Traveling In Madrid, Spain

Madrid, the capital of Spain is a diverse international city filled with culture. Madrid is a cosmopolitan city and has about 3.3 million people living within the city, and a total of 5.4 million people in the city and the outskirts of Madrid. While Spain has different geographical locations, each known for different characteristics, Madrid is famous for its history, beautiful architecture and art. If you are looking for a European vacation where you can enjoy fine food, art, and exciting nightlife, madrid is the place to visit!

You cannot go to Madrid without visiting the Prado Museum. When I arrived in Madrid, I was so excited to visit this museum that I dropped my bags off at the hotel and went straight to the Prado. The Prado Museum is one of the most famous art galleries in the world as it contains works of the most famous Spanish artists and other European artists. Paintings by Hieronymus Bosch, Velazquez, Francisco de Goya, and Rubens. These artists are the artists you learn about in your history classes and it is incredible to see their works up close. There are about 7000 paintings and sculptures in the museum and a gift shop where you can buy prints of your favorite pieces. Paintings like "The Garden of Earthly Delights" (my personal favorite painting ever) by Hieronymus Bosch and "Las Meninas" by Velazquez are the most famous painting in the museum which people from all over the world come to observe and study. Even if you are not very interested in art, it is an important place to visit as it represents Spanish culture and has became a symbol for Madrid. Just so you know, you are not allowed to take pictures inside. Also, wear comfortable shoes because the floors are made out of marble, just like the floors of the Louvre in France. You should spend at least two hours inside the museum, but more is better! Enjoy!

The Royal Palace of Madrid is in the center of the city and is the residence of the king of Spain. It is a luxurious building surrounded by fountains, sculptures, and beautiful gardens. The family of Spain does not live inside the place, but it is used for important national events and royal gatherings. When I visited madrid, the palace was closed and not open to the public because the president of Chile was meeting with King Juan Carlos. However, I still enjoyed the grandiose architecture and beautiful scenery. The place is on Bailen Street which is always filled with artists and tourists for entertainment. There were a lot of mimes and painters and it created an exciting atmosphere for traveling. I took so many pictures and I loved it! The Sabatini Gardens surround the palace and the neighboring Plaza de Oriente contains many statues of Spanish kings and queens. My tour guide told me that the statues were supposed to be placed on top of the palace, but they were too heavy and so they were placed near the palace instead. Children should also enjoy the palace and gardens as there are many fountains with carvings of horses and lions placed around the palace. Photography is not allowed inside the palace, but I took about 200 pictures of the outside area and the palace. The statues are beautiful and if you have time, look at the detail in the gardens and statues. One of my favorite things about traveling to Europe is looking at the details in the architecture. If you manage to be in Madrid when the palace is not being used, the entrance fee is 10 euros, and 5 euros for students and children.

The Plaza Mayor is Madrid's main square and is a popular destination for tourists. The Plaza Mayor was constructed during the Habsburg period and is visited by thousands of people every year. It is a great place to shop and eat since there are many traditional shops and little cafes where you can eat some Tapas and enjoy Spanish culture. Sometimes Flamenco dancers put on some entertainment for the public. Flamenco is the traditional dance style of Spain and is worth your time to see. The Plaza Mayor has a rectangular shape and the building has many balconies and has a bronze statue of King Phillip III in the center of the plaza which was constructed in 1616. King Phillip III was responsible for the construction of the Plaza Mayor. Because it is such an old square, the Plaza has a rich history of bull fighting, inquisitions, and royal events. The Plaza mayor is definitely one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting Madrid and it has a lot to offer. The Puerta del Sol (gate of the sun) is also another main square in Madrid and is very close to the Plaza Mayor. The Puerta del Sol contains a famous clock that is a symbol of the square and popular among tourists. The Puerta del Sol is in the center of Madrid and has many of Spain's famous symbols that are known worldwide. While the Puerta del Sol is also a shopping center, many tourists gather there to se the statue of the bear and the madrone tree which is a royal symbol of Madrid. This statue weighs about 20 tons and has an interesting history. back in the day when The Royal Palace was surrounded by forests, the men would hunt the bear that ate the berries from the madrone tree. This story is explained on every tour of Madrid and when you see that statue up close, it is hard to believe that it eights 20 tons. There are many hotels and cheap hostels and restaurants along the Puerta del Sol which makes your trip affordable and fun!

Bull Fighting is a major part of Madrid's culture and the history of Spain. While I was not able to watch a bull fight while in Spain, I did visit the Plaza de Toros where bull fights occur. If you do have the opportunity, go see a bull fight because I hear that they are awesome!

The Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid's is Spain's official art museum and gallery. It is named after Queen Sofia of Spain and holds some of the world's most famous paintings. The most famous paintings in the museum are works by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. The museum also has a large library with art and books about Spain and famous artists. You can take pictures inside the museum without flash. Without a doubt, the most famous painting in the museum is Pablo Picasso's huge masterpiece Guernica. It is such a powerful painting and was a response to the bombing of Guernica, Basque Country by Germans and Italians during the Spanish Civil War. Geurnica represents the horrors of war and is definitely the most popular painting in the museum. It is the only painting in the museum which has 4 guards protecting it at once!

I hope that my article about Madrid and its popular tourist spots interested you. Madrid is a great place to vacation and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about taking a vacation to Spain. It is helpful to know Spanish, but if you don't, many people also speak English as it is an international cosmopolitan city. Adios amigos!