Guide-of-Madrid - IMDEA Networks Institute

Transcription

History, LEISURE, CULTURE, SHOPPING, museums...
INDISPENSABLE GUIDE OF
GUÍA IMPRESCINDIBLE DE MADRID
PATRONATO DE TURISMO DE MADRID
Área de Gobierno de Economía, Empleo y Participación Ciudadana
Ayuntamiento de Madrid
h Plaza Mayor 27, (Casa de la Panadería)
28012 MADRID
Diseño y Maquetación:
E.M. Promoción Madrid
Depósito Legal:
Imprime:
If you wish to be kept up to date with the very latest news and
events from Madrid, register at www.esmadrid.com/recuerdamadrid.
There you can download the form, fill in your personal
details and send it to [email protected].
INDEX
CHRONOLOGY
OF MADRID
Routes
around
the city
Must-see
Madrid
06
16
20
“Discover
Madrid”
guided tour
programme
Must-see
museums
Dining out
30
32
36
Shopping
in Madrid
Madrid
nights
Madrid
for kids
40
48
50
PARKS AND
GARDENS
58
Flamenco
67
Sports
64
Practical
information
68
Bullfighting
66
Getting
around
Madrid
74
GREETING FROM THE MAYOR
As well as being the capital city, Madrid is also the economic,
social and cultural engine of Spain. It is a city that boasts a rich
cultural past, but with its sights clearly set on the future. Proof
of this can be seen by the major urban transformation that the
city has undergone over recent years, as well as other groundbreaking projects being carried out in a number of fields in order
to improve the quality of life for all its inhabitants, to better satisfy
the expectations of its visitors, and positioning itself at the forefront
of European capitals.
At the same time, Madrid is a modern metropolis that has managed to hold on to its traditions and customs; a cosmopolitan
capital, which welcomes citizens from all around the world with
open arms ; it is pioneering, and focuses on accessibility and
sustainability; it is an entrepreneurial metropolis. In conclusion, it
is a city where visitors immediately feel at home; being in Madrid
is the same as being from Madrid.
In a number of studies, Madrid has been acknowledged as one of
the top ten cities to live in, to work in, to invest in and to visit. In
fact, it has become one of the most appealing tourist destinations
in Europe, as can be seen by the more than seven million tourists
who choose to visit Madrid each year. Our cultural activities, shopping, food and drink and recreational activities are wide ranging
and constantly evolving. Added to this are its numerous parks
and gardens, which position Madrid as the number two capital
in the world for the number of green spaces, and the city has a
large number of sports centres and facilities where you can enjoy
practicing sports.
Madrid invites you to discover all this for yourself, to enjoy the
multitude of experiences and sensations that this wonderful city
has to offer. We are sure that your trip will awaken your desire to
return to Madrid in the future. And this is exactly what we hope
to achieve.
Welcome to Madrid.
Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón
Mayor of Madrid
mEDIEVAL
mADRID
Mohammed I (852886), son of Abderramán II, orders the
construction of a citadel and the fortification
of the hamlet of Mayrit,
thus creating a walled
town. The site chosen
to build the citadel is
the same as the later
Trastamara Castle, the
Hapsburg Palace and
the present-day Royal
Palace built during the
Bourbon dynasty.
This year marks the
death of Isidro de Merlo
y Quintana who, in the
17th century, was chosen as the Patron Saint
of Madrid.
865
1172 1202 1222 1346
1083
King Alfonso VI of Castile captures Madrid as
part of his successful
campaign to conquer
Toledo.
The drawing up of
the Fuero de Madrid,
a series of municipal
bi-laws and legal and
penal regulations.
King Fernando III ascribes the city’s coatof-arms: a rampaging
bear eating the fruit
from a strawberry tree,
quite a common tree in
those times.
Alfonso XI creates
a special Chamber
whereby open debate is
substituted by 12 town
counselors, 2 mayors
and a sheriff. It is considered to be the precursor to the presentday City Hall.
Madrid enters the Royal
Court. The Town is officially recognized as a
“municipality” with representation in the Spanish Court.
1433
1435
King Henry IV grants
Madrid the title of Muy
Noble y Muy Leal (Very
Noble and Very Loyal)
for loyalty shown towards his person.
1460 1465 1477
Work begins on expanding the Plaza de San Salvador, the present-day
Plaza de la Villa.
Creation of the first permanent Magistrate of
Madrid.
CHRONOLOGY OF MADRID
CHRONOLOGY
OF MADRID
HENRY IV
7
ALFONSO VI OF CASTILE
PALACIO DE LOS LUJANES
PLAZA DE LA VILLA
THE Hapsburg
Start of the Hapsburg
Dynasty (the House of
Austria). Charles I is
crowned King of Castile.
Madrid surrenders after the defeat of the
comuneros in Villalar.
Francisco I of France is
held prisoner in the Lujanes Tower.
(16th-17th century) 1516 1520 1521 1524 1525 1536
DYNASTY
Madrid
joins
the
Comunero Movement
under Juan de Zapata.
Emperor Charles V enters the city.
Charles I orders the
reconstruction of the
Palace of Madrid, converting it into a royal
residence.
PARQUE DEL RETIRO
Charles I confers the
title of Imperial y Coronada (Imperial and
Crowned) to Madrid on
request of Deputy Juan
Hurtado de Mendoza.
Philip II orders the construction of a city wall,
the third in the history of
the city.
1544 1561
1566 1590 1596 1616 1618 1625
Philip II chooses Madrid as the permanent
headquarters of the
Spanish Court. The city
becomes the centre of
a vast empire.
Building of the
Casa de la Panadería –the Bakery.
Building of the first
General Hospital.
Writer Miguel de Cervantes dies at his home
in Madrid.
Philip III purchases
what is now known as
the Retiro Park, later
adding additional gardens and fountains.
Philip IV orders the construction of the fourth
city wall that lasts until
the middle of the 19th
century.
Building work begins on
the Buen Retiro Palace.
Of the original buildings, only the Salón de
Reinos and the Ballroom (The Buen Retiro
Villa) still remain.
1630
Culture flourishes in Madrid and city is home to
writers such as Góngora, Quevedo, Calderón
de la Barca, Lope
de Vega and
painters such
as Velasquez.
Playwright Lope de
Vega dies at his home
in what is currently calle
de Cervantes.
1635 1660
Painter Velázquez dies
in Madrid.
CASÓN DEL BUEN RETIRO
CARLOS I
9
MIGUEL DE CERVANTES
FELIPE IV
The establishment of the
Bourbon dynasty. Philip
V claims the crown as
heir to Charles II.
Siglo XVIII
1700 1714 1734 1759
Foundation of the Royal
Academy of Language.
FUSILAMIENTOS DEL 2 DE MAYO - GOYA
Construction of the
Puerta de Alcalá (The
Alcalá Gates).
1769
1778
King Charles III of Naples arrives in Madrid,
instigator of the urban planning and the
construction of buildings such as the Real
Aduana (Royal Customs House) (1769),
the Royal Post Office (1768), the Office of
Natural History, the present-day Prado
Museum (1785), the Royal Botanical
Gardens (1781), as well as the Cibeles
(1782), Neptune (1784), Apollo (1780)
and Alcachofa (1782) fountains.
Definitive building work
on the Plaza Mayor,
giving it its present-day
appearance.
1790
1854
1798
Dos de Mayo (2nd of May), the people of Madrid rise up against the invading
French army. For 5 long hours, they fight against immeasurable odds, resulting
in a thousand dead.
Siglo XIX
1808
1808 -1813
José Bonaparte orders the tearing down of all
areas of congestion in the city turning them into
squares and public footpaths. He creates the area
known nowadays as the Plaza de Oriente.
Building of the new San
Antonio de la Florida
Hermitage.
1814
King Fernando VII
grants Madrid the title
of Muy Heroica (Most
heroic) for the actions of
its citizens on the Dos
de Mayo.
FELIPE V
The former Palace is
destroyed in a fire on
Christmas Eve. Four
years later, construction work begins on
the present-day Royal
Palace. It is completed
in 1764.
11
FERNANDO VII
PUERTA DE ALCALÁ
ángel caido - parque del retiro
1819
1851
1858
Construction of the Elizabeth II Canal and the
aqueduct infrastructure
to bring water from
the river Lozoya
to Madrid.
Restoration and extension of Puerta del Sol.
1857
1861
Building work begins
on the Bank of Spain on
the site of the former Alcañices Palace. Work is
completed in 1891.
1866 1884 1892
Elizabeth II places the
foundation stone of the
National Library.
Opening of the first
stretches of tramways
between Sol & Serrano and Recoletos &
Hipódromo.
Siglo XX
1898
The Ciudad Lineal urban planning project,
the brainstorm of Arturo Soria, is approved.
The proclamation of the
Second Republic at the
Puerta del Sol. Building work is completed
on the building of the
Ventas Bullring. MadridBarajas airport opens.
1910 1929
1931
on the Ciudad Universitaria, founded by
Alfonso XIII.
On the 19th of November, the Prado Museum
first opens its doors to
the public.
Alfonso XIII officially
launches the project
to demolish various
buildings in order to
widen the Gran Vía.
Work continues until
1929. This area sees
the mergence of the
first department stores
/ markets, and other
specialized
sectors
such as banks, insurance companies, cinemas and offices.
13
monumento a alfonso xii - parque del retiro
The start of the Civil
War at which point
Madrid is besieged for
three long years.
The project to lengthen the Castellana is
approved.
Opening of the new
Chamartin Station and
the tunnel that links it
with Atocha. In 1971,
Chamartin station was
extended.
1932 1934 1936 1943 1947 1954 1967 1975
Building work begins on
the viaduct above calle
Segovia that replaces
the iron structure built in
the 19th century.
Founding of the Galerías Preciados.
Construction of the
Torre de Madrid building
in the Plaza de España.
Monarchy is restored with King
Juan Carlos I.
April 3rd. First democratic municipal elections.
Opening of the National
Music Auditorium in
Príncipe de Vergara.
1979 1980
1990 1992 1993
1997 2007
Start of the “movida
madrileña” (a counter
cultural movement), with
the emergence of cultural icons such as Pedro
Almodóvar and Alaska.
Madrid, European Capital of Culture. During the
course of the year, the following venues are officially opened: the new Puerta de Atocha Train
Station with AVE high-speed trains running from
Madrid to Seville; the Reina Sofia Museum and
Art Gallery; the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum;
the City Museum; the Madrid Theatre, la Casa
de América (former Linares Palace); the Arganzuela Greenhouses; the Rodríguez Sahagún park;
the Juan Carlos I park; the “Lighthouse” and the
transport hub at Moncloa.
Opening of the new
extension to the Prado
Museum and the restructuring of the M-30
ring road.
Pope John Paul consecrates the Almudena
Cathedral.
Reopening of the Royal
Theatre for opera productions.
2010
on Nuevos Ministerios
on the site of the former
Hipódromo (horse-racing track).
Centenary celebrations
of the Gran Vía, whose
very name evokes the
essence and splendour of the shopping,
the architecture, the
culture, the fun and diversity of Madrid.
15
ALMODÓVAR & McNAMARA
edificio telefónica - gran vía
04
03
05
02
01
06
07
08
09
14
10
12
11
13
Route 1
Approximate length: 2 hours
01 Puerta del Sol
Royal Post Office
(Bourbon, 18th century),
the Mariblanca sculpture (reproduction of
the 17th century origi- 03 Plaza de
Elizabeth II
nal), statue of Charles
Royal Theatre (ElizaIII on horseback (20th
bethan, end of 19th cencentury), the Bear and
the Strawberry Tree
tury), sculpture of Elizasculpture (20th century).
beth II (20th century).
Calle Arenal
& surrounding
area
San Ginés Church
(Hapsburg, 17th century), Monastery of the
Order of Descalzas
th
02 Reales (16 century).
Plaza de la
Encarnación
Monastery of the Encarnation (Hapsburg,
04 17th century).
09 Plaza de la Villa
Lujanes Tower (15th
13
05 Plaza de Oriente
century), Casa de 11 Cava de San
Sculpture of Philip IV 07 De La Vega Hill /
Miguel
Cisneros (16th cenPlaza de la
(17th century), sculpOlde worlde restauEmir Muhammad
Provincia
tury), Casa de la Villa
rants, the Botín (1725),
I Park
Santa Cruz Palace
tures of the Spanish
(Hapsburg, 17th centhe Arco de CuchilRemains of the city
or former Court Gaol
kings and queens (18th
tury), sculpture of Don
th
th
th
th
leros (Hapsburg, 17
walls (9 and 10
(Hapsburg, 17th cencentury), Royal Palace
Alvaro de Bazán (19
(Bourbon, 18th century).
century).
century).
century).
tury), (19th century).
Calle de Bailén:
Almudena Crypt and
Cathedral (19th and
06 20th century).
Calle Mayor
the Duque de Uceda
Palace. Home to the
State Council and the
Military Headquarters
(Hapsburg, 17th century), the Sacramento
Church
(Hapsburg,
17th century), remains
of the Santa María 10
Church (11th and 12th
century),
Abrantes
Palace, present-day
Italian Institute of Culture (Hapsburg, 17th
century), San Nicolás
Church (Plaza de San
08 Nicolás, 13th century).
Calle Mayor
House of Calderón de
la Barca (Hapsburg,
17th century), Queen
Mother’s
Pharmacy
(dating from the 16thcentury, building from
the 20th century), San
Miguel Market (19th12
century).
