle of the city, like to come here, but also tourists, because these parks are significant sights in themselves.

• Chamartin- the main business district of the city, built up with the latest buildings. Chamartin is often referred to as the "Spanish Manhattan" for its many skyscrapers.

Top 10 main attractions - photos with names and descriptions



Not many ancient buildings have been preserved in Madrid, so the main attractions of the city are numerous museums and massive Art Nouveau buildings.

Royal Palace of Madrid is located in the city center. The building in the Italian Baroque style was erected in the middle of the 18th century by architects from the Apennines F. Juvarru and D. Sacchetti.

Now the palace is practically not visited by the royal family of Spain, so the building is more used as museum. This is facilitated by frescoes by Italian, Flemish and German masters, antique furniture, collections of weapons and Stradivarius violins and many other art and decor items placed as an exhibition.

Prado Museum- the largest in Spain and one of the most visited museums in Spain. The Prado Art Museum was opened in the second half of the 18th century and now has the most complete collection of famous Spanish painters: El Greco, Velázquez and Goya.

Also here is a collection of Renaissance artists from other European countries: Bosch, Veronese, Caravaggio, Raphael, Durer, Rubens, Brueghel. The collection of paintings by the great European Renaissance artists has been collected by the Spanish monarchs since the 16th century. The building itself, which houses the museum, is an architectural monument. late classicism.

Square Plaza Mayor claims to be the main one in the city and is the main front square of the city. It was built at the beginning of the 17th century, but due to a fire at the end of the 18th century, it was rebuilt almost anew in the Baroque style.

crowns architectural ensemble Square monument to King Philip III, made in the XVII century.

Square cibeles- the third on the list of the famous squares of Madrid, which also claims to be the main one in Madrid. The main attractions of the square are the fountain and palace of the same name, worthy of special mention.



Palace of Cibeles was erected at the beginning of the 20th century in the art nouveau style (modern variation) and was originally used as the Main Post Office, and has now been turned into the residence of the mayor of Madrid.

Cibeles Fountain was erected in the 18th century and it was from him that the name of the square came from; in the center of the fountain there is a sculptural composition of the goddess Cybele, who gave the name to the fountain and the entire square. The architectural ensemble of the square is completed by the magnificent buildings of the Bank of Spain and the Palace of Linares.

Puerta del Sol- Another contender for the title of the main square of the city. Puerta del Sol is translated as “gate of the sun”, that is how the gate was called, which until the 16th century stood in this place and transferred its name to the square.

The square is a crossroads for 8 streets at once, and its final ensemble took shape by the end of the 19th century, although most of The territory of Puerta del Sol is built up with buildings of the 18th century. A sculptural composition is placed on the square "The Bear and the Strawberry Tree", which has been a symbol of Madrid for almost a millennium, depicted on the coat of arms of the city.

Don't know how much money to take with you to Spain? Take a look and you will find out the approximate expenses for a Spanish holiday.

Reina Sofia Art Center- another renowned Art Museum Madrid, one of the TOP 20 most visited museums in the world.

The basis of the museum's exposition is the work of artists of the 20th century, primarily avant-garde artists. The most famous authors whose paintings are exhibited in the museum are the great Spanish painters Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, and the main masterpiece is considered "Guernica" Picasso.

Cathedral of Almudena- the Cathedral of Madrid, founded at the end of the 20th century. The cathedral is dedicated to the statuette of the Virgin Mary Almudena, found in the Middle Ages in an Arab fortress (translated from Arabic, Almudena means "fortress").



The cathedral was built over more than 100 years designed by different architects, so it combines the styles of Neo-Gothic, Neo-Baroque and Neo Herreresco (Herreresco - national version renaissance style).

The interiors of the cathedral are decorated with relics much older than the temple, such as a 16th-century altarpiece or a statue of the Virgin Mary of the same age.

Gran Via street unofficially recognized as the central street of Madrid. It was planned and built at the beginning of the 20th century, but was merged into a single avenue much later. Throughout its lifetime, various parts of the street were worn different names, at one time a part of the avenue was even called the Street of Russia, and then the Street of the Soviet Union.

Most of the street was built up in the first half of the 20th century in exquisite art nouveau (modern) and art deco styles. In particular, here is Europe's first skyscraper- Telephonika company building (89 meters, built in 1929).

Las Ventas- the largest in the capital of Spain arena for bullfighting, the national sport of the Spaniards. Las Ventas was built in the 20s of the XX century in order to satisfy the passion of the people of Madrid for this controversial spectacle.



Arena accommodates almost 24 thousand spectators, and in front of its entrance there are statues of two famous matadors of the past. Within the walls of Las Ventas, a museum has been opened, in the exposition of which you can find not only the heads of dead bulls, but also the clothes of matadors who died during the performance.

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is the home arena for one of the most titled football clubs Europe Real. The stadium can accommodate about 80 thousand spectators and is one of the largest in Europe.

In this arena royal club(this is how the name of the team is translated) takes on its rivals in the Spanish Example and European competitions. Every game, a full stadium gathers to look at the best football players on the planet.

Self-guided routes around the area

Spain is a small state by Russian standards, so a few days will be enough to get anywhere in the country. On the other hand, the density in Spain is amazing, so when choosing a tour outside the capital, you have to choose the most interesting places.

If the main sights of Madrid have been explored, and there is still 1-2 days of free time left, then you can spend them on the ancient city Alcala de Henares, central part which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The sights of the city are ancient churches, one of the oldest universities in Spain, urban development of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Alcala de Henares - birthplace of Cervantes, everyone can visit the house where the famous writer was born. The city is located near Madrid, just 25 km from the center of the capital.

