Madrid
Community, Spain Travel & Accommodation Guide
|
Travel To Madrid: Europe's
Eldest Infant by Frank Johnson
Hotels
in Madrid - Madrid Self-Catering
Apartments - Madrid Travel Guide
| Madrid may have been full
of life by 1200 A.D. but it was not until 1979 that the capital city of
Spain held its first free and democratic elections. The tumultuous tribulations
of the 20th century have left a distinct flavor about the art, attitude
and culture in Madrid. Visitors will find a thriving and exuberant local
population proud and eager to share its resilient, if not neglected, history
with the world.
The modern heart and soul
of Spain is central to the entire Iberian Peninsula, making Madrid the
ideal place to initiate your Spanish adventure. Madrid is also rich with
Moorish heritage as it was a contentious battleground between the Islamic
and Christian Empires for much of the modern era. A stroll through Barrio
de la Morería (Moorish Quarter) invokes an essence of Medieval Madrid
through ornate Islamic architecture and hidden plazas. The art and architecture
of Madrid also speaks of the temporary but influential Habsburg and Bourbon
Rules. |
Puerta
Del Sol, Madrid, Spain
Buy
at AllPosters.com
|
Palacio
Real, Madrid, Spain
Buy
at AllPosters.com
|
Museum Hop 'Til You Drop
Madrid is the internationally
celebrated home of Spain's most prominent art collections. The Museo del
Prado houses the world's largest and most prized collection featuring over
8,600 master works by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Ribera, Raphael,
Botticelli, Fra Angélico, and Rembrandt, to name a few. Since 1819,
the collection has been moved twice - during the Spanish Civil War and
WWII - and has sustained immaculate condition. The Prado is also a work
of art in its own right, designed by famed 18th century architect Juan
de Villanueva. For the grandeur and curious intricacies of contemporary
Spanish art, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia is a crucial
visit. Once you have managed to overcome the awe of Picasso's Guernica,
make sure to explore the fascinating world of Spanish photography, sculpture
and film along with an incredible collection of Kandinsky, Miró
and Dalí. Finally, take a journey through royal Madrid at the Palacio
Real. |
The 2800-room palace is
no longer inhabited by the royal family, but the walls are lined with elaborate
frescos and original artwork by the likes of El Greco and Goya. Stop by
the two beautiful gardens and get your fix of ancient apothecary remedies
in the Farmacia Real.
| Madrid in Present Tense
In Madrid it is easy to leave
history behind and become immersed in the boisterous blooming lifestyle
that fills the streets. The pulse of Madrid's beating heart can be found
in the Plaza Mayor, the town square built in 1619 by Juan Gómez
de Mora. Although it's unlikely you'll be able to throw stones at heretics
here anymore, console yourself with an alfresco drink and pastry at one
of the many cafes. For the resilient shopper, do not miss the Sunday Rastro
flea market along the Calle de la Ribera de Curtidos, where bargain hunters
and pack-rats alike will be in seventh heaven.
Travel to Madrid for the
perfect beginning to your Spanish vacation. Many captivating destinations
lie just beyond the city, including the world heritage town of Alcala de
Henares, the royal Aranjuez and the picturesque mountain town of Manzanares
El Real. |
Pedestrians
and Traffic, Madrid, Spain
Buy
at AllPosters.com
|
Hotels
in Madrid - Madrid Self-Catering
Apartments - Madrid Travel Guide
top
|
| About the Author - For
more information on international travel and discount airfare to Madrid,
visit www.cfares.com/, your source for cheap airfare on the web. |
|