Plaza Mayor
(Hapsburg,
16th century
and Bourbon,
18th century)
14
Casa de la Panadería
(the Bakery), Casa
de la Carnicería (the
Butcher’s), statue of
Philip III on horseback.
Puerta del Sol
Royal Post Office
(Bourbon, 18th century), Kilometre Zero
(20th century).
ROUTES AROUND THE CITY
ROUTES AROUND
THE CITY
17
Approximate length: 3 hours
04
03
01
02
01
05
14 13
11
10
03 Plaza de Cibeles
Cibeles
Fountain
(Bourbon, 18th century), Buenavista Palace
(18th century), Casa
01 Puerta del Sol /
de América or Linares
Calle del Carmen
Palace (19th century),
El Carmen Church
Cibeles
Palace (20th
(Hapsburg, 17th century).
century).
07 Glorieta del
Emperador
Carlos V (Atocha)
Atocha Train Station
(19th century), The Reina Sofía Museum and
Art Gallery (18th century building, with additions made in both the
20th and 21st centuries).
10 Plaza de Canovas
del Castillo
(Neptune)
Madrid Stock Market
(19th century), Monument to the Fallen of
“Dos de Mayo” (19th
century),
Neptune
and Apollo fountains (Bourbon, 18th
century),
Thyssen
Bornemisza Museum
(19th century).
12 El Barrio de las
Letras (Writers’
Quarter):
Area of taverns, Spanish Theatre or the
former Principe Theatre (Plaza de Santa
Ana, dating from the
17th century, building
from the 19th century),
Royal Academy of History (Calle de León,
Bourbon, 18th century),
the Trinitarians Convent (Calle Lope de
Vega, Hapsburg, 17th
century), the Juan de la
Cuesta Printing House
where Don Quixote
was first printed in
1604 (Calle de Atocha,
87), the Lope de Vega
House (Calle de Cervantes, 11, Hapsburg,
17th century). Austrias,
siglo XVII).
Carrera de
Calle de Alcalá 04 Calle de Alcalá 08 Paseo del Prado
San Jerónimo
Royal Customs House
Puerta de Alcalá (BourRoyal Botanical GarSpanish Parliament
or Ministry of Revenue
bon, 18th century).
dens, Prado Museum
Building (19th centh
th
(Bourbon, 18 cen(Bourbon, 18 century), Sculpture of
tury), San Fernando 05 The Retiro
tury, 20th century exMiguel de Cervantes
Park (17th-20th
Royal Academy of
tension work).
11 (19th century).
centuries)
Fine Arts (Bourbon,
Monument dedicated
Calle de Philip IV
18th century), Madrid
to Alfonso XII, The Ceth
San Jerónimo El Real
Casino (20 century),
cilio Rodríguez GarChurch (15th century),
Calatravas
Church
dens, The Velasquez
The Buen Retiro Villa
(17th century), MetrópPalace, The Crystal Pal13 Carrera de San
and the Salón de Reiolis Building (20th cenJerónimo
ace, The Rose gardens,
nos (the Hall of Kingtury), San José Church
Lhardy restaurant (ElizFountain of the Fallen
doms) of the Buen Re(18th century), Circle of
abethan, 19th century).
Angel, the Duque de
tiro Palace (Hapsburg,
Fine Arts (20th century),
Fernán Núñez pathway.
th
17 century), Spanish
Cariátides
Building
14 Puerta del Sol
Royal Academy of Lan(20th century), Bank of
Cuesta de
02 Spain (19th century).
09 guage (19th century).
Moyano
Mercado de libros de
06 la Cuesta de Moyano.
09
12
08
07
06
ROUTES AROUND THE CITY
Route 2
19
MUST-SEE MADRID
Getting to grips with a city like Madrid, especially one with more than a thousand years of history behind it, is a daunting and
often time-consuming task. If your time in Madrid is limited, we have taken the liberty of compiling a list of monuments and places
that visitors to Madrid should definitely not miss out on.
20
Prado Museum
Considered by many to be “the best art
gallery in the world “, the Prado Museum
is, if not the best, then one of the most
respected art centres and is a must-see
on any visit to Madrid. Its walls are decked
with the best collections of works of art of
the Spanish School from the 16th through
to the 18th century. It also houses large
collections from both the Flemish and
Venetian schools, as well as smaller collections by German, French and English
artists. The museum has been recently
expanded and, thanks to a technically
difficult overhaul by architect Rafael Mo-
neo, now includes the Claustro de los
Jerónimos (Cloister of the Jeronimos).
hPaseo del Prado
fBanco de España / Atocha
kTuesday to Sunday from 9am to 8pm.
Closed Monday
€ Free entry Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm
to 8pm and Sundays from 5pm to 8pm
b902 107 077
+info: www.museodelprado.es
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Housed in the Villahermosa Palace, this
is the world’s largest private art collection
and brings together some 1,000 works of
art that cover 700 years of art from around
the world, all the way from the 13th century up to the up to the latest tendencies
of the 20th century. The addition to the
palace, located in the adjoining building,
is home to the private collection of the
widow of Baron Thyssen, Carmen Cervera, and contains works of art from the
17th century through to the 19th century
of both Spanish artists and artists from
around the world.
hPaseo del Prado, 8
fBanco de España / Atocha
kTuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm
b91 369 01 51
+info: www.museothyssen.org
MUST-SEE MADRID
MUST-SEE MADRID
The Art Walk
The Art Walk is a singular setting that combines art, architecture and nature and is located in one of the most characteristic areas of
the city: the Paseo del Prado. It makes for a very pleasant stroll taking you past the Botanical Gardens as well as three of the most
renowned museums in the world:
21
22
This renowned museum, as well as housing
Guernica (1937) by Picasso, is home to
works of art by some of the most important
artists of the latter part of the 19th century
to the present-day - mainly Spanish in origin (Dalí, Miró, Juan Gris, Julio González,
Tapies, Chillida...). The museum is located
at the site of the former General de San
Charles Hospital, designed by Sabatini during the reign of Charles III and restored to
its former glory in the 1980s. In September
2005, building work on the latest addition to
the museum was completed. The new addition (designed by architect Jean Nouvel)
consists of three buildings that house galleries and temporary exhibitions, auditoriums
and a library all of which can be accessed
directly from the Sabatini building.
Naval Museum
Open Mondays
h C/ Santa Isabel, 52
f Atocha
k Monday to Saturday from 10am to
9pm. Sunday from 10am to 2:30pm.
Closed Tuesdays.
€ Free entry Mondays, Wednesdays,
Thursdays and Fridays from 7pm to 9pm,
Saturdays from 2:30pm to 9:00pm and
Sundays from 10am to 2:30pm.
b 91 774 10 00
+info: www.museoreinasofia.es
CaixaForum Madrid
The idea of creating a Navy Museum dates
back to the 18th Century, and as well as a
library, the idea was to have all the natural
sciences required for the comprehensive training of the Spanish Navy, housed
under one roof. Through the museum’s
galleries, boasting historic artefacts such
as the Juan de la Cosa Map, the first map
to have included America, visitors can get
a glimpse of all the major decisive events
from the Catholic Kings and the discovery
of the Americas through to the Battle of
Trafalgar, with special focus on the 18th
Century Spanish ship building. Visitors will
learn about the history of Spanish navy,
mostly with a military focus, during the
crucial times in Spanish history.
hPaseo del Prado, 5
fBanco de España
kTuesday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm.
Closed Monday.
€ Free entry
b91 523 87 89
+info: www.museonavalmadrid.com
National Museum of Decorative Arts
“La Caixa” cultural centre is also located
along the Paseo del Arte and houses some
fascinating temporary exhibitions as well
as hosting other cultural activities. Built on
the site of the former power station – one
of the few examples of modern industrial
architecture to be found in the historic centre of Madrid – designed by architectural
firm Herzog and De Meuron, entry to the
centre is decorated with a breathtaking
vertical garden, the work of French artists
Patrick Blanc.
h Paseo del Prado, 36
fAtocha / Banco de España
k from 10am to 8pm. Guided tour of
the building Mondays and Saturdays
at 1pm and Fridays at 7pm. Advance
bookings can be made at the information desk
€ Free entry
b91 330 73 00
+info: www.obrasocial.lacaixa.es
Furniture, pottery, glassware, jewellery, tapestries, oriental art, etc. and up to 30,000
different objects, which over the course
of history have been used to decorate
houses, palaces and monuments of different cultures. The oldest objects in the
collection date back to the 4th Century BC,
and go all the way through to the first half
of the 20th Century.
hMontalbán, 12
fBanco de España / Retiro
kTuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to
3pm and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to 8pm. Sundays and
public holidays from 10am to 3pm. Closed Monday.
€ Free entry Thursdays from 5pm to
8pm, Saturdays from 2pm to 3pm and
Sundays.
b91 532 64 99 / 91 532 68 45
+info: http://mnartesdecorativas.mcu.es
MUST-SEE MADRID
MUST-SEE MADRID
Reina Sofia Museum and Art Gallery
23
24
This spectacular porticoed square has been
the focal point of the city since Philip II settled
on Madrid as the official residence of the Spanish Royal Court in 1561. In its lifetime it has
been used for a variety of purposes: theatre,
civic centre, market, etc., the focal point being
the Casa de la Panadería (the Bakery). It
stands opposite the Casa de la Carnicería (the
Butcher’s) and both buildings can be easily
recognized by their characteristic towers.
Over the course of history, the square has
suffered three fires, the last one in 1790 that
resulted in it having to be rebuilt by Juan de
Villanueva. Where the streets joined, the
square was walled in with half-point arches,
and dwellings were built above them. The
only condition for owners of the properties was that they were required to rent out
their balconies (presently 237 in total) during
celebrations. The higher the balcony, the
higher the rental price.
In the centre of the square stands the statue
of Philip III on horseback, work of Flemish
sculptor Juan de Bologna and Pietro Tacca
that dates from the 17th century. It was placed here in 1848, having been moved from
its former home in the Casa de Campo.
h Plaza Mayor
f Sol
PLAZA DE LA VILLA
Located in an area of the city popularly
known as Hapsburg Madrid, it is home
to buildings from the 15th, 16th and 17th
Centuries, namely the Casa de la Villa, the
Lujanes Tower and the Casa de Cisneros.
In the centre of the square stands the statue by Mariano Benlliure of Álvaro de Bazán,
Marquis of Santa Cruz, who was Admiral
of the Spanish Armada during the reign of
Philip II. The Casa de la Villa, designed by
architect Juan Gómez de Mora, is a twostorey building with towers on each of its
four corners, and has changed little since it
was first built. The only exception is the balcony that now faces onto calle Mayor that
was built in the 18th century by Juan de Villanueva so that the Queen would be able
to see the Corpus Christi Processions. The
building still has two of its original doors
that date back to the days when it was first
the town hall and later the city gaol.
Linked to the Casa de la Villa by a small
passageway – built at the beginning of the
Royal Palace and surrounding area
20th century – is the Casa de Cisneros,
built in the first third of the 16th century
(1537), a great example of plateresque
architecture and commissioned by the
nephew of Cardinal Cisneros.
On the left as you enter the square stands
the Lujanes Tower (15th century) in Mudejar style (Spanish/Moorish). It is one of the
oldest civic buildings still standing in the
city and according to legend King Francois I of France was imprisoned there after
being taken prisoner in the battle of Pavia
in 1520.
h Plaza de la Villa
f Sol / Ópera
k Guided tours of the Casa de la Villa
available on Mondays (excluding public
holidays) at 5pm. Advance bookings at the
Madrid Tourism Centre (Plaza Mayor, 27).
€ Free entry
+info: www.esmadrid.com
The Palace, built in the 18th century on
the orders of the first king of the Bourbon
dynasty (Philip V), houses treasures comparable to other great European palaces.
The surrounding urban landscape is very
representative of Madrid’s colourful history
and contains such emblematic buildings
as: Plaza de Oriente, Teatro Real (Royal
Theatre), Almudena Cathedral, Campo
del Moro Gardens, Monastery of the
Encarnation, Sabatini Gardens...
The gates of the Royal Palace are the venue for the Relevo Solemne de la Guardia
Real (the Solemn Changing of the Royal
Guard) a re-enactment of a ceremony that
used to take place during the reigns of
Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII. It takes place
at midday on the first Wednesday of each
month (excluding July, August and September, and on days of official acts of state
or in inclement weather conditions) with a
total of 429 military staff and 105 horses
taking part.
Every Wednesday from 11am to 2 pm, visitors can also see the Relevo de la Guardia
en la Puerta del Príncipe del Palacio Real
(the Changing of the Guard at the Prince’s
Gate of the Royal Palace) - excluding days
of the Solemn Changing of the Guard and
official acts of state or in inclement weather
conditions. Regaled in their dress uniform,
each “post” (consisting of 2 foot soldiers
and 2 riders on horseback) falls into formation in front of the Puerta del Príncipe
(Prince’s Gate) to the musical accompaniment of fife and drum.
The Presentation of Credentials is one
of the most solemn acts in the life of a
diplomat where the sending Head of State
presents the new Ambassador to the King.
The ceremony involves 377 members of
the Royal Guard.
h C/ Bailén
f Ópera
k WINTER (October-March) Monday to
Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm. Sundays
from 9am to 2pm. SUMMER (April-September) Monday to Saturday from 9am to
6pm. Sundays from 9am to 3pm. May be
closed for official acts of state.