Where to go for 3-4 days?

If you have several days to travel outside of Madrid, you can independently explore the ancient cities located in the center of the country in the historical province Castile. ancient capital, located southwest of Madrid, impresses with its ancient Cathedral of Santa Maria, the Alcazar fortress and the San Servando castle, whose age exceeds 500-600 years.

Toledo is the pearl of central Spain, exceeding even Madrid in antiquity and significance of sights.

Distance from the capital to Toledo 70 km, so when traveling to Madrid, be sure to make time to visit this ancient city.

Where to go with children?

Warner Park located in the suburbs of Madrid in the town of San Martin de la Vega and has a well-deserved nickname "Spanish Disneyland". The main difference from the usual Walt Disney parks is that in Warner the main characters are cartoon characters from Warner Brothers.

Plus the prices at Warner Park much lower than Disneyland Paris and the US. Otherwise, Warner repeats the concept of Disney parks and is sure to impress children with its rides, themed areas and show programs.

Unfortunately, Madrid, as a rule, is not included in the list of cities that travelers with children want to visit in the first place. This circumstance is explained quite simply - after all, the Spanish capital is located far from the sea, but Madrid certainly deserves a visit, because there are a lot of interesting things in it. Of course, it is unrealistic to admire all its sights in 2-3 days, but you can see the main ones.

It is best to go to Madrid to explore it in September-October or April-May, because in summer it is really hot in it, it almost turns into a stone jungle. You can go there either for spring or for autumn vacation. It will be the most right time. To save time, you can use the services tourist bus, then you can see more sights.

As a rule, a tour of any city begins with its heart - from the central square. There are practically two of them in Madrid - "Puerta del Sol" (translated into Russian as the Gate of the Sun), it was the main entrance gate to the city in the medieval period, and Plaza Mayor, this name is translated as the Main Square. It is easier to start sightseeing from Puerta del Sol, as the rays of 8 major Madrid streets converge there, and it is a large transport hub, in which several metro lines also intersect. It's always noisy and crowded here. Be sure to take pictures near the sculpture of a bear, which is depicted standing on its hind legs in front of a strawberry tree. This unusual sculpture is considered one of the symbols of Madrid.

In the center of the square, also find a mark - zero kilometer. This is the starting point of Spain, all distances of the country are measured from it. It must be said that everything progressive also came to the city through this square - a gas lamp was lit on it for the first time, the first horse tram and the first electricity line began to move from here, and the first tram later began to run along the route from here. And after the end of the first World War, the very first metro station was opened on Puerto del Sol.

From this area to main street- Calle Mayor with beautiful buildings, decorated with sculptures, you can go to another central square - Placa Mayor. It is also very colorful, but its unusualness lies in the fact that it is surrounded by only two houses - the Baker's House with tower clock and the Spanish coat of arms of the period of the reign of Carlos II and the House of the Butcher. In the center of the square is a monument to King Philip III. This area was the first spanish square equipped for bullfighting. In summer the square is converted into a huge theatrical and musical venue during fiestas, in autumn the square is occupied by a book fair, and in winter - by a Christmas market. Not far from the square is the oldest Spanish market - Mercado de San Miguel.

If you walk further along Calle Mayor, you will come to a beautiful Madrid attraction - the building of the Almudena Cathedral. Its dome offers a magnificent view of the mountain range and the city itself. And, of course, one cannot pass by the most beautiful building of the Royal Palace, the construction of which began back in 1737. Its foundation was laid - a lead box with coins from different Spanish cities and the consecrated stone of the Alcazar.

Following further along Calle de Bailen, you will see Oriente Square, where the building of the Royal Theater and statues of Spanish kings are located. The next square you will come across along the way is the Plaza de España. On it is very interesting monument Cervantes. The author of Don Quixote sits in the center, surrounded by the heroes of his works. Officially, the monument is called the Fountain of Literature. Indeed, water is flowing slightly behind him.

Then you can walk to Debod Park, where you will see an ancient Egyptian temple. This temple was brought to the Spanish capital in 1968 at the request of the Egyptian President. The fact is that during the construction of the Aswan Dam, many ancient sanctuaries could be under water. Parts of the temple were delivered first by ship to Valencia, and then transported by land to Madrid, where they were collected in the city park. It is best to view the temple in the evening, then when illuminated, it looks more mysterious.

The second day can be devoted to visiting Madrid museums. Of course, if you have very young children, then they will not be interested. But with children of primary school age, you can visit at least one of the famous city museums: the Prado with its magnificent collection of the most famous European artists, the Reina Sofia Center for the Arts with its exposition of avant-garde artists and Picasso's famous Guernica, the Thyssen-Bornemisz Museum or the Maritime a museum that will be interesting for children and where you can get acquainted with the history of the development of navigation in Spain, starting from the 15th century.

If you have time, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens of Madrid and the old brick building of the Atocha station. Inside it is a magnificent oasis of tropical plants, and live turtles swim in the ponds.

Separately, children can be brought to Casa de Campo - this is an entertainment center with swimming pools, a zoo with an aquarium and an amusement park, it has carousels even for the smallest children. You can also go to Faunina - modern park animals. There, young tourists will get acquainted with the "polar ecosystem" and the "Amazon jungle". It will also be interesting to visit Railway Museum and look at old railway cars, engines and everything related to the railway. IN summer time you can go to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, where the famous Real Madrid football team plays and trains, and take a walk in the Buen Retiro Park. In summer, puppet shows and boat rides are often held there. And there is a very picturesque vegetation.