Noble Madrid
In the 1600s, Madrid—centered in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula—was
the capital of the Spanish Empire; the largest the world had ever
known. Today, although Spanish power has long since ebbed and Madrid's
size and clout ranks it (arguably) in the second tier of European
capitals, her noble face is still very alluring to visitors.
Go to the Palacio Real, or Royal Palace, a
massively imposing building which looks out over the gardens of
Las Vistillas and El Camp del Moro as well as the Sabatini Gardens
and the Casa de Campo. The Spanish royal family, headed by King
Juan Carlos I, officially resides at the more modest and informal
Zarzuela Palace. But the Palacio Real, completed in 1764 and now
principally a museum, is a worthy attraction for those with a taste
for history and an appreciation for eye-popping gold leaf and intricately
carved furnishings.
Unless you can spare two or three days solely to
savor Madrid's museums—there are dozens to choose from—it's
probably best to avoid the Prado. It houses an unparalleled
collection of Spanish paintings, but an hour or two won't suffice.
Instead, head over to the smaller Royal Academy of Fine Arts
of San Fernando where you can also see works by Velázquez,
Murillo, Alonso Cano, and Morales. For more contemporary art, try
the Reina Sofia Art Center National Museum (www.museoreinasofia.es)
which is named after Spain's current queen.
Madrid is stellar terrain for people watching and
the best place for it is the Plaza Mayor (www.plazamayor.es),
the huge square that used to be the commercial hub of the Mediaeval
city. On any given evening, Madrileños by the thousands come
to the square to drink, dine and gossip across the cafe tables scattered
around its perimeter. The Plaza Mayor area has plenty of tabernas
or taverns that specialize in serving tapas, surely up there among
Spain's many gifts to the world. You can sample small servings of
ham and mushrooms, fried squid or pieces of stewed sausage, and
wash them down with a glass of white wine from Galicia.
For shopping, the Salamanca district (accessible,
depending on where you are located, by taxi, bus or Metro; remember
to get off at the Retiro station) has a lovely 19th-century air
about it. And Salamanca contains many of Madrid's principal luxury
stores (think Spanish leather goods) and private galleries. At the
other end of the scale, the capital's main flea market, known as
el Rastro (the big day is Sunday), has dozens of stalls selling
clothing, silver, pottery-in fact, just about everything short of
the kitchen sink. A word to the wise though; there, as well as in
other parts of Madrid, be vigilant and watch your belongings.
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Contact Information
Tourist Office of Spain
666 Fifth Avenue
35th Floor
New York, NY 10103
Tel: (212) 265-8822
Fax: (212) 265-8864
www.okspain.org
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