€ Free entry on Wednesday.
b 91 454 88 00
+info: www.patrimonionacional.es
Open Mondays
MUST-SEE MADRID
MUST-SEE MADRID
PLAZA MAYOR
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The Teatro Real was opened in 1850, coinciding with the birthday of Queen Isabel
II, on the site of the former open-air theatre
that specialised in Italian opera and was
called Caños del Peral. It was torn down
in 1817. It was designed by architects Antonio López Aguado and Custodio Moreno, who were commissioned to build a
magnificent, irregular-shaped, hexagonal
building. Its size is breathtaking, and it is
estimated that in the stage area, which is
some 60 metres high, you could fit the Telefonica building on Gran Vía. After a major
refurbishment, in 1997 it was reopened as
an opera house.
h Plaza de Oriente
f Ópera
k Guided tours Monday to Friday, excluding Tuesdays and days when, for technical
or artistic reasons, they can not take place,
from 10:30am to 1pm, and Saturdays,
Sundays and Public Holidays from 11am
to 1:30pm, subject to change.
b 91 516 06 60 / 91 516 06 96
+info: www.teatro-real.com
The Retiro Park
Built in the 17th century during the reign
of Philip IV, this is the most important
(historically and artistically speaking) of
all the parks in Madrid and is one of the
most beautiful city parks in the world. The
park was originally home to a set of buildings that comprised a large palace, and
a garden with a host of features: hermitages, grottos, covered paths, ponds etc.
Its most attractive and unrivaled features
are the Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens, the
Alfonso XII Monument, the Retiro Lake,
the ruins of the San Isidro Hermitage, the
Velasquez Palace, the Crystal Palace, the
Fuente del Ángel Caído (Fountain of the
Fallen Angel), the Ciprés Calvo trees (Bald
Cypress), the Alcachofa Fountain, etc.
puerta del sol
f Retiro
k WINTER (from October to March): from
7am to 10pm (gates start to open at 6am,
with all gates open by 7am and closing
starts at 9:30pm, with all gates closed by
10pm). SUMMER (from April to September): from 7am to midnight (closing starts
at 11:30pm, with all closed by midnight).
Guided tours Saturdays at 11am. Advance
bookings on 911 273 988.
€ Free entry.
+info: www.madrid.es
Barrio de las Letras
The Rastro flea-market
Birthplace of the very first edition of Don
Quixote and home to the major figures of
Spanish literature, this traditional Madrid
neighbourhood is today one of the nerve
centres of the historic centre of Madrid
being both the focal point of theatres, restaurants, hotels and stores, as well as for
its well-preserved streets, squares and
historic buildings. This unique setting in
the very heart of Madrid is of historical,
cultural, tourist and economic significance
and is often a rendezvous point for nighttime revelers.
f Antón Martín / Sevilla / Atocha
Open Mondays
The Puerta del Sol is the nerve centre of
Madrid – par excellence. There is probably
no other spot in Madrid that best reflects
both the blend of cultures and the welcoming and cosmopolitan nature of the
city. There are many icons that have been
associated with the square over the years:
the clock that rings in the New Year, the
celebrated statue of the Bear and Strawberry Tree (symbol of Madrid), “Kilometre
Zero” – the epicentre of the Spanish road
network, and the last survivor of the neon
advertisement boards that once covered
the rooftops, that of Tío Pepe. In its early
days, in around the 15th century, this was
one of the access points through the large
wall that surrounded the city.
h Puerta del Sol
f Sol
In the popular La Latina district, Sundays
and public holidays are the opening days
of this famous open-air flea market that
has been going strong for more than 400
years. The main street of this incredibly
popular bazaar is the Ribera de Curtidores
that starts at Plaza de Cascorro and continues through to the Ronda de Toledo. On
Sundays, sellers set up their stalls on the
pavement to sell the most diverse array of
wares. And the variety of goods is mindboggling: from valuable antiques to small
objects that at first glance would appear
to serve no purpose at all!
h C/ Ribera de Curtidores and surrounding area
f La Latina / Tirso de Molina / Puerta
de Toledo
k Sundays and public holidays from 9am
to 3pm.
MUST-SEE MADRID
MUST-SEE MADRID
Teatro Real
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This is one of the most beautiful, most
centrically located and the most renowned
plazas of Madrid, a fusion of both ancient
and modern, and is flanked by four monumental buildings built during the 19th
and 20th Centuries: the Linares Palace,
the Cibeles Palace (home to Madrid City
Hall), the Bank of Spain, and the Buenavista Palace.
In the very centre stands the iconic Cibeles
Fountain. Together with the Apollo and
Neptune Fountains, these are the decorations per se of the Paseo del Prado and are
the brainchild of King Charles III (18th century). You may be interested to note that
the Cibeles Fountain and the immediate
surrounding area is the traditional meeting
point for fans of Real Madrid football club
when celebrating their championship titles.
h Plaza de Cibeles
f Banco de España
k Guided tours of the Linares Palace Saturdays and Sundays at 11am, midday
and 1pm. For ticket reservations, please
call: 902 400 222.
GRAN VÍA
Designed towards the latter part of the 19th
century, building building work began in
1910. It represented a major accomplishment in city planning and was envisaged
to modernize the Madrid by linking the
city’s historic centre with the neighbourhoods that had sprung up thanks in part
to the city’s growth (Argüelles, Salamanca,
Chamberí). Throughout its construction,
which continued through to the middle
of the 20th century, this was the home to
some of the most contemporary architectural projects in the capital and became a
veritable storefront of architectural styles.
This grand avenue, of almost one and a
half kilometres in length, has become one
of the most emblematic thoroughfares of
Madrid, not only from the city planning
point of view, but for the social, economic
and cultural role it has played in the life
of the city - over the recent years, it has
become the home to opening nights for
both national and international musicals
and is popularly known as the “Broadway”
of Madrid.
h Gran Vía
f Banco de España / Gran Vía / Callao /
Santo Domingo / Plaza de España
k Guided tours Sundays at 12pm. Advance bookings at the Madrid Tourism Centre
(Plaza Mayor, 27).
b 91 588 29 06
Contemporary Madrid
Las Ventas Bull-ring
Puesta de sol - Sunset
Bernabéu stadium tour
On the Bernabéu Stadium Tour, visitors
can access all areas of the stadium: the
pitch, the Presidential Box, the players
tunnel, the players’ benches and the changing rooms. And the pièce de résistance,
a visit to the Trophy Room Exhibition, the
best way to fully appreciate the legend that
is the Real Madrid football club.
Architecturally speaking, 20 and 21 century Madrid can for the most part be found
on the flanks of this sprawling boulevard,
namely the Paseo de la Castellana that,
along with its characteristically huge buildings, has grown to become the city’s
financial district. Some of the major city
planning projects of the past century have
sprouted up along the length of the Castellana, such as the Colonia del Viso, AZCA,
the Puerta de Europa Towers, the new
Cuatro Torres Business Area (CTBA) on the
Castellana, with a height of between 223
and 250 metres, or the future International
Convention Centre.
The Bullring, with a neo-Mudejar design
(Moorish/Spanish), and with a crowd capacity of 25,000, is the work of architects
José Espeliú and Muñoz Monasterio, and
first opened its doors to the public in 1931.
There is bullfighting each Sunday from
March until October, but the highlight of
the year in the renowned San Isidro Festival, during the month of May. Inside there
is a bullfighting museum that bares testament to some of the incredible moments
in the art and history of bullfighting.
A guided tour of the bullring is available to
the public from Tuesday to Sunday from
10am to 2pm, with Tauro Tour Las Ventas
(information and reservation number 91
556 92 37).
h Paseo de la Castellana
f Gregorio Marañón / Nuevos Ministerios
/ Santiago Bernabéu / Plaza de Castilla
/ Begoña
h C/ Alcalá, 237
f Ventas
b 91 356 22 00
+info: www.las-ventas.com
th
st
h C/ Concha Espina, 1 (Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, gate 20)
f Santiago Bernabéu
7pm. Sundays and public holidays from
10:30am to 6:30pm. On match days, tours
available until 2 pm.
b 902 311 709
+info: www.realmadrid.com
Open Mondays
The deep electric blues skies that generate
beautiful sunsets almost every day of the
year are characteristic of Madrid. Might we
suggest that you watch the sun go down
from one of the many great vantage points
around the city: the Debod Temple, in the
Parque del Oeste (Western Park), from the
dome of the Almudena Cathedral or from
the Vistillas Park or from one of the low hills
in the Cerro del Tío Pío Park.
f Ventura Rodríguez / Ópera
141 (para llegar al Cerro del Tío Pío)
MUST-SEE MADRID
MUST-SEE MADRID
PLAZA DE CIBELES
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Bicycle
tours
Skate tours
Family tours
03
*
2011 estimate rates
¡FROM
less
than 5€!*
Throughout the year, and
as a great way to discover
the city, the Madrid Tourist
Board and its Discover
Madrid Programme offers
visitors a great selection of
fascinating tours that are
available in a variety of languages (Spanish, English,
French, German, Italian,
Portuguese and Japanese).
Theatrical
and musical
tours
Indispensable
Madrid Guides
Tour
Specially adapted tours for
the physically, mentally and
sensorally handicapped.
Story time
A one-hour playtime activity for children
between the ages of 5 and 10 aimed at
getting them to use their imagination to
discover the secrets of an “enchanted”
Madrid. Story time is a one-of-a kind experience that can be carried out both indoors and outside and that tells the story
of Madrid in terms that a child will fully
understand, appreciate and enjoy.
The Hands-on Lecture Series
offers detailed, comprehensive information
about specific aspects of the history, the
art, customs, traditions and ways of life of
the City of Madrid. Activities are divided
into two halves:
1st Half. LECTURE: focusing on the specialized subject matter.
2nd Half. EDUCATIONAL TOUR: guided
tour that brings participants face to face
with the places and monuments referred
to in the preceding lecture.
“Made-tomeasure”
group tours
You decide the day and the subject matter.
Simply contact us via email ([email protected]) or by phone on
914802036, and tell us what type of tour
you are looking for.
+info:www.esmadrid.com/descubremadrid
Ticket sales:
Madrid Tourism Centre
hPlaza Mayor, 27
kWinter schedule (16th Sep-14th Jun)
Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 8:30pm.
Saturdays from 11am to 5pm. Sundays
from 9:30am to 3pm.
Summer schedule (15th Jun-15th Sep):
Monday to Friday: 9:30 am to 8:30 pm.
Sataurday: 12 noon to 5 pm. Sunday 9:30
am to 14:30 pm
Tele sales: 902 221 424
Caja Madrid ATM network
www.entradas.com
“DISCOVER MADRID”
GUIDED TOUR PROGRAMME
“DISCOVER MADRID”
GUIDED TOUR PROGRAMME
DISCOVER
MADRID
Choose between:
31
MUST-SEE MUSEUMS
Museum of the Americas
32
Exhibition of archaeological, colonial art, and
ethnographic collections brought to Spain
between the 16th and 20th centuries. An anthological approach that breaks down the
collections into themes – of special note are
the Treasure of the Quimbayas, Shellwork
from the Conquest of Mexico and the oldest
European collection on the Prairie Indians.
h Avenida de los Reyes Católicos, 6
f Moncloa
k Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to
3pm and Thursdays from 4pm to 7pm.
Sundays and public holidays from 10am
to 3pm. Closed Monday.
€ Free entry on Sunday
b 91 549 26 41 / 91 543 94 37
+info: ttp://museodeamerica.mcu.es
Public Art Museum
Located beneath the flyover that links calles Juan Bravo and Eduardo Dato, the
museum houses an excellent collection
of Spanish abstract sculpture. Civil engineers José Antonio Fernández Ordóñez
and Julio Martínez Calzón, who designed
the bridge, and artist Eusebio Sempere
came up with a concept to successfully
bring the citizen face to face with the very
latest tendencies in modern art.
The other interesting characteristic of this
museum is that it is part of an urban landscape where the functional elements – the
bridge, approaches, pedestrian walkways,
etc., - create a sense of unity where the
sculptures on exhibit and their setting are
at one with each other.
hPaseo de la Castellana, 41
fRubén Darío
kUnlimited access
€ Free entry
b91 588 86 72
+info: ww.esmadrid.com/museosdemadrid
The house was purchased by Lope de
Vega in 1610 and it is where he lived out
the remaining 25 years of his life (16101635). The different rooms give a pretty
clear picture of 17th century life in Madrid
- home life, society, religion and culture of
the times - in a spot that, almost 400 years
after his death, is still very much identified
with this writer from Madrid.
Almudena Cathedral
Museum
Open Mondays
The museum aims not only to illustrate
the artistic value of the artifacts, but also
their didactic qualities, this being the underlying theme of the exhibit. Through the
use of these artifacts, it is hoped to explain
the ritual of Catholic mass, its origins and
evolution, up to its present-day format. Of
particular interest are the recently opened
Chapter House and Vestry by renowned
artist P. Marco Rupnik, S.J., creator of the
famous Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the
Vatican. After the tour, visitors can climb
to the top of the Dome where they will get
an incredible panoramic view of Madrid.
