Sightseeing in Madrid - what to see. Complete travel guide

Madrid is the capital and the largest city of Spain. This is also the capital of the autonomous province that has the same name. The current population of the city is about 5.5 million people. Madrid is inseparable from its history, but today, in the beginning of the XXI century, this is primarily a city that lives a full life. This is a noisy and cheerful city, a city of holidays and exhibitions.

Puerta del Sol.
Puerta del Sol is one of the main squares of Madrid. In the XV century, when the city was surrounded by a wall, Puerta del Sol was one of the city’s gates that was used as an entrance to Madrid. The square is decorated with numerous fountains and sculptures. The large post office Casa de Correos is also located here. This is the place where the government of the province of Madrid is situated. The square is a starting point for all roads in the country.

Plaza Mayor.
This is one of the most famous squares of the Spanish capital. The square was built in the XII century. Starting from the XV century, the square is located within the city walls of Madrid. This is a truly wonderful and cozy place with numerous cafes and restaurants. In summer, the square is the main destination for numerous street performers and musicians. Plaza Mayor is particularly popular with tourists, but this doesn’t apply much to Madrid residents. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Thyssen-Bornemisza is one of the best museums in Madrid , which is based on a private collection of Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza. Over time, the majority of the collection has come into the possession of the country. The exposition is represented by paintings of the XIII-XX centuries, among which one will find many great paintings by Goya, Rembrandt, Picasso and Piet Mondrian. Together with the Prado and the Reina Sofia Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is included in the so-called Golden Triangle.

The Prado Museum.
The Prado Museum , which is by far one of the most famous museums the world, was originally not intended to become an art museum. According to the plan of King Carlos III, who gave the order about the construction of the museum in 1785, the building was to become the Museum of Natural Sciences. The construction lasted for a very long time (almost 35 years), and when the museum was completed, it was decided to keep a collection of works of art of the Spanish royal family in it. The museum exhibits paintings by numerous great masters - Francisco Goya, Velazquez, El Greco. In Prado visitors will find well-known works by Goya as well as his early creations. The great artist has made the portraits of the King Carlos IV family, which are also exhibited here. The Prado Museum also exhibits famous paintings - "May 2" and "May 3" - dedicated to riots against the French. In the first painting the artist depicted the riot that had taken place at Puerta del Sol Square. The second picture shows the punishment of the rebels. During his last years Goya was completely deaf. He lived completely alone and this was a major cause of a deep depression, which is clearly visible in his late works.

However, the most famous painting of the Prado Museum was created not by Goya, but by Velasquez. This is "Las Meninas", a self-portrait with the members of the royal family. The royal couple is shown reflected in a mirror behind Velazquez. Picasso admired this painting so much that he even made several copies of it. Of course, this painting is not everything that the museum can offer to its visitors. The museum also houses paintings by Flemish, Dutch, German, French and Italian painters. Many of them were collected during the times when these regions were ruled by Span.

San Francisco El Grande.
This is the largest church in Madrid . The church exhibits a rich collection of art that includes, for example, paintings by Goya and Zurbaran and sculptures by Ricardo Bellver and Mariano Benlliure. All works of art are divided between the seven chapels. Besides the works of art, do not forget to pay attention to the great cathedral that is 33 meters in diameter. The cathedral has beautiful stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings covered with exquisite frescoes. The church itself is made in a classic architectural style of the XVIII century. The entrance to the basilica is free. It is open to visitors from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 to 13 hours and from 16 to 19.

Catedral de la Almudena.
The construction of Catedral de la Almudena in honor of Our Lady of Almudena took place in the XVI century. However, actual works started only in 1879. The project was designed by architect Francisco de Cubas. During the period of the Spanish Civil War all construction works were suspended. The cathedral was completely rebuilt and consecrated by Pope John Paul II only in 1993. Its interior decoration is distinguished by a contemporary style. Many modern works of art were used in the decoration of the cathedral.

Casa de Campo Park.
Casa de Campo is a large park located on the right bank of the Manzanares River, west of Madrid. The total area of the park is 17.5 km². Many years ago Casa de Campo was a royal hunting area. Nowadays, this place of relaxation is popular not only with tourists, but also with Madrid residents. Here one can easily rent a boat, play tennis or swim in the pool. The southern part of the park is the location of the Parque Zoológico Zoo and the amusement park Parque de Atracciones . In summer, Casa de Campo frequently organizes various shows.

Castillo de los Mendoza is located in the small town of Manzanares el Real at the foot of a mountain range near Madrid. This is a picturesque, beautifully restored castle of the XV century that is a wonderful example of the Castilian style. There is a church of the XVI century near the castle. The whole territory of Castillo de los Mendoza is open to visitors. The rocky area around the castle, La Pedriza, is a very popular place for hiking.