Sightseeing in Madrid - Cultural Sights 'Must Visit' & 'Must See'

The capital of Spain has prepared a lot of pleasant surprises for fans of fascinating excursions. In the city you will find widest selection of historical and architectural sites. Don’t forget to pay attention to the beautiful Royal Palace (Palacio Real), the construction of which was completed in 1734. Until 1931 the palace was the main royal residence. Even nowadays the halls of the palace hold important events and political meetings. A large part of the premises is open to visitors, so tourists can stroll through beautiful rooms and look at this amazing example of luxury.

Art lovers should not forget to visit Museo Lazaro Galdiano, in 37 rooms of which are exhibited collections of priceless sculptures, paintings, folk costumes and weapons. The museum is located in a beautiful mansion of the 19th century, which itself is an object of a great value. Among the famous architectural buildings of Madrid we should definitely distinguish Goya Pantheon (Panteon de Goya). The great artist directly participated in the decoration of the dome of the chapel. There are also frescoes in the church. The frescoes depict the scenes from Goya's stories about St. Anthony. The chapel is the tomb of the world famous painter.

Parque del Retiro is simply the best place for hiking and outdoor recreation. The park is located in the heart of the city and covers an area of 140 hectares. Several centuries ago Philip IV liked having rest in this beautiful garden. It is also worth making a walk in the picturesque quarter named La Morera. This is the place where first settlers of the city built their homes. Until the 11th century a large Arab fortress was located on the site of the quarter. Even nowadays tourists will see numerous historical monuments and buildings there. The most striking sights of this part of the city are Chapel of Obispo and the beautiful San Andreas Church. During a walk through Puerta del Sol Square, you can see numerous interesting monuments and sculptures. "The Bear and the Strawberry Tree" is by far one of the most unusual monuments. This is a statue made of stone with splashes of turquoise, and it looks very impressive. Of course, numerous interesting legends are connected with the statue. According to one version, many years ago a large strawberry grove was located on the site of modern Madrid, and bears were the main inhabitants of it.

Other sides of Madrid:
Local traditions and lifestyle
Cuisine and restaurants of Madrid
Madrid attractions and nightlife
Preparation for Madrid: Tips
Madrid cityguide
Photogallery of Madrid