Lost. at. Sea.
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La Gran Via, El Callao, Alcala street, la Puerta del Sol (famous for the new year's party), The museums of El Prado (Velazquez paints) and Reina Sofia (Picasso's Guernica), Atocha train station, the metro system, El Palacio Real, El Parque del Retiro, Casa de Campo with the Zoo and the Civeles Fountain just to mention a few. |
Martha P
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Madrid has three reference points: the Puerta del Sol, the city’s absolute centre; the Plaza Mayor, the Golden Age core; and the glorious Plaza de Cibeles, with the most extravagant architecture.
The Habsburg dynasty dominated Madrid’s history until 1700, and the area bounded by Sol, the Plaza Mayor, the Palacio Real and San Francisco el Grande, the oldest part of the city, is commonly known as ‘Los Austrias’ after them.
Tucked away in side streets in these parts are the church of San Pedro el Viejo (Costanilla de San Pedro 1, 91 365 1284), with a tower dating from the 14th century, and the 12th-century mudéjar church, San Nicolás de los Servitas (Plaza San Nicolás, 91 559 4064).
Sol & Gran VÃa
Sol is Madrid’s most photographed square, home to the emblematic bear and strawberry tree statue, as well as the famous TÃo Pepe sign. The area north and east of Sol is dominated by the two great avenues of C/Alcalá and Gran VÃa. C/Alcalá, once described as the grandest street in Europe, has a wonderful variety of 19th- to early 20th-century buildings, including the stunning CÃrculo de Bellas Artes (No.42, 91 360 5400, closed Mon), with its fine café. Look out too for the handsome Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (No.13, 91 524 0864), with 13 works by Goya.
The Golden Triangle
The big three are getting bigger – the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia museums are all at various stages of expansion programs. |
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