The collection of José Lázaro Galdiano
(1862-1947) is one of the best examples of
private collections in a country where these are quite rare. The Museum is housed
in the former residence of the collector,
the so-called Florido Park, in honour of
his Argentinean wife, Paula Florido. The
collection includes some wonderful ornamental pieces and an outstanding art
gallery, which includes masterpieces from
the Spanish School such as Murillo, Goya,
Ribera..., the Flemish masters such as
Van Eyck, Mabuse or Bosch, a piece that
has been attributed to Leonardo da Vinci
,as well as a large public library with a
fascinating collection of antique books
and manuscripts.
h Plaza de la Almudena (access through
the main Cathedral entrance)
f Ópera
2:30pm. Closed Sundays as well as on
religious festivals or special mass.
b 91 559 28 74
+info: www.archimadrid.es
h C/ Serrano, 122
f Núñez de Balboa
k Wednesday to Monday from 10am to
4:30pm (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
and Fridays, the third floor closes at 2pm).
Closed Tuesday
b 91 561 60 84
+info: www.flg.es
Open Mondays
Lope de Vega House & Museum
h C/ Cervantes, 11
f Antón Martín
k Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 3pm.
Closed Monday
€ Free entry. Due to the characteristics of
the house tour, group tours, with a maximum of ten people, are available upon
prior request and these will be accompanied by a guide. Tours begin every 30 minutes and last approximately 45 minutes.
b 91 429 92 16
+info: www.madrid.org
Monastery of the Order
of Descalzas Reales
This royal monastery was founded in the
16th Century by Princess Juana de Austria, daughter of Emperor Charles I, whose
tomb lies in one of the Monastery chapels.
Inside visitors will discover a rich collection
of works of art, many of them donated by
noble families whose daughters entered
into the order to dedicate themselves to
a life of contemplation. Of special note
amongst the works of art are the frescos
on the stairway of the Capilla del Milagro
(Chapel of Miracles), Brussels tapestries,
numerous masterpieces, etc.
h Plaza de las Descalzas, 1
f Callao / Sol / Ópera
k Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10:30am to 12:45pm and from
4pm to 17:45pm. Friday from 10:30am to
12:45pm. Sunday and public holidays from
11am to 13:45pm
b 91 454 88 00
The Monastery of
the Encarnation
It was commissioned by Queen Margarita
of Austria, wife of Philip III, to architect Juan
Gómez de Mora and was built between 1611
and 1616. Of special note is the church, with
a beautiful Escorial façade finished off with a
very simple pediment and is the basis for the
architectural style often termed Madrid Baroque. The walls are home to an important collection of 17th and 18th century painting and
sculptures, and it is well worth paying a visit.
One of the highlights is a mysterious secluded Baroque treasure chamber that houses
a large collection of brass engravings, hard
woods, ivory and coral. It is also home to a
vial containing the blood of San Pantaleón,
which, according to tradition, turns to liquid
on the anniversary of the death of the saint.
h Plaza de la Encarnación, 1
f Ópera
k Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10:30am to 12:45pm and from
4pm to 5:45pm. Firdays from 10:30am to
12:45pm. Sundays and public holidays
from 11am to 1:45pm
€ Free entry on Wednesday
b 91 454 88 00
MUST-SEE MUSEUMS
MUST-SEE MUSEUMS
Lázaro Galdiano Museum
33
34
Although it has changed its name various
times over the years, it is still popularly
known as Casa de San Isidro, because according to tradition this was the residency
of the Vargas family (for whom San Isidro
worked) and also the palce where the Saint
lived and died.
The permanent exhibition illustrates this
history of Madrid from prehistoric times
up to the 17th century, using numerous
archaeological remains found in the city.
The Museum also boasts a large collection
of scale models and a selection of artwork
linked to the tradition of San Isidro and
Santa María de la Cabeza.
h Plaza de San Andrés, 2
f La Latina
k Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am to 8pm.
Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm.
€ Free entry
b 91 366 74 15
+info: www.esmadrid.com/museosdemadrid
The Pardo Royal Palace
Henry IV, in the first half of the 15th century,
commissioned the construction of a small
castle that Charles I later rebuilt in 1553, and
was finally finished in 1558 during the reign
of Philip II. The Pardo Royal Palace inherited the general structure of the medieval
castle, flanked by towers and surrounded
by a moat.
The main feature of the interior décor are
the tapestries, woven at the Royal Tapestry
Factory, based on compositions painted
by Bayeu, Castillo, and especially those of
Goya, who was commissioned by the Palace to paint five of his most renowned series.
Amongst the works of art are the renowned
Portrait of Elizabeth the Catholic by Juan de
Flandes and the Portrait of Don Juan José
de Austria on horseback by Ribera, as well
as important pieces of furniture from the 18th
and 19th century.
h C/ Manuel Alonso
601
k WINTER (October-March) Monday to
Saturday from 10:30am to 4:45pm. Sundays from 10am to 1:30pm. SUMMER
(April-September) Monday to Saturday
from 10:30am to 5:45pm. Sunday from
9:30am to 1:30pm. May close for institutional or official acts.
b 91 376 15 00
Open Mondays
Royal Academy of Fine
Arts Museum
Just metres from the Puerta del Sol stands
a building that is home to the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts, founded
in 1744 by King Philip V. Its primary focus
was on perfecting and studying of the three
noble arts - namely painting, sculpture and
architecture. The building was constructed
between 1724 and 1725 by architect José
Benito Churriguera as a house / palace for
banker Juan de Goyeneche. Inside is the
Academy Museum that is home to a major
collection of paintings, sculptures and works
of art from different European schools. The
thirteen works by Goya on exhibit in the
Museum are the main focus of the collection.
h C/ Alcalá, 13
f Sol / Sevilla
k Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Saturdays from 9am to 3pm. Sundays
and public holidays from 9am to 2:30pm.
Closed Monday.
€ Free entry Wednesday (excluding public
holidays)
b 91 524 08 64
+info: http://rabasf.insde.es
Museum of Romanticism
The former palace of the Marquis de Matallana, built in 1776, is home to a fascinating
collection of 19th Century paintings, furnishings and decorative art, which give us a
better understanding of the cultural and political goings on of daily life in Madrid during
the Romantic period. Works of art by Goya,
Esquivel, Madrazo, Alenza and the Bécquer,
pottery by Sargadelos and Sèvres, jewellery made of ebonite, lava or natural hair,
a collection of porcelain dolls, 15 pianos,
imperial and Elizabethan furniture and the
pistol, which Larra used to commit suicide,
all go to recreate the age of Romanticism, a
cultural movement, which coursed through
the veins of young artists, intellectuals and
politicians alike during the first half of the
19th Century.
h Glorieta de San Antonio de la Florida, 5
f Príncipe Pío
k Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am to 8pm.
Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm.
€ Free entry
b 91 542 07 22 / 91 701 18 63
+info: www.esmadrid.com/museosdemadrid
h C/ San Mateo, 13
f Tribunal / Alonso Martínez
k SUMMER (May-October): Tuesday to
Saturday from 9:30am to 8:30pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to
3pm. WINTER (November-April): Tuesday
to Saturday from 9:30am to 18:30pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to
3pm. Closed Monday.
€ Free entry Saturdays after 2pm and all
day Sundays.
b 91 448 10 45
+info: http://museoromanticismo.mcu.es
The Saint Francis the
Great Basilica
San Antonio de
la Florida Shrine
The Shrine, dedicated to Saint Anthony of
Padua, was designed by Italian architect
Philip Fontana, neoclassical in design, and
built between 1792 and 1798 with frescoes
painted by Francisco de Goya in 1798. It
is a small museum but it holds a two-fold
special significance - the artistic value of
the murals that decorate its walls, and the
commemorative value as it has housed the
mortal remains of the artist since 1919. In
order to conserve the paintings, in 1929 the
services were relocated to a replica hermitage built next door, allowing the original
building to be used purely as a museum.
A large convent complex built in the 18th
Century to replace the then existing medieval Franciscan monastery. A large dome
crowns the circular central floor some 58
metres high with a 38-metre diameter, and
is one of the largest in the world. There is
an exhibition of paintings that date from
the 17th to the 19th century. Special mention should be made of the frescos on the
inside of the dome.
h Plaza de San Francisco
f La Latina / Puerta de Toledo
k Tuesday to Friday from 11am to
12:30pm and from 4pm to 6:30pm. Saturdays from 11am to 1:30pm (if there are no
religious services). In the month of August
from Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to
12:30pm and from 5pm to 7:30pm
b 91 365 38 00
SorollA Museum
The Museum is housed in the actual residence-studio of painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida,
donated by his widow so that it be turned
into the museum, and surrounded by a small
garden with strong Andalusian influences,
designed by the painter himself. The main
floor and studio have been left in their original
state. The museum houses the best Sorolla
collection in the world with sculptures, ceramic ware, furniture and jewelry that were
typical of a 19th century bourgeois household.
h Paseo General Martínez Campos, 37
f Iglesia / Rubén Darío
k Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 8pm.
Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 3pm
€ Free entry on Sunday
b 91 310 15 84
+info: http://museosorolla.mcu.es
The Costume Museum
The fundamental aim of the Costume Museum is to promote information about the
historical evolution of the clothing industry
and of the rich ethnological heritage exemplified by the different regional cultures of Spain.
For this reason the exhibition is broken down
chronologically into a series of smaller exhibits that date from the 18th to the 20th century.
h Avenida Juan de Herrera, 2
f Moncloa / Ciudad Universitaria
k Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to
10am to 3pm
€ Free entry on Saturdays after 2:30pm and
on Sunday.
b 91 550 47 00
+info: http://museodeltraje.mcu.es
MUST-SEE MUSEUMS
MUST-SEE MUSEUMS
Museum of the Origins
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36
Madrid, with its more than 3,000 restaurants, offers visitors an unforgettable dining
experience with a choice of restaurants
from the five continents. Not only is there
international cuisine, but also a wide selection of regional dishes, as well as the
local cuisine with its undisputed influence
of the cooking styles from both Castile
regions, the result of a fusion between the
cooking habits of the Royal Court and the
commoners. The dish synonymous with
Madrid is the cocido madrileño that comprises a three-course meal with a soup to
start, followed by greens and vegetables,
and finished of with a meat dish.
In Madrid, seafood and fish dishes are also
part of the staple diet: 1,000 tonnes of seafood product’s arrive each day to its renowned
fish market, the biggest in Europe and the
second biggest in the world only to Tokyo.
The traditional desserts are quite conventional with things such as rosquillas
tontas y listas (a type of donut coated
with either icing sugar or ground almonds), buñuelos de viento (cream
puffs), chocolate with churros (fritters) or bartolillos de crema (egg
custard tart). And these are just
some of the great selection of
delicious desserts.
Tapas
Another of the specialties in Madrid is the
tapas that comprises a bite-size portion,
hot or cold, that is served with wine, vermouth, beer or a refreshment. Although
tapas can be enjoyed anywhere in the
city, there are particular areas of the city
which, due to circumstances or geographical area, have their own particular style
of tapas.
The centre of Madrid is considered to be
the best area for having tapas simply for
being in the very heart of the city. The area
in and around Puerta del Sol and Plaza
Mayor, popularly known as Hapsburg Ma-
drid, is an area where you can enjoy having
tapas in a great atmosphere.
Other busy areas for tapas are the Latina
and the so-called Writers’ Quarter where
you can find traditional taverns where tapas form the cornerstone of an excellent
dining experience.
During the summer months, the specialties
whether they may be, fish, tapas or international cuisine, can be enjoyed on one
of the many open-air terraces, especially
at dinnertime, and in all areas of the city.
DINING OUT
DINING OUT
DINING OUT
37
DINING OUT
• Café Gijón (1888)
h Paseo de Recoletos, 21
fColón / Banco de España
b 91 522 37 37 / 91 521 54 25
38
The century-old restaurants in Madrid are
an example of the professionalism of successive generations that can clearly be seen
in the uniqueness of each establishment.
Diners who come to these restaurants can
enjoy traditional dishes that will never go
out of style and can savour some of their
mouthwatering dishes that represent more
than a hundred years of the history of Madrid.
More information is available on the following web page www.restaurantescentenarios.es.
• Bodega La Ardosa (1892)
h C/ Colón, 13
f Tribunal / Gran Vía
b 91 521 49 79
+info: www.laardosa.com
• La Bola (1870)
h C/ La Bola, 5
f Santo Domingo / Ópera
b 91 547 69 30
+info: www.labola.es
• Botín (1725)
h C/ Cuchilleros, 17
f Sol
b 91 366 42 17 / 30 26
+info: www.botin.es
• La Casa del Abuelo (1906)
h C/ Victoria, 12
f Sol
b 902 02 73 34
+info: www.lacasadelabuelo.es
• Casa Alberto (1827)
h C/ Huertas, 18
f Sol / Antón Martín
b 91 429 93 56 / 07 06
+info: www.casaalberto.es
• Casa Ciriaco (1887)
h C/ Mayor, 84
f Sol / Ópera
b 91 548 06 20
• Casa Labra (1860)
h C/ Tetuán, 12
f Sol
b 91 531 00 81
+info: www.casalabra.es
• Casa Pedro (1702)
h C/ Nuestra Sra. de Valverde, 119
(Fuencarral)
b 91 734 02 01
+info: www.casapedrorestaurante.com
• Los Galayos (1894)
h C/ Botoneras, 5
f Sol
b 91 366 30 28
+info: www.losgalayos.net
• Lhardy (1839)
h Carrera de San Jerónimo, 8
f Sol / Sevilla
b 91 521 33 85 / 91 522 22 07
+info: www.lhardy.es
• Taberna Malacatín (1895)
h C/ Ruda, 5
f La Latina
b 91 365 52 41
+info: www.malacatin.com
• Taberna Oliveros (1857)
h C/ San Millán, 4
f La Latina
b 91 354 62 52
+info: www.tabernaoliveros.com
Gastronomy
Walk
Ten of the best restaurants in Madrid offering diners a mouth-watering cuisine
with a great variety of dishes in an unbeatable setting. All ten are located in
the same area, namely the Casa de Campo showground, although each one is
unique and has their own particular charm. Housed in very distinctive buildings
– manor houses, palaces and ancestral homes -, the restaurants comprising
the Paseo de la Gastronomía combine their finely honed culinary skills with a
pleasant ambience. Discover this culinary walk, located in the very heart of the
city’s green zone, and enjoy a delicious meal seated in their dining rooms, or
on their open-air terraces, beneath the stars of the Madrid skies.
