Beating at the heart of Spain some may think is Barcelona. Others contend Valencia could even be the country’s capital. Then again, only Madrid boasts that honor. Despite not winning the popularity contest over Barcelona, Madrid is still a great city to visit. So book that flight to Madrid and spend a few days. Then you can travel on to the other Spanish greats that get all that attention.
The capital of Spain is sprawling and modern. At its center, narrow alleys lead to restaurants, tapas bars and world famous museums. The financial and political of the country rests in Madrid, home to Spain’s Royal Family.
Three museums in Madrid tend to out shine the rest. The Prado Museum positions in the capital city with its 4,000-piece collection. Botticelli, Titian, Rembrandt, Goya and Velázquez decorate the walls. Mainly 16th to 19th century paintings make up the Prado Museum. Madrid’s second grand museum takes on a different time period of Spanish art. The Reina Sofia Art Center remains dedicated to Spanish 20th century art. While works by Dalí and Miró draw attention, it is Picasso’s Guernica that captivates those attentions for hours
Finishing out the museum trinity, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum contains 800 paintings, sculptures, carvings and tapestries to admire. The collection covers a wide range of time periods, from Flemish works to more contemporary pieces. The likes of Caravaggio, Rubens and Van Eyck find hot spots in this great of Madrid’s museums.
After all of the museum going, it may be time for a break in Plaza Mayor. Stereotypically yet beautifully cobbled, Plaza Mayor was built during Philip II’s time. At the center of it all, a statue to Phillip III rests. Plaza Mayor has become a popular market place and venue for public events. Anything from bullfights to pageants are held in Plaza Mayor. Covered arcades, cafes and shops intersperse in the mean time, providing a gathering place in Madrid.
The Philips in Madrid were busy, but perhaps Philip V was the most ambitious of them all. It was Philip V that commissioned the Royal Palace to be built. The 3,000-room extravaganza needs a better definition than ornate to describe its grandeur. While mainly only used for state functions, the white building opens up some of its opulence to visitors. 17th century sculptures, frescoes and the lavish private apartments of the Royal Palace may instill a bit of jealousy that your house doesn’t resemble such greatness.
Madrid will win you over, if it hasn’t already, with its green spaces. Parque de Buen Retiro dresses in marble monuments, elegant buildings and manicured lawns. The Parque boasts an artificial lake at the center, a rose garden and a statute to El Angel Caldo. The statue is said to be the first dedicated to the dark lord. Other spots in the city for peace, quiet, and greenery come through Jardin Botanico near the Prado and Plaza de Oriente.
On Sundays, there is only one place to be to observe Madrid in its truest form. The El Rastro Market sets up on the opening day of the week. It began as a meat market in the 17th and 18th centuries and today boats a hodgepodge of goods. While pickpockets delight in coming here to rob a few before they can barter, aware visitors will enjoy the Market for its local feel.
No, Madrid doesn’t have the architecture of Barcelona. Paella and oranges are not known to come out of the city like Valencia. Madrid is just what it wants to be, modern, historical, and fulfilling. Travelers may pass it by for Barcelona, but Spain’s capital warrants more than just a wave out of a window.
