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MADRID, SPAIN
Maybe you're still in the supposition that Barcelona is the place to be when it comes down to impressive cultural sights. Well, you're wrong then. It will take you at least several days to see all landmarks, museums, galleries and parks in Madrid.
When wandering through the old centre, check out Calle and Plaza Mayor (medieval Madrid) which is lined by beautiful buildings and various old (impressively ornamented) churches. Relax at one of the many terraces on the old plazas. The city has several green spots, so there will always be a park or garden where you can relax a bit and watch the world go by. |
Madrid Art et Luxe
Chaumat
AllPosters.com
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The Retiro Park is worth checking out with its rose gardens and Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace is only one of the many palaces in Madrid. The Palacio Real, the Palace of the Royal Family, takes the second place on the list of most visited sights in Madrid.
The undeniable number one attraction still is a visit to the three museums centred around Paseo del Prado. First, there is the Prado with its impressive and extensive both Spanish and international collection. Besides that, you can see the work of the famous Spanish masters, such as Picasso, Miro and Dali, in the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Last but certainly not least is the equally impressive Thyyssen Bornemisza Museum, located in the Villahermosa Palace. These three museums are probably the most popular ones, but only a small section of what Madrid has to offer when it comes down to museums.
HISTORY OF MADRID
The origins of the city dates back to the Paleolithic. Around 1000 B.C, Madrid was inhabited by Iberian tribes, mingling later with Celtics. In 218 B.C the Roman colonization began and the region of Madrid became a focal point of numerous Roman roads. After the decline of the Empire, in the fifth century Madrid became a Visigothic seat with capital in Toledo.
In X-th century, the Arabs invaded Madrid. Since then, during the years of the Christian re-conquest Madrid changed hands on various occasions until it was finally liberated by King Alfonso VI in 1080.
During the XV-th century, the city became the usual residence of the Royal family. In the XVI-th century, Madrid had about 17.000 inhabitants and it was then, that the King Felipe II moved the Royal Court and transformed Madrid into capital. During this period Madrid suffered a great architectural and cultural expansion, known as the Golden Age with writers as Cervantes, Lope de Vega, etc.
In the XVII-th century Madrid became the most important city in Spain with the constructions of museums, gardens, etc.
In the XIX-th century, the first uprising against Napoleon took place in the city and it was the origin of the War of Independence.
In the twentieth century, excluding the years of the Civil War (1936-1939), Madrid became a large cosmopolitan city, having been named the European Cultural Capital in 1992.
SIGHTS
The art walk is a must for the art lover. The impressive combination of paintings, sculptures and architecture, concentrated in the three museums around the Paseo del Prado, will make a lasting impression. The three famous museums of Madrid are the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia Museum.
The Pardo Museum houses the most important schools of painting from the 12th to the 19th century. The Spanish painting from 19th century can be seen at Cason del Buen Retiro.
The main visit during you stay in Madrid, except for the Prado Museum, will probably be a visit to the Palacio Real. Open all days except on Mondays and on days when the royal Royal family visits the palace. You can see the impact of three centuries of Royal family and pay a visit to the very surprising Royal Pharmacy and Royal Armory for example. This is one of the greatest collections in the world.
The Plaza Mayor is located on the old Plaza del Arrabal, the main commercial nucleus of Medieval Madrid. Juan de Herrera, the architect of Felipe II, made the first plans for it. Plaza Mayor was finally constructed by Juan Gomez de Mora. Originally it was the site of all public ceremonies: public executions, the burning of heretics condemned by the inquisition, bullfights, etc. The symmetry is the work of Villanueva, carried out in 1961.
The Corridor Houses are the most characteristic examples of accommodation of Madrilenian worlkers in the 18th century. Meson de Paredes 79 and La Corrala at 12 Tribulete Str. are the most famous and the latter has been declared a National Monument.
Puerta de Alcala, built by Francisco Sabatini in 1769, it is one of the most significant monuments in Madrid. This gate was the old entrance to the city by the Aragon road. Carlos III ordered it to be build in order to give Madrid a grandiose entrance in the form of triumphal arc. It has five arches and twelve columns to resemble to the Roman Capitol.
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