Telephone reservations are required and information is available regarding group
bookings. More information available at www.madridespaciosycongresos.es.
Useful vocabulary
chato
a short, wide-bottomed wine glass.
Caña
draft beer served in a cylinder-shaped glass.
Sangría
a refreshing drink made from a
sweet soda, red wine, sugar, cinnamon, lemon and/or other liquors
or fruits.
Bocadillo
• A Casiña
b 91 526 34 25 / 91 526 32 61
+info: www.acasina.com
• Restaurante Currito
b 91 464 57 04
+info: www.restaurantecurrito.es
• Colonial de Mónico
b 91 479 37 33 / 91 479 26 86
+info: www.grupomonico.es
• Restaurante Guipúzcoa
b 91 470 04 21 / 91 470 25 47
+info: www.restauranteguipuzcoa.com
• Casa de Burgos de Araceli
b 91 464 40 77
+info: www.grupoaraceli.es
• El Bosque Sagrado
b 91 526 78 17
+info: www.elbosquesagrado.es
Pulga
• La Masía de José Luis
b 91 479 86 15
+info: www.joseluis.es
• El Pabellón de Ondarreta
b 91 479 97 79
+info: www.ondarreta.es
Tapa
• La Pesquera
b 91 464 16 12
+info: www.lapesquera.com
• El Palacio de la Misión
b 91 464 77 77
+info: www.palaciodelamision.com
Ración
a roll sliced in two lengthways served with a variety of fillings.
Menú del día
A fixed-price menu offered by hotels and restaurants, with a limited
selection of dishes.
a small roll.
a small serving of food usually to
accompany a drink.
a serving of traditional food, normally larger in size than a tapa, and
normally served with a drink.
DINING OUT
Century-old restaurants in Madrid
39
Centre: The heart of Madrid
MADRID
01
03
04
The city of Madrid is a must-see for anyone planning
a shopping trip. From the exclusiveness of some
of the greatest designers and the “showrooms”
of the most select names in international fashion,
to traditional products from Madrid and the most
avant-garde, visitors to Madrid will find thousands
of excuses to go shopping
01
Disponer de al menos un día libre para dedicarlo a
las compras por la ciudad es indispensable, ya que
sus zonas comerciales atraen durante todo el año
el interés de madrileños y visitantes.
The centre is considered to be the artistic
and historic heart of
Madrid. This area has
been witness to many
events in the life and
history of Madrid. As
you shop along calles
Mayor, Arenal, Preciados, Carmen or Gran
Vía, you will discover
a variety of fashion
stores (clothes, shoes
and accessories) and
some of the typical department stores.
The area surrounding
Plaza Mayor, Puer-
02
A full day is required to get the most out of the
Madrid shopping experience, as the city’s shopping
areas are very popular throughout the year with
residents of Madrid and visitors alike.
Shopping districts
SOL
05
03
02
ta del Sol and Plaza
de Oriente, is full of
small traditional stores, many of which
have not changed in
appearance in the last
100 years: pharmacies,
cake shops, stores selling religious relics,
haberdashers, antique
book stores, hat shops
or ceramic workshops.
Many of these establishments sell traditional
Spanish articles such
as fans, shawls, guitars
or capes.
Hortaleza, Fuencarral
and Triball
These streets are considered to be the most
progressive and ulvtramodern shopping areas
of the city, and in recent
years have become point
of reference for Spanish
modernism. On them you
can find the boutiques of
young fashion designers,
accessories, arts and
crafts… Special mention
should be made of Triball,
located between calles
Ballesta and Corredera
Baja de San Pablo, an
area that has seen a sharp
increase in popularity with
the opening of art galleries, restaurants, clothes
stores and is a great area
for shopping in general.
fGran Vía / Tribunal
Within the Plaza Mayor
Tourism Centre, is the
Madrid Shop store that
sells the¡Madrid! brand
merchandising that include guides and books or DVDs about history, architecture, the
Madrid museums, as
well as t-shirts, stationary, the single Siempre en Madrid or tickets
to the main events and
shows going on in the
city of Madrid.
fSol / Ópera / Callao /
Gran Vía
kOpen all year round
04
Writers’ Quarter
The Barrio de las Letras (Writers’ Quarter),
is the birthplace of
the first edition of Don
Quixote and home to
some of the key figures
of Spanish literature.
Nowadays it is the city’s
nerve centre where you
will find many theatres,
hotels, terrace bars and
the area still conserves
many of the more traditional stores such as
silver smiths, antiquities
and book stores, side by
side stores offering the
very latest in the artistic
avant-garde. It is worth
Argensola, Piamonte
and Almirante
Known as the Barrio de
Chueca, its unbeatable
location has facilitated
its transformation into
an urban catwalk for
independent fashion
labels, characterized
by its Design.
Calles Conde de Xiquena, Almirante and Piamonte together form a
shopping district that
has its own particular
feel, with stores offering
a wide range of labels
with Spanish designs
of both fashion and
household accessories.
fChueca / Gran Vía /
Alonso Martínez
mentioning that this district takes you from the
Paseo del Prado all the
way to the Royal Palace,
which makes for a very
pleasant walk.
fSol / Sevilla / Antón
Martín
05
LAVAPIÉs
The streets of this multicultural neighbourhood
are home to traditional
Madrid stores as well
as many others that sell
traditional goods from
different countries, from
food products to art
and crafts.
fLavapiés
SHOPPING IN MADRID
SHOPPING IN MADRID
40
SHOPPING IN
41
42
Developed in the middle
of the 19th Century, the
Barrio de Salamanca or
Salamanca District, is
located between Paseo
de Recoletos and the El
Retiro Park. This orderly
network of wide, straight
and tree-lined streets
was designed by Carlos
María de Castro, and instigated by the Marquis of
Salamanca. It very soon
became the area chosen
by the fledgling Madrid
middle-classes to set up
home. Faced with the
gloomy and old-fashioned dwellings available
in other areas of the centre of Madrid, the Barrio
de Salamanca made an
ideal setting for a more
modern way of life.
In and around the remodelled calle Serrano,
top-notch businesses
and services set up
shop, turning the area
into the chic district of
Madrid. Major Spanish
and international designers, delicatessens,
The Rastro
Flea market
AZCA
luxury hotels, classy
restaurants, art galleries
and antique stores have
turned the streets (calles)
such as the aforementioned Serrano, Ortega y
Gasset, Claudio Coello,
Lagasca or Jorge Juan,
into a shoppers paradise.
(see “Must-see Madrid”)
h C/ Ribera de Curtidores and surrounding area
to 3pm
f La Latina / Tirso de Molina / Puerta
de Toledo
f Serrano / Velázquez /
Goya / Núñez de Balboa
fArgüelles / Moncloa
Goya Market; Textiles,
Art and Crafts and Gifts:
h Avenida de Felipe II
k Monday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm
f Goya
Delicatessen
h Plaza de San Miguel (San Miguel Market)
k Open every day from 10am to 10pm
f Sol / Ópera
+info: www.mercadodesanmiguel.es
Stamp and Coin Collecting
ARGÜELLES
The shopping area of Argüelles can be found in
and around calles Princesa and Alberto Aguilera, where you will find
the major clothes chain
stores as well as shops
selling accessories and
gifts, as well as the major department stores.
Specialized
Markets
h Plaza Mayor
to 2pm
f Sol / Ópera
The AZCA business
district, and calle Orense in particular, a very
busy shopping area,
provide visitors with a
variety of stores ranging from the most popular clothes chains, to
major department sto-
res, home to boutiques
selling major labels by
both Spanish and international designers.
f Nuevos Ministerios
/ Cuzco / Santiago
Bernabéu
SHOPPING IN MADRID
SHOPPING IN MADRID
Serrano shopping district
43
EL RASTRO
MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL
Opening times
Stores in Madrid are free to open at whatever time they choose but generally speaking, stores open between 9:30am and
2pm, and then again between 5pm and
8:30pm from Monday to Saturday. The
major shopping centres do not close at
lunchtime and stay open to 10pm from
Monday to Saturday. Stores also open
their doors on the first Sunday of each
month, as well as other Sundays that are
considered of high demand, as well as on
some public holidays.
In the centrally located Sol district, shops
are open all year round.
PLAZA DEL CONDE DE BARAJAS
All visitors to Madrid who are not residents
of the European Union can request the
refund of the IVA (equivalent to VAT) on
all purchases greater than €90.16. At the
entrance to all stores you will see the name
of the company that emits refund cheques.
Painting
h Plaza del Conde de Barajas
k Sundays from 10am to 2pm
f Ópera / Sol
Books
h Cuesta de Claudio Moyano
k Monday to Friday from 10am to 2:30pm
and from 4:30pm to 7pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10am to
2:30pm
f Atocha
Flowers
h Plaza de Tirso de Molina
k Open every day from 11am to 6pm
f Tirso de Molina
To be reimbursed, you should follow
these steps:
•Every time you make a purchase, ask for
a refund cheque. This is required for your
taxes to be later refunded.
During 2010, shops are allowed to open on a
total of 22 Sundays and public holidays: 3rd and
th
10 January; 7th February; 7th and 19th March; 4th
April; 2nd May; 3rd and 6th June; 4th July; 1st and
29th August; 5th September; 3rd and 12th October;
7th and 28th November; and 5th, 8th, 12th, 19th and
26th December.
44
CUESTA DE CLAUDIO MOYANO
Tax Refunds
(Tax Free)
PLAZA TIRSO DE MOLINA
•Upon leaving the European Union, present your refund cheques, along with
your passport, your boarding pass and
your purchases at the Customs Desk so
that they can be verified.
•For a cash refund, hand in your copy of
the refund cheques that have been duly
stamped by Customs at the cash refund
CALLE SERRANO
desk of the nearest Tax Free Office or
at any other of the international offices.
•You can also send your refund cheques
via mail, these must be duly stamped by
Customs, indicating the account number
of your credit card and the tax refund
will be credited to your credit card in the
currency of your choice.
Participating Tax Free Companies:
•Tax Free Shopping Global Refund
www.globalrefund.com | b 900 435 482
•Tax Free Shopping Premier
www.premiertaxfree.com | b 915 756 497
•Tax Free Spain Refund
www.spainrefund.com | b 915 237 004
SHOPPING IN MADRID
SHOPPING IN MADRID
Model making
h Paseo de las Delicias, 61
(Railway museum)
k first Sunday of each month from 10am
to 3pm (excluding August)
f Delicias
45
48
Travelers to Madrid probably already know
that this is one of the most vibrant and animated capitals in the world, both during the
day but especially at night. Until the early
hours, discos, jazz lounges, pubs, bars
playing live music, flamenco theatres, taverns, cocktail bars and eccentric venues
that are virtually impossible to categorize,
open their doors – especially on weekends
– to a pleasure-seeking public looking to
have a good time.
And when the spring arrives, the party
atmosphere moves to the streets that
become peppered with terraces and
open-air cafés.
Castellana
03
On the ground floor of the Europe Tower
and along the Avenida de Brasil there are
pubs and discos that are frequented by
people from all walks of life. This particular
area as well as the Paseo de la Castellana
is renowned for being home to some of the
most exclusive bars and restaurants that
Madrid has to offer.
Moncloa - Argüelles
A large selection of cocktail bars and
restaurants. Given their close proximity to
the university, they are often frequented
by students.
Behind calle Fuencarral and as a natural
progression of the street life, both day and
night, Chueca is one of the most genuine
and cosmopolitan neighbourhoods in the
centre of Madrid: The Madrid Soho. In
recent years, this neighbourhood has become a point of reference for the gay and
transsexual collective and is one of the
most vibrant and entertaining neighbourhoods of the Madrid nightlife.
malasaña
People from all walks of life meet in the
Plaza del Dos de Mayo and the surrounding area where there are various live music venues, especially of the rock variety.
During the 1980s, this area was the home
to the infamous movida madrileña.
04
Each year on the last Saturday of June or the
first Saturday of July, the streets play host to
the Gay Pride Celebrations and for a whole
week the neighborhood is filled with a party
atmosphere, full of colour and celebrations.
Alonso Martínez Bilbao
The Plaza de Alonso Martínez is home to
a variety of bars and terraces. In the surrounding area you can also find pubs and
discos and these are mostly frequented by
the younger generation.
06
01
04
03
05
sol-latina
In and around calles Toledo, Mayor, Segovia and Cava Baja, in addition to the great
selection of restaurants, there are also a
good number of quiet bars where you can
enjoy a peaceful chat and a drink before
starting your night. Those who are into having a good time will not be disappointed
either given that this area is home to an
endless array of cocktail bars and discos.
