As cosmopolitan blends with grand palaces and plazas, there is one thing for certain Madrid has over most cities, a great attitude. It’s difficult to be mad in Madrid for whatever you want, the city supplies. From the business center, political powerhouse, and the ongoing nightlife, more like day life, Madrid might have it all. As the capital of Spain, travelers won’t be unhappy with what they find here. From Picasso works to Sancho Panza, keep those eyes peels for everything.
Madrid’s origins cannot be traced back thousands upon thousands of years like most cities in Spain. Rather, its foundations were laid in 854 when Arab Emir Mohamed I called the shots. He ordered that a fortress be built along side the left bank of the Manzanares River. The settlement that grew here was known as Mayrit. Closely tied to the Arabic word majira, Madrid translates as “water channel”. Over time, many played a game of grabby hands with Madrid for is coveted location. It wasn’t until 1561 that Felipe II declared Madrid the capital of Spain.
To get to know someone many say you must cut to the core, discover their heart. Cities are a lot like people. To get to know Madrid, you must visit the heart that pumps life into the city. That heart beats in Plaza Mayor. This arcade type square rests right smack in the middle of Madrid. It is here where many of the city’s festivals begin. Plaza Mayor was originally designed in 1619. Today restaurants line the square, filled with patrons sipping on a cool beverage.
Madrid extends the royal treatment not just with food, drink and grand plazas. The Royal Palace opens its door to visitors, one of the largest palaces in all of Europe. Within, there may just be a room for every occasion. The Royal Palace is made up of 2,000 rooms alone, with only a handful on display to travelers. The influences in its construction hint at Versailles. For an unobstructed view of the palace, travelers should head outside to the Campo del Moro, a large park in front of the Royal Palace.
Florence has the Uffizi. Paris has the Louvre. Madrid is proud to house the Prado. The Prado Museum rivals those great European museums with one of the largest collections in the world. It is no wonder the Prado is one of Madrid’s most popular attractions. Within the museum, travelers will find the world’s finest collection of Spanish art, from Velazquez to Murillo. While the entire collection is not on display, the Prado boasts of holding 9,000 paintings alone. As classic Spanish art settles into the Prado, more modern works call the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia home. This museum contains Madrid’s finest collections of modern and contemporary art. Joan Miró and Salvador Dali’s works hang on these walls. Perhaps the most famous work within Centro de Arte Reina Sofia is Picasso’s Guernica.
As the day turns into night, an early evening stroll down Gran Via is in order. Not only is the street one of the most famous in town, but also an outdoor museum fascinates those curious eyes. Not in a formal sense, but Gran Via is known for its 20th century architectural marvels lined up along the massive pathway. Of course, great shopping opportunities present as the street ends at Plaza de Espana. With bags in hand, travelers may shop till they drop here and admire the statue at the plaza’s center. Spanish writer Cervantes looks down on his two most famous characters cast in bronze, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.
At the center of the Castilian plain, Madrid probably didn’t look like much when the Arabs first settled it. Clearly the Arabs had a vision for the city. Madrid thrives culturally, politically, and artfully today. Steam doesn’t rise out of ears here. Madrid hosts a buffet of Europe’s best, leaving no one an unhappy hungry tourist.
