Culture of Madrid. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces
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.
For local residents social and financial positions play a vital role. Residents of Madrid are very willful. They are distinguished by pride and attention to appearance. Image and reputation … Open
Madrid is a paradise for lovers of nightlife and recreation. Here you will find attractive nightclubs, many bars, various shops and sports centers, and, of course, amusement parks for family … Open
A place considered to be very unusual for Madrid can be found by circling the Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena and coming down a bit. Then a view of the Muralla Árabe opens up – a monument reminiscent of Arab rule in the history of Spain. This monument was built in the 9th century, and besides it, there was a fortress too, the ruins of which are left until now. There are other buildings that bring to mind this era in the history of Madrid. We are talking about the Torre de Los Lujanes and Casa de Don Álvaro de Luján. They were built in the 15th century, however, the house managed to be two things – firstly, it was the residence of the kings’ servants and then the telegraph station. In general, the Plaza de la Villa, on which architectural monuments are located, is in itself a tourist attraction.
1. The system of buses is very well-developed in the city, so travelers can easily get to any area of Madrid by public transport. If you plan to travel frequently, you can purchase a … Open
The Casa Gallardo building is very attractive from an architectural point of view – it is a combination of modernism, baroque and Art Nouveau. The building was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Federico Rey. Metropolis is one of the main symbols of the city, whose main feature is the statue of the winged goddess Victoria (it was formerly that of the mythological Phoenix and Ganymede sitting on its wing), at the very top – that is exactly how you can recognize the structure. In all of Spain, bullfighting buildings are a must visit, because they reflect the “spirit” of the country. In the capital of the state, this is certainly not an exception as here you will find a building of this kind which is called Plaza de Toros de las Ventas.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Madrid and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.
City tours, excursions and tickets in Madrid and surroundings
Plan your own excursion through Madrid: churches, museums and castles
Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid
Location on the map: Facts:
» Palacio de Cibeles was originally designed as the central office of the telephone service, post and telegraph of Spain. » The post office was built in 1918 and was called the Palace of Communication.
» Palace of Communication now houses the City Hall.
» This monumental building, decorating the area, represents one of the four pillars of modern civilization, power.
» Palacio de Cibeles consists of two buildings integrated with each other.
» This construction is one of the first examples of modernist architecture.
Royal Palace of Madrid, Madrid
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Royal Palace in Madrid hosts a bulk of the official ceremonies, in which King of Spain takes part. Also, the palace is the official residence of the Spanish monarchs. » The Royal Palace in Madrid is decorated with frescoes by Caravaggio, Velazquez, Goya; inside the building there is the collection of Stradivarius violins. The courtyard is decorated with gilded lanterns.
» Gasparini Hall in the palace is lined with silk and silver lanterns, in the center there is a table of mosaics; chandeliers are made of silver and crystal, the walls are decorated with mirrors.
» The armory of the Royal Palace houses a unique collection of arms and armor of the Austrian monarchs.
Almudena Cathedral, Madrid
Location on the map: Facts:
» Almudena Cathedral is decorated with the statue of the Holy Virgin of Almudena, which is also called the statue of the Blessed Virgin, who is the patron saint of Spanish capital. » According to the legend, the figure of the Virgin Mary was found here in the wall of an ancient Arab fortress, and the Cathedral was built at that site. Almudena is translated from Arab as ‘the fortress’.
» The main altar of the Cathedral of Granada is made of green marble.
» According to the legend, the statue of the Blessed Virgin Almudena was brought to Spain by the apostle James, who preached the Christian faith in the Pyrenees in the 1st century.
» The casket containing the remains of St. Isidro is kept in a duct under the altar.
Museo del Prado, Madrid
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Prado Museum in Madrid is one of the most visited museums in the world. » Prado features a unique collection of Spanish, Flemish and Italian art masters such as Velazquez, Goya, Bosch, and Rubens.
» Queen Isabel de Braganza was actively involved in development of the Prado Museum.
» The museum's collection began to be formed by the Spanish kings since the reign of Charles V and his son Philip II.
» At the time of the opening the museum's collection has consisted of 311 paintings.
Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid
Location on the map: Facts:
» Museum of Natural Science features an important and unique collection of scientific specimens of nature. The venue actively develops the program of exhibitions and educational activities to all visitors. » The museum is considered one of the largest centers in the whole Mediterranean region and has a collection of 6 million exhibits.
» In 1815 the museum was renamed and became known as the Royal Museum of Natural Sciences.
» Royal Cabinet of Natural Sciences was established during the reign of Carlos III, when the Spanish merchant Pedro Franco Dávila agreed to sell his collection of antiquities to the Spanish king.
» During the Spanish Civil War, the museum was badly damaged in Madrid bombings and was closed for restoration.
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What to visit during two-day excursion in Madrid
The Three Big Art Galleries
Where: Paseo del Prado s/n, Madrid;
Where: Paseo del Prado s/n, Madrid;
The Thyssen-bornemisza Museum
Where: Palacio de Villahermosa, Paseo del Prado 8, Madrid;
Where: Palacio de Villahermosa, Paseo del Prado 8, Madrid;
The Reina Sofia Museum
Where: C/Santa Isabel 52, Madrid;
Where: C/Santa Isabel 52, Madrid;
Palacio Real
Where: Plaza de Oriente, Madrid; Telephone: +34 914 548 800; Metro: Ópera;
Where: Plaza de Oriente, Madrid; Telephone: +34 914 548 800; Metro: Ópera;
Reference information
Public palaces near Madrid
♥ Palace 'Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales' , 0.3 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Real Monasterio de La Encarnación' , 0.8 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Buenavista Palace' , 0.9 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Royal Palace of Madrid' , 0.9 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Palacio de Comunicaciones de Madrid' , 1 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Palacio Longoria' , 1.1 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Palacio de la Moncloa' , 4.2 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales' , 0.3 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Real Monasterio de La Encarnación' , 0.8 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Buenavista Palace' , 0.9 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Royal Palace of Madrid' , 0.9 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Palacio de Comunicaciones de Madrid' , 1 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Palacio Longoria' , 1.1 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Palace 'Palacio de la Moncloa' , 4.2 km from the center. On the map Photo
Art galleries in Madrid and around
♥ Art museum 'Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando' Madrid, 0.3 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Art museum 'Museo Thyssen Bornemisza' Madrid, 0.7 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Art museum 'Museo del Prado' Madrid, 1 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Art museum 'Museo Cerralbo' Madrid, 1.2 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Art museum 'Museo Reina Sofia' Madrid, 1.2 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Art museum 'Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando' Madrid, 0.3 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Art museum 'Museo Thyssen Bornemisza' Madrid, 0.7 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Art museum 'Museo del Prado' Madrid, 1 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Art museum 'Museo Cerralbo' Madrid, 1.2 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Art museum 'Museo Reina Sofia' Madrid, 1.2 km from the center. On the map Photo
Cathedrals and basilicas near Madrid
♥ Catedral de la Asunción de la Virgen, Segovia, 69.2 km from the center. On the map Photo
♥ Catedral de la Asunción de la Virgen, Segovia, 69.2 km from the center. On the map Photo
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Photogallery of cultural heritage of Madrid
Landmarks of culture on Madrid map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc
Culture guide to Madrid. Which fascinating sights to visit once you are in Madrid: temples, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Recommendations (with addresses, phone numbers and links) on the places 'must visit' in Madrid. Plan your own city excursion by using this page info!