Live music
Madrid’s nightlife is one of its great appeals,
and is renowned world-wide. A contributing
factor to the city’s reputation is the Association of Live Music Venues, under the working name La Noche en Vivo (Live Nights),
which includes more than 45 venues from
both the city and the Madrid region. Not to
be missed live sessions where all types of
musical styles, and audiences can be found,
where you can listen to the rising stars of the
future, as well as to groups and singers who
have already made a name for themselves
but who nevertheless have not forgotten
the venues that first launched their careers.
+info: www.lanocheenvivo.com
Chueca
02
07
huertas
Plaza de Santa Ana is home to some of
Madrid’s most traditional bars and pubs.
Calle Huertas and the surrounding area
has the highest concentration of cocktail
bars, pubs and discos of anywhere in Madrid, and is therefore one of the most lively
areas of the city. This enclave is frequented
by all kinds of people, but especially by
tourists and foreign students.
07
06
MADRID NIGHTS
MADRID NIGHTS
MADRID NIGHTS
05
49
50
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ge.
Madrid is proud to have a museum
dedicated to this formidable motorbike racer who won three world
titles. This is a must-see for all motorbike aficionados.
The Museum of Aviation
(Aeronautic and
Astronautic Museum)
The Museum houses over 100 planes
as well as uniforms, medals, engines,
model airplanes and other aviation
artifacts, and amongst its collection
you will also find some rather unique
pieces: the Vilanova-Acedo, the oldest plane in Spain; the “Jesús del Gran
Poder”, with which captains Iglesias
and Jiménez crossed the South Atlantic in 1929; the German bomber Heinkel He 111 E-1 and the C-19 autogyro
(precursor to the modern helicopter),
designed by Juan de la Cierva, that
first took to the skies in 1932.
hAutovia A-5, km.10.5
518 / 521 / 522 / 523
k Tuesday to Sunday from 10am
to 2pm. Closed Monday and throughout August.
g Free entry
b91 509 16 90
+info: www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es
Andén Cero
(Platform
Zero)
Platform “0” ho
uses an essent
of Madrid’s
ial part
history of theindustrial heritage: the
and its importaMadrid metro system
the economy nt role in stimulating
change withinand a catalyst for social
the advances the city. It also shows
technology an in civil engineering,
as the start upd architecture, as well
vertising indus of the design and adtry.
hChamberí Tra
(Plaza de Cham in Station
fIglesia / Bi berí)
hEngine Yardlbao
(C/ Valderribas,
fPacífico
49)
k Tuesday to
7pm. Saturday Friday from 11am to
holidays from s, Sundays and public
10am to 2pm
Monday
. Closed
g Free entry
b902 444 40
+info: www.es 3
www.metrom madrid.com/anden0
adrid.es
hAvenida del Planetario, 4
fMéndez Álvaro
k Tuesday to Friday from 11am
to 6pm. Saturdays, Sundays and
public holidays from 10:30am
to 2:30pm. Closed Monday and
throughout August.
g Free entry for children
b91 468 02 24
+info: www.motocra.com/museoangelnieto.htm
National Museum
of Anthropology
Home to collections from different ethnic
groups from the five continents, as well
as a physical anthropology collection.
These are artifacts that reflect the economic activities, clothing and ornaments,
domestic life, their belief system... The
major part of the permanent collection
comes as a result of expeditions and trips
by Spanish explorers and scientists in the
19th and 20th centuries.
hC/ Alfonso XII, 68
fAtocha / Atocha Renfe
kTuesday to Saturday from 9:30am
to 8pm. Sundays and public holidays
from 10am to 3pm. Closed Monday
gFree entry Saturdays from 2pm to
8pm and all day Sunday.
b91 539 59 95 / 91 530 64 18
http://mnantropologia.mcu.es
Atlético de Madrid Museum
The Atlético de Madrid Museum is
recognized as one of the top-five
football museums in the world. A trip
to this museum allows visitors to discover in greater depth the legendary
history of one of the major century-old
clubs in the world.
hPaseo de la Virgen del Puerto, 67
(Vicente Calderón Stadium, gate 23)
fPirámides
k Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to
7pm. On match days from 11am until
the start of the match.
b91 365 09 31 / 902 260 403
+info: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com
Museum of Vintage
Airplanes in Flight
A collection of historic planes that
was started in 1984 and includes
23 examples of 17 different models
of plane that represent 60 years of
Spanish aviation history and are in
perfect flying condition.
National Library Museum
The museum houses artifacts relating to
the National Library’s history, its functions,
and its major collections, complemented
by a tour through the history of literature
and writing and the spreading of knowledge thanks to the written word.
hPaseo de Recoletos, 20
fColón / Serrano
k Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to
10am to 2pm. Closed Monday.
g Free entry
b91 580 77 59 / 78 23
+info: www.bne.es
hCuatro Vientos Airport, hangar nº 3
483 / 486 / 487
k Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to
2pm. Closed Mondays. Air display of
vintage planes on the first Sunday of
each month, excluding the months of
January and August.
g Free entry
b91 508 08 42
+info: www.fio.es
MADRID FOR KIDS
MADRID FOR KIDS
Angel Nieto Museum
51
52
Municipal Fire
Brigade Museum
Opened in 1982,
the museum’s aim is to
conserve and exhibit the machines and materials (modern and not
so modern) that have been used over
the course of history by the different
departments of the Fire Brigade.
The museum houses an important collection of gadgets and devices that date
back to the Renaissance period and illustrate the history and evolution of science and technology, with special focus
on what was happening in Spain.
hC/ Boada, 4
fBuenos Aires
kMonday to Friday from
10am to 1:30pm. Closed
throughout August.
gFree entry
b91 478 65 72
National Museum of
Natural Science
Wax Museum
Open
Mondays
The museum is home to wax replicas of
major celebrities both past and present.
It also recreates famous historic events
and settings.
hPaseo de Recoletos, 41
fColón
k Monday to Friday from 10am to
2:30pm and from 4:30pm to 8:30pm.
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 8:30pm
b91 319 26 49
+info: www.museoceramadrid.com
The National Museum of Natural Science administers a large collection of
specimens, and runs a series of exhibits
and educational activities aimed at the
general public. The common goal is to
heighten the public’s awareness the
great diversity of the natural world.
hPaseo de las Delicias, 61
fDelicias
kTuesday to Saturday from 10am
to 2pm and from 4pm to 6pm.
Sundays and public holidays from
10am to 2:30pm. July and August: Tuesday to Saturday from
9am to 3pm. Sundays and public
holidays from 10am to 2:30pm.
Closed Monday.
gFree entry
b91 530 31 21
+info: www.muncyt.es
hC/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2
fGregorio Marañón
k Tuesday to Friday from 10am to
6pm. Saturdays from 10am to 8pm
(excluding July and August – open
from 10am to 3pm). Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 2:30pm.
b91 411 13 28
+info: www.mncn.csic.es
The City Museum
The City Museum allows visitors an indepth look at the evolution of Madrid
from a historical perspective from its early
days right up to the 20th century with
urban planning design, monuments, customs and traditions, etc.
hC/ Príncipe de Vergara, 140
fCruz del Rayo
k Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am to
8pm. Saturdays and Sundays from
10am to 2pm.
g Free entry
b91 588 65 99
+info: www.esmadrid.com/
museosdemadrid
CosmoCaixa Madrid
hC/ Pintor Velázquez,
(Alcobendas)
fMarqués de la Valdavia
k Tuesday to Sunday from 10am
to 8pm. Closed Monday (excluding
public holidays).
g Free entry
b91 484 52 00
+info: www.fundacio.lacaixa.es/
centros/cosmocaixamadrid_es.html
Open
Mondays
The Railway Museum
Located inside one of the oldest Train Stations in Madrid, the museum houses one
of the most comprehensive collections of
railway objects and artifacts in Europe,
comprising steam, diesel and electric engines, passenger carriages, as well as articles related to the history of the railways.
hPaseo de las Delicias, 61
fDelicias
k Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to
3pm. Closed throughout August.
b902 228 822
+info: www.museodelferrocarril.org
The Gem and Mineral Museum
The goal of the Gem and Mineral Museum
is to conserve, research, and promote the
richness and diversity of Spain’s geological, paleontological, and mineralogical
heritage through its major collections of
minerals, rocks and fossils from around
all regions of Spain and from the former
colonies, as well as mineral deposits of
special significance.
Open
Mondays
hC/ Ríos Rosas, 23
fRíos Rosas
k Monday to Sunday
and public holidays from
9am to 2pm.
g Free entry
b91 349 57 59
+info: www.igme.es
MADRID FOR KIDS
MADRID FOR KIDS
National Museum of
Science and Technology
53
Open
Mondays
This comprehensive zoo has some 500
species of animal from the 5 continents
with 6,000 samples; but it also has a
large aquarium that specializes in tropical marine life. There is also a dolfinarium
that puts on some incredible displays by
these very intelligent mammals.
MADRID FOR KIDS
Real Madrid Museum
54
um
House & Muse
Ratón Pérez
ther Cory house where Fa
Located in the ve toncito Pérez (the Spanish
loma, author of Ratooth-fairy) based the stoequivalent of the s and beloved character.
ries of this famou
º
h C/ Arenal, 8 –1
day to
fSol
5pm to 8pm. Tues
k Mondays fromam to 2pm and from 5pm
Saturday from 11 nday mornings, Sundays
to 8pm. Closed Mos. Free entry for children.
and public holiday
b91 522 69 68 museoratonperez.com
+info: www.casa
The Debod Temple
State in
A gift to Spain from the Egyptian
in the
1968 in appreciation for the help given
les. Consalvaging of the Abu Simbel temp the 2nd
struction on the temple began in t both
century B.C. and continued throughou
the Ptolemaic and Roman times.
hPº del Pintor Rosales
ña
fVentura Rodríguez / Plaza de Espa
The Bernabeu Stadium Tour allow
s visitors
to access some of the traditionally restri
areas of the stadium: the trophy room cted
pitch, the Presidential Box, the playe , the
nel, the benches and the changing rs’ tunrooms.
hC/ Concha Espina, 1 (Santiago
Bernabéu Stadium, gate 20)
fSantiago Bernabéu
k Monday to Saturday from 10am
to
7pm. Sundays and public holidays
10:30am to 6:30pm. On match days from
are stopped 5 hours prior to the sche, tours
duled
kick-off.
b902 311 709
to
k Tuesday to Friday from 10am
2pm and from 4:30pm to 6:15pm.
Saturdays and Sundays from 10am
to 2pm.
g Free entry
b91 366 74 15
+info: www.esmadrid.com/
museosdemadrid
Madrid Zoo
& Aquarium
Madrid Funfair
Rides, shows and street entertaine
rs.
The facilities also include a kid’s
zone
with rides specially designed with smal
ler
children in mind.
hCasa de Campo
fBatán
k Open from midday. Closing time
pendent on available daylight so this devary depending on the time of year. may
b91 463 29 00 / 902 345 001
+info: www.parquedeatracciones.es
hCasa de Campo
fCasa de Campo
k Open all year round. Closing time dependent on available daylight so this may
vary depending on the time of year.
b902 345 014 / 91 512 37 70 /
91 512 37 80
+info: www.zoomadrid.com
Imax Madrid
The world’s most advanced movie projection systems (Imax, Omnimax and
Imax 3D). Incredible screens that literally
envelope viewers and make them the
star of the show.
hC/ Meneses
fMéndez Álvaro
k Open all year round with morning,
afternoon and evening sessions.
b91 467 48 00
+info: www.imaxmadrid.com
Madrid Planetarium
The main goal of the Planetarium is to
reconnect visitors with the Cosmos and
to strengthen the bond by educating individuals on the fundamentals of astronomy in an easy to understand format that
is suitable for all ages.
hAvda. del Planetario, 16 (Enrique Tierno Galván Park)
fMéndez Álvaro
k Tuesday to Friday from 5pm to 7:45pm.
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
from 11am to 1:45pm and from 5pm to
8:45pm. Summer (June 23rd –September
23rd) Tuesday to Friday from 11am to
1:45pm and from 5pm to 7:45pm.
b91 467 34 61 / 91 467 38 98
+info: www.planetmad.es
Faunia (Madrid Biological Park)
A nature and biodiversity them park divided into different themed areas, the
most notable being the largest polar ecosystem in Europe.
hAvenida de las Comunidades, 28
fValdebernardo
k Open all year round from 10am. Closing time dependent on available daylight
so this may vary depending on the time
of year.
b91 301 62 10
+info: www.faunia.es
Warner
Theme Park Madrid
Five different themed areas with rides,
shows, games, restaurants and shops,
with characters from the world of Warner.
hSan Martín de la Vega (A-4 dual carriageway, exit 22)
fC3 to Aranjuez, getting off at the “Parque de Ocio” stop (trains leave from the
Atocha Train Station)
412 (departs from Plaza de Legazpi)
k Open from March until January. Opening and closing times vary depending
on the time of year.
b902 024 100 / 91 821 12 34
+info: www.parquewarner.com
MADRID FOR KIDS
Madrid has a number of great places
where the whole family can have
fun together.
55
Madrid Cable-car
56
h Paseo del Pintor
Rosales
f Argüelles
k Opening and closing time dependent
on available daylight.
b 91 541 11 18
+info: www.teleferico.com
Carlos Sainz Centre
(Kart & Business)
Dreams Ice Palace
1,800m2 ice rink.
hC/ Silvano, 77
fCanillas
k Skate rink (closed for the summer):
Wednesday and Thursday from 8:45pm
to 10pm. Friday from 5pm to 11:30pm.
