Capital Madrid - Taste of the Bull

Tobias Heller
7. Juli 2017
5 Min. Lesezeit

Our next step leads into Spain's center, the capital Madrid. It is one of the biggest metropoles in Europe and third largest in the European Union, following London and Berlin. Due to it's location it is the geographical center as well Madrid is of cultural and political importance. Madrid's inhabitants are called 'madrileños' and it offers a wide range of facilities such as theaters, museums, universities and important buildings as well as several larger parks.

Sightseeing

Palacio Real - Impressive from the Start

Arriving in Madrid at Sunset, we have to find our way to our Couchsurfing Hosts Kenny und Nello, a couple living in Madrid, which we find easily. After some talks, there is not much more to do, so we go to bed early in order to have the full day for looking around in Madrid - which should keep us quite busy, especially our feet as we will walk around persistently. Our first stopover is one of the most touristic spots in Madrid, but anyways nothing we would like to miss: The Palacio Real as well as the Plaza Mayor and its surroundings. Impressive large squares, and enormously long building with regularly arrayed columns and bunches of tourists ar waiting here.

Sightseeing & Architecture

The cathedral of Madrid

The cathedral of Madrid is relatively new. First Toledo was the capital city until it was transfered to Madrid - without any church there. They so started to build up the church only briefly before 1900 and the interior therefore is indeed extremely modernized, containing neo-gothic elements and chapels and statues from contemporary artists. Though I heard many people dislike he church, I indeed like the modern simplicity and the colourful decoration and patterns on the ceiling. Maybe this is simply due to the fact that I have seen plenty of churches during my trip, especially in Italy, and it is quite tiresome to see the same style over and over. Anyways, going inside the cathedral in Madrid is something I think should not be missed, no matter which opinion about the style of the church.

Sightseeing & Center

The city's main core

From the Cathedral and the Palacio Real it is not far to other places worth a visit inside the center. And even though Madrid is a big city, the main center offers everything in walking reach. We are lucky as we arrive in spring time, while everything is blooming and blossoming and the city seems to start to awake from a deep sleep during winter.

Plaza Mayor is a famous square which is only a few minutes away from Puerta del Sol. It is a large rectangular square surrounded by a three-story residential building, all the balconies facing inwards, the walls decorated by paintings. in the middle the statue of King Philip creates the main point of the Plaza. The square itself is lively filed with tourists and strange performances take place while we look around, an overly fat man in a tight spiderman costume tries to contribute to the visitors amusement as well as a sparkling horse puppet which sits in the middle, jumping up and down. Spanish people and their humor?

Gran Via is one of the most famous streets in Madrid and famous for the nightlife which is said to be the one where after-sunset-life is celebrated the most here in whole Europe. It leads from Calle de Alcalá, close to Plaza de Cibeles, to Plaza de España and offers endless shopping possibilities and facilities such as hotels and theaters. Also important buildings and architectural interesting houses are to be found here, such as the Telefonica and the Metropolis Building. This street is at any time bustling with people, be it at daytime with shopping addicts and people strolling in between the Plazas, or be it nighttime, while there it is filled with people on the way to bars and theaters accompanied by the clattering sound of women's highheels and loudly chatting spaniards.

Parks & Nature

Retiro Park - A place for Relaxation

Parque del Retiro is one of the largest parcs in Madrid and invites to get out of the busy central streets and enjoy the tranquilized surrounding of trees, meadows, hedges and flowers. It contains a large lake with a big monument attached to it, with long rows of columns and several statues that overlook the lake. In the middle there also is the Cristal Palace, a extraordinary pavillion made of a filigrane glass structure, which resembles strongly The Crystal Palace in London.

Museums

Art & Culture enough to fill days

During our stay of one week we had plenty of time to enjoy the various museums and we were also free enough to attend the free visiting hours, which offer free entry during a few hours of certain days. On our list is amongst others Museo el Prado as well as Museo Reina Sofia, two of the largest and most important museums in Madrid. They contain various classic artworks of artists such as Goya, Tiziano, Rubens, Velasquez and many more. It is always worth to check out the free entry times, though there are many people queuing and the time is limited as it is mainly 2 hours before closing time, it is definetly worth it anyways and after seeing several there will be a lot of money saved.

Lifestyle & Shopping

El Rastro - A large Flea Market

This large open air flea market is definetly worth a visit, especially if you are looking for old furniture, antiquities, small treasures in form of comics, books, postcards, jewelery, bracelets - whatever you search the list is endless. The market not only takes place in one large square but winds through several streets around Plaza de Cascorro. Not only used and second hand products are offered, also new creations, art and handcraft works as well as a variety of food is waiting around every corner. So if it happens you find yourself in Madrid on a Sunday, the flea market is open for visitors from 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon.

Daytrips

Toledo - On the Run

You can take an Alsa Bus running frequently from Plaza Elliptica to Toledo Bus Station, the ride will take about one hour. We are somehow too late when we arrive there, and the Bus Building is quite confusing. While I already see our chances of catching the bus vanishing, Gianfranco hurries like a berserker through the corridors and platforms, first up in the wrong direction then down until we - in the last minute - encounter the bus we wanted to take and jump in before it leaves. Toledo, also declared UNESCO world heritage, is famous for the former coexistance of muslim, christian and jewish cultures, which influenced the city.

The city is perfect for a daytrip, as the center is small and can be seen in a few hours. Bridges lead outwards of the city to the southwest as well from the east and a street circumvents the whole city. We walk along the street in order to enjoy the view over to the city, which is halfway circled by the river and spend time relaxing before reentering the city in order to take the bus back to Madrid.