Saturday from midday to 3pm and from
5pm to 11:30pm. Sundays and public
holidays from midday to 3pm and from
5pm to 10pm.
b91 716 01 59
+info: www.palaciodehielo.com
A 3,000m2 racetrack, technically very
advanced and safe, with a built-in realtime timekeeping system.
hC/ Sepúlveda, 3 (Barrio Art Decó Recreational Centre)
f Puerta del Ángel
k Monday to Thursday from 6pm to
11pm. Fridays from 6pm to midnight. Saturdays from 11am to midnight. Sundays
from 11am to 11pm.
Junior drivers (8-14 years, minimum height 1.30m): Monday to Friday from 6pm
to 8pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public
holidays from 11am to 5pm. Drivers under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. All drivers 15 years old
and above must show ID.
b902 170 190
+info: www.kartcsainz.com
Madrid SnowZone
This is the only indoor ski slope in Spain
and the largest in Europe. Located at the
Madrid Xanadú Shopping and Recreational Centre.
hMadrid Xanadú Shopping Centre.
A-5 dual carriageway exits 22 and 25
(Arroyomolinos).
528 / 534 (departs from Príncipe Pío)
fBatán
k Sunday to Thursday from 10am to
10pm. Fridays and Saturdays from 10am
to midnight.
b902 361 309
+info: www.madridsnowzone.com
Micropolix
Recreational park for boys and girls with
more than 30 themed areas where children can experience a hundred different
professions through games that are supervised by specially trained staff.
hAlegra Shopping Centre. A-1, exit
20. C/ Julio Rey Pastor, 17 (San Sebastián de los Reyes).
fHospital Infanta Sofía
152B
k Fridays from 5pm to 9pm.
Saturdays, Sundays and public
holidays from 11am to 8pm.
b91 799 00 00
+info: www.micropolix.com
Rowboat rentals
On the lakes at the Retiro Park and at the
Casa de Campo, visitors can enjoy a peaceful
row or a trip on a small launch, and on many
weekends it is the perfect venue for most water sports.
•The Retiro Lake
hEl Retiro Park
fRetiro
k Open every day from 10am until sunset.
b91 574 40 24
•Casa de Campo Lake
hPaseo Embarcadero, 8 (Casa de Campo)
fLago
k Open every day from 10am until sunset.
b91 464 46 10
Water Parks
•Aquópolis San Fernando de Henares
ares (A-2 dual-carriah San Fernando de Hen
5)
15.
.
km
ay,
gew
from midday to 7pm. July
k June to September to 8pm.
and August from midday
b91 673 10 13
s
+info: www.aquopolis.e
•Aquópolis ñadA
Villanueva de la Ca a, (Villanueva de la
hes
De
la
de
a
nid
Ave
h
Cañada)
from midday to 7pm. July
k June to September to 8pm.
day
mid
and August from
b91 815 69 11
s
+info: www.aquopolis.e
Circo Price –
Circus and Theatre
A multidisciplinary cultural arena that is
suitable for hosting performances not only
linked to the circus, but also to music,
theatre, art, in short, any kind of event. A
place where the whole family can have fun
throughout the year.
hRonda de Atocha, 35
fAtocha / Embajadores
b91 527 98 65
+info: www.esmadrid.com/circoprice
The Retiro
Theatre
Municipal Puppet
can enjoy a
Throughout the year, youin this fulltime
es
anc
form
per
of
iety
var
both children
puppet theatre, wheret in some truly
and adults can deligh
magical characters.
cess via the
h The Retiro Park (ac
ncia)
Plaza de la Independe
fRetiro
b91 792 41 12
om
+info:www.tittirilandia.c
www.madrid.es
MADRID FOR KIDS
MADRID FOR KIDS
The cable-car is a great
opportunity to get a
very different view of
Madrid. The crossing
takes visitors 40m off
the ground and reaches speed of 3.5 m/s.
57
Madrid is city full of culture, with wonderful
monuments, entertainment and great food;
but at the same time, it is an ecological
and environmentally friendly city. A stroll
through the Retiro or Oeste parks, or the
Sabatini or Campo del Moro gardens is a
pleasurable experience that should not be
missed out on.
El Retiro ParK
(see also “Must See Madrid”)
Campo del Moro Gardens
It owes its name to the fact that on a
number of occasions, it was chosen as
the place to set up camp by the Muslim
armies when besieging the city. It was
Queen Isabel II, in 1844, who commissioned the creation of a park/garden on the
west wall of the Royal Palace, which was
when it became the gardens as we know
them today. It boasts two famous fountains, the Newts Fountain (Tritones) and
the Shell Fountain (Conchas), that mark
the two ends of the gardens, intertwined
with sweeping, rolling paths.
h Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, 1
f Príncipe Pío
58
PARQUE DEL CAPRICHO
k WINTER (October to March): Monday
to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Sundays
from 9am to 6pm. SUMMER (April to September): Monday to Saturday from 10am to
8pm. Sundays from 9am to 8pm.
b 91 454 88 00
Royal Botanical Gardens
Located next to the Prado Museum, it was
commissioned by Charles III in 1781, and
designed by architect Juan de Villanueva
and botanist Gómez Ortega. The gardens
currently occupy some 8 hectares of land
and are divided into three terraces, the
two lower ones, Neoclassical in style (the
Square Terrace and the British Schools’
Terrace) and the upper one, Elizabethan
Romantic in style (Plan of the Flower Terrace). Also worth mentioning, are the functional structures such as greenhouses, the
Villanueva Pavilion, the Linneo Pond or the
Research and Laboratory building. The
gardens are surrounded by magnificent
iron railings and can be accessed by either of the two gates: the Murillo and the
King’s Gate, both of which were the work
of Villanueva.
The Botanical Gardens are one of the
largest in Europe, and received the first
specimens of American flora, collected
from a herbarium and which included plant
specimens from a number of scientific
expeditions carried out in the 18th and
19th Centuries. It is a spectacular garden,
located in the very heart of Madrid, where
you can browse, stroll, learn and delight in
nature any time of the year.
h Plaza de Murillo, 2.
f Atocha
k Monday to Sunday opening time 10am.
Closing time depends on the month:
January-February 6pm, March 7pm, April
8pm, May-June-July-August 9pm, September 8pm, October 7pm and NovemberDecember 6pm.
b 91 420 30 17
+info: www.rjb.csic.es
PARKS AND GARDENS
PARKS AND GARDENS
PARKS AND
GARDENS
59
Fuente del Berro Park
This former recreational farm is an excellent example of naturalistic gardening.
Currently, it is home to some unique woodland specimens, as well as monuments
by Becquer, Iniesta and Puskin.
h C/ Enrique D’Almonte, 1
f O’Donnell
k WINTER (October to March): from 6am
to 10pm. SUMMER (April to September):
6am to midnight.
Parque del Oeste
A park designed at the start of the last
century by Cecilio Rodríguez, replete with
monuments, landscaped and with English
garden traits, with its steep slopes and
winding paths, and naturalist in style. The
park later grew to include, in a south-easterly direction, the Debod Temple Gardens
and the Ferraz Gardens, that link the park
as a whole with the Carmelitas Descalzas
Church and Plaza de España. It is home to
a number of commemorative monuments.
The Madrid cable car links this edge of the
city with the Casa de Campo. It was built
in 1906, an initiative of the then Mayor of
Madrid, Alberto Aguilera.
h Paseo del Pintor Rosales with Paseo
de Moret
f Argüelles / Moncloa / Ventura Rodríguez
k RAMÓN ORTIZ ROSE GARDENS:
Monday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm.
Opening times are extended during the
summer months – 9am to 9pm.
b Rose Gardens: 91 548 95 12 / 91 548
95 13 / 91 548 95 14
Juan Carlos I Park
This park, the largest green space in Madrid, second only to the Casa de Campo,
is located in the Campo de las Naciones
complex on the site of the century old
Hinojosa olive grove, and is considered
to be a “puerta de la ciudad” or city gate.
The overall design of the park can only be
appreciated from the sky and the proximity
of Madrid-Barajas Airport means that its
general design can be seen from the air.
Its design is reminiscent of the growth of
a city around an estuary, surrounded by a
symbolic wall. It is home to some stunning
spots such as the Labyrinth, the Three
Culture Garden, the Holocaust Monument,
the Anne Frank Tree, or the 19 sculptures
that have converted the park into a kind of
open-air museum.
At the park’s Estufa Fría, visitors can
appreciate a plant collection comprising
some 220 varieties, divided into 12 different zones, each with its own ambience
and feel, such as the river bank woodlands
or the Japanese garden. Another highlight,
although outside the park this time, is the
indigenous Mediterranean garden.
h Glorieta Don Juan de Borbón.
f Campo de las Naciones
k Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm
and from 4pm to 7pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10am to
7pm (information and bike rentals at the
information buildings are the entrance to
the Park).
b 91 721 00 79
El Capricho Park
The origins of the Capricho Park in the
Alameda de Osuna district of the city, date
back to the latter part of the 18th Century,
when the Duke and Duchess of Osuna
decided to build their country home on
the outskirts of Madrid. This is possibly the
most interesting of all Madrid parks, as it is
a fusion of three classical types of design
(Italian, French and landscape), conserving
each of their most appealing and characteristic traits, thus fully warranting the name
of El Capricho (the whim).
The park is also home to a palace, a ball
room, a chapel, a stream, a lake, island and
small dock, a shrine to Baco (Dionysus), a
greenhouse, a 6,000m2 labyrinth made of
plants and even has its own beekeeper.
h Paseo Alameda de Osuna
f El Capricho
105 / 151
k WINTER (October to March): Saturdays,
Sundays and public holidays from 9am to
6:30pm. SUMMER (April to September):
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
from 9am to 9pm.
b 91 588 01 14
Madrid Río
The new Madrid stretches out past the
banks of the Manzanares river. There, the
riverside has been reclaimed and it can
be used and enjoyed by both visitors and
inhabitants as a huge green space suitable
for long walks and bike rides, and where, in the future, there will also be an area
for canoeing and other boating activities.
The numerous footbridges over the river,
such as the one designed by Dominique
Perrault, make it easy to cross from one
bank to another, almost without realising it.
Madrid Río is one of the most ambitious
city planning projects in the world, following the rerouting of the Madrid ring road
underground. It is a part of the city that has
been reclaimed, and now hosts a variety of
events, as well as being home to one of the
leading cultural venues, Matadero Madrid.
PARKS AND GARDENS
PARKS AND GARDENS
60
Casa de Campo
King Philip II purchased the Casa de Campo in 1553 and began to develop the large
estate that would stretch from the Palace
to the Royal Hunting Lodge in El Pardo,
until reaching its current size of 1,800 hectares. This huge park has not lost any of
its woodland features, still wooded for
the most part, the veritable lungs of the
city of Madrid.
In the 20th Century during the 2nd Republic, it was handed over to the city of
Madrid, and it has been used ever since
for recreational purposes thanks to its size,
proximity and easy access.
f Lago / Batán / Casa de Campo
b 91 479 60 02 (Casa de Campo Environmental Information Centre)
Sabatini Gardens
These classicistic gardens with their neatly
trimmed hedges are located outside the
northern walls of the Royal Palace. They
were created in about 1930 on the spot of
the former Royal Stables, built by Francisco Sabatini and part of the service of the
Royal Palace.
h C/ Bailén, 2 and 4
f Plaza de España / Ópera
k WINTER (October to April): from 9am to
9pm. SUMMER (May to September): from
9am to 10pm.
The Molinos Gardens
The Molinos Gardens date back to the
start of the 20th Century. The gardens are
well preserved, a shady stream with an
almond plantation that boasts a variety
of species, protected by deciduous and
coniferous woodlands, through which the
main paths cross. It still has its two windmills, after which it was named, cellars,
a rationalist mansion (architecturally one
of a kind in Madrid), the Casa del Reloj
with courtyards and other farm buildings
and a lake.
h C/ Alcalá, 527 to 531
f Suanzes
k from 6:30am to 10pm
61
Príncipe de Anglona Gardens
The garden, as we know it today, was
commissioned by the Marquis of Romana to Javier de Winthuysen, painter and
garden designer, in 1920. Even with the
recent remodelling, it still conserves its
original structure. It comprises a series
of brick-lined paths that go to create four
separate quadrants, and a central intersection where there is a fountain.
Small and elegant, the garden is a fusion
of neoclassicism elements and Andalusian
courtyard, but the main feature being its
suspended structure, located on a raised
embankment, with the exception of the slope along calle de Segovia, which borders it.
h C/ Príncipe de Anglona, 1
f La Latina
k WINTER (October to February): from
10am to 6:30pm. SUMMER (March to
September): from 10am to 8:45pm.
Atocha Station Greenhouse
In the very centre of Madrid is a tropical
garden, which, due to its characteristics, its
location and its plant life, is the only one of
its kind in the world. We are talking about the
Atocha Station Greenhouse, which currently
comprises 4,000m2 of greenery, and home to
a total of 7,200 plants from 500 different species from the Americas, Australia, Asia and
Africa. For these reasons, the greenhouse
is no longer merely a place that passengers
simply pass through, it is a place where visitors can stop to have a rest, read, or simply
chat, in a characteristically tropical setting.
h Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V
f Atocha RENFE / Atocha
62
INVERNADERO DE LA ESTACIÓN DE ATOCHA
Palacio de Cristal de Arganzuela Greenhouse
The greenhouse is built using a metallic
structure, rectangular in shape, and covered with panes of reinforced glass, resulting in a totally glassed-in building, with an
overall surface area of 7,100m2, more than
five times the area of the Palacio de Cristal
in the Retiro Park. The greenhouse boasts
a modern, computerised climate control
system and houses more than 1,200 species of plants, most of which are exotic.
h Paseo de la Chopera, 10
f Legazpi
k Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to
5:30pm.
b 91 588 61 37 / 40
San Isidro Cemetery
The San Isidro Cemetery, built in 1811
alongside the San Isidro Chapel, is the
oldest one in Madrid. From inside, you
get a breathtaking panoramic view of the
city with the Royal Palace as a backdrop.
The cemetery surprises visitors with its
spectacular beauty thanks to its amazing
cypress trees and the 19th Century funeral architecture, designed by the greatest
architects of their time, with some mausoleums being veritable shrines that contain
carved elements designed and created by
some of the greatest sculptors.
h Paseo Quince de Mayo, 62
f Marqués de Vadillo
b 91 365 08 41
PARKS AND GARDENS
PARKS AND GARDENS
Secret Gardens
63
SPORTS
Basketball
Real Madrid
Madrid Caja Mágica
Vistalegre Sports Palace (Manzanares Park)
h Avda. Plaza de Toros
f Vistalegre
b 91 422 07 80
hipódromo de la zarzuela
Horse racing
64
In Madrid, you can watch top class
football throughout the year. Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, both clubs
being over one hundred years old, play in
the first division of the Spanish Football
League. The other Madrid football teams
are Rayo Vallecano and Getafe. The
Spanish Football League starts in early
September and ends in June. Matches
are played on Saturdays and Sundays
with European competition and the Copa
del Rey (the King’s Cup) on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays or Thursdays.
Real Madrid
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
h C/ Concha Espina, 1
f Santiago Bernabéu
Ticket sales: 902 324 324 and from the
stadium ticket-sale counters on match
days from 11am onwards (depending on
availability of tickets).
b 91 398 43 00 / 70
Atlético de Madrid
Vicente Calderón Stadium
h Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, 67
f Pirámides
Ticket sales: 902 530 500 and from the
stadium ticket-sale counters on match
days from 11am onwards (depending on
availability of tickets).
b 91 366 47 07 / 91 365 09 31
+info: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com
Rayo Vallecano
Teresa Rivero Stadium
h Payaso Fofó
f Portazgo
b 91 478 56 72 / 91 478 22 53
+info: www.rayovallecano.es
Getafe Club de Fútbol
Coliseum Alfonso Pérez
h Avda. Teresa de Calcuta, (Getafe)
f El Casar
b 91 695 97 71
+info: www.getafecf.com
telefónica madrid arena
estudiantes
Community of Madrid Sports Arena
(Palacio de Deportes)
h Avenida de Felipe II
f Goya
b 91 258 60 17
+info: www.clubestudiantes.com
Horse racing at the racetrack takes place every Sunday during the spring and
autumn season. It is located nearby the
Monte del Pardo, and is a prefect way to
do something a little different with your
Sunday mornings. During the summer
months of June and July, there are also
evening races on Thursday nights.
Zarzuela Racecourse
h Coruña Dual-carriageway (A-6), km. 8
k Open Sundays from 10am to 3pm. Races start at 11am.
b 91 740 05 40
+info: www.hipodromodelazarzuela.es
SPORTS
SPORTS
Football
65
66
There is bullfighting each Sunday from
March until October, but the highlight of the
year in the renowned San Isidro Festival,
during the month of May when there is bullfighting every day with some of the great
bullfighters in Spain. Other bullfighting festivals worthy of note are the ones during
the “La Feria de Invierno” (Winter Festival)
in February, the “Feria de la Comunidad”
(Festival of the Community of Madrid) during the first days of May and the “Feria de
Otoño” (the Autumn Festival) at the start
of October. Tickets can be bought at the
Plaza de Toros ticket counters on the very
day. For the “San Isidro Festival” it is best
to buy tickets beforehand.
Plaza de toros de las Ventas
Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
A guided tour of the bullring is available to
the public from Tuesday to Sunday from
10am to 2pm, with Tauro Tour Las Ventas
(information and reservation number 91
556 92 37).
h C/ Alcalá, 237
f Ventas
b 902 193 166
+info: www.las-ventas.com
Vistalegre Palace Bullring
h Avda. Plaza de Toros
f Vistalegre
b 91 422 07 80
+info: www.palaciovistalegre.com
Bullfighting Museum
This museum, opened in 1951, serves as
a witness to the great moments in the art
and history of bullfighting.
h C/ Alcalá, 237 (Las Ventas bullring)
f Ventas
k Bullfighting season (March to October):
Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am to 2:30pm.
Sundays, public holidays and festivals
from 10am to 1pm. Off-season (November to February): Monday to Friday from
9:30am to 2:30pm.
€ Free entry.
b 91 725 18 57
FLAMENCO
Although Madrid is not the birthplace of
flamenco, the capital of Spain is considered
by many to be the “showcase of flamenco”
and any artist wishing to make a name for
themselves on the international stage must
first succeed here. The city has a number of
tablaos flamencos (flamenco theatres). From
time to time the city plays host to flamenco
festivals or you can enjoy one of the shows
performed by some of the great flamenco
artists at one the city’s major theatres.
Casa Patas
h C/ Cañizares, 10
f Antón Martín / Tirso de Molina
b 91 369 04 96 / 91 369 33 94
+info: www.casapatas.com
Las Tablas
h Plaza de España, 9
f Plaza de España
b 91 542 05 20
+info: www.lastablasmadrid.com
Corral de la Morería
h C/ Morería, 17
f La Latina
b 91 365 84 46 / 91 365 11 37
+info: www.corraldelamoreria.com
Torres Bermejas
h C/ Mesonero Romanos, 11
f Callao
b 91 532 33 22
+info: www.torresbermejas.com
Café de Chinitas
h C/ Torija, 7
f Santo Domingo
b 91 547 15 02
+info: www.chinitas.com
Corral de la Pacheca
h C/ Juan Ramón Jiménez, 26
f Plaza de Castilla / Cuzco
b 91 353 01 00 / 91 353 01 02
+info: www.corraldelapacheca.com
Las Carboneras
h Plaza del Conde de Miranda, 1
f Sol / Opera
b 91 542 86 77
+info: www.tablaolascarboneras.com
El Clan
h C/ Ronda de Toledo, 20
f Puerta de Toledo
b 91 528 84 01
+info: www.salaclan.com
Cardamomo
h C/ Echegaray, 15
f Sol
b 91 369 07 57
+info: www.cardamomo.net
FLAMENCO
BULLFIGHTING
BULLFIGHTING
67
Tourist Offices
Madrid Tourism Centre
h Plaza Mayor, 27 (Casa de la Panadería)
f Sol / Ópera
k Monday to Sunday from 9:30am to 8:30pm
Centro de Turismo Colón
h Plaza de Colón (pedestrian passageway
between calles Génova and Goya)
f Colón
Plaza de Cibeles
h Plz de Cibeles, on the Paseo del Prado
f Banco de España
Plaza de Callao
h Plaza de Callao
f Callao
Paseo del Arte / Art Walk
h Calle Santa Isabel on the corner of Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V (Atocha)
b Atocha
68
Centro de Turismo de Madrid
Madrid-Barajas Airport
(Terminal 4)
h Arrival Halls 10 and 11
f Aeropuerto T4
k Monday to Sunday from 9am to 8pm
Madrid-Barajas Airport
(Terminal 2)
h Arrivals foyer between arrival halls 5 and 6
f Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3
k Monday to Sunday from 9am to 8pm
Remote Access:
b 91 588 16 36 | F: 91 480 20 41
www.esmadrid.com
@ [email protected]
Foreign Tourist Assistance
Services (SATE)
This service aims to provide personalised
assistance to foreign tourists who, having
been the victim of a crime or having suffered some other traumatic experience.
Such assistance is provided by specially
trained staff from the Madrid Tourist Board
and the National Police Force.
h Calle Leganitos, 19 (Central Police
Station)
f Santo Domingo / Plaza de España /
Callao
b infosate: 91 548 85 37 / 91 548 80 08
b 24 hour crime line: 902 102 112
k every day from 9am to midnight.
@ [email protected]
+info: www.esmadrid.com/satemadrid
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
PRACTICAL
INFORMATION
69
The Madrid Card offers cardholders a series of services by establishments participating in the tourist pack promotion, including free access to 40 museums (including
the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen) as
well as discounts in shops, restaurants,
recreational centres and car rentals.
Points of sale:
· Madrid Tourism Centre. h Plaza Mayor, 27.
· Madrid-Barajas Airport. Terminal 4 Hotel
Reservations, Viajes Aira.
· Madrid-Barajas Airport. Terminal 2 Arrivals. Metro Madrid Passenger Service
Centre.
· Main hotels and travel agencies.
· “Madrid Visión” buses and ticket desk.
Calle de Felipe IV, next to the Prado Museum.
· Wax Museum. Paseo de Recoletos, 41.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Paseo del
Prado, 8.
· Telesales: b 902 088 908 / 91 360 47 72
(Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm and
from 3pm and 7pm, and Saturdays from
10am to 2pm, excluding public holidays).
· On-line sales: www.madridcard.com /
www.neoturismo.com
Madrid VISIÓN
Madrid Visión offers a variety of panoramic bus tours around Madrid with stops
at the major museums and monuments.
The average length of each tour is 75
minutes and tickets are valid for 24 or
48 hours, depending on the type. Passengers can get on and off the bus at
any stop along the route. Recorded
commentary is available in a number of
languages.
i Madrid Visión Ticket Kiosk in Calle
Philip IV, next to the Prado Museum
fBanco de España
b 91 765 10 16 / 91 779 18 88
+info: www.madridvision.es
Organized Tours
The following companies organize tours of
Madrid and the surrounding areas:
i Juliatravel
h Plaza de España, 7
b91 559 96 05
c www.juliatravel.com
i Pullmantur
h Plaza de Oriente, 8
b91 541 18 05
c www.pullmantur-spain.com
i Trapsatur
h C/ San Bernardo, 5
b91 541 63 21
c www.trapsatur.com
Buses to the surrounding areas
STATION
DESTINATION
TELEPHONE
Avenida de América Transport hub
f Avenida de América
• Alcalá de Henares, 32 Km k 40’
b 902 422 242
Estación Sur Bus Station
b 91 468 42 00 / 45 11
f Méndez Álvaro
• Aranjuez, 47 Km k 45’
• Ávila , 115 Km k 95’
• Cuenca, 167 Km k 2h 30’ (N) y 2h (E)
• Salamanca, 212 Km k 3h 5’
(standard bus) y 2h 30’ (express bus)
b
b
b
b
h Avenida del Mediterráneo, 49
f Conde de Casal
• Chinchón, 45 Km k 55’
b 91 409 76 02
Moncloa Transport hub
f Moncloa
• El Escorial, 56 Km k 55’
b 91 896 90 28
Príncipe Pío Transport Hub
f Príncipe Pío
• Segovia, 87 Km k 90’
• La Granja, 99,2 Km k 120’
Plaza Elíptica Transport Hub
f Plaza Elíptica
• Toledo, 71 Km k 75’
902 198 788
902 020 052
902 020 052
902 020 052
b 915 598 955 / 915 413 283
b 902 422 242
70
Madrid Card
71
TOLEDO
CUENCA
SEGOVIA
ÁVILA
ARANJUEZ
Public Holidays
Madrid presently has two main Train
Stations: Atocha and Chamartín. All major intercity routes depart and arrive at
one or the other.
Atocha Train Station
This is the arrival and departure station for the AVE (High Speed Train) that
presently has routes to the following
Spanish cities: Cordova, Seville, Toledo,
Saragossa, Lleida, Tarragona, Barcelona, Huesca and Malaga.
h Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V
f Atocha Renfe
• Information and ticket reservations:
902 320 320
• International information: 902 243 402
+info: www.renfe.es
Chamartín Train Station
h C/ Agustín de Foxá
f Chamartín
Information and ticket reservations:
902 320 320
International information:
902 243 402
+info: www.renfe.es
The major celebration in Madrid falls on
May 15th, San Isidro’s Day, the Patron
Saint of the city, but it is not the only one.
Different neighbourhoods have their own
celebrations, the most traditional and typical being those of San Antonio de la Florida
(June 13th), San Antón (January 17th) or
the Virgen de la Paloma (August 15th),
during which both the men and women
don their traditional chulapos and chulapas. Other major celebrations are those of
Christmas, Carnival and Easter.
During the course of the year there are 14
official public holidays*:
d January 1st: New Year (E)
day. Most cash dispensers offer services
in a variety of languages. Generally, if you
use a cash dispenser / ATM that is part of
a bank other than your own you must pay
a small commission.
Practically all commercial establishments,
hotels and restaurants accept credit cards,
but it is always best to carry some cash on
you. The older and more traditional taverns
and bars only accept payment in cash.
In the case of theft, loss or retention of the card by a cash dispenser, it is best to cancel the card immediately:
4B
b +34 91 362 62 00
American Express
b 902 375 637
Servired
b 902 192 100
d January 6th: Epiphany or Day of the
Three Wise Men (E)
d November 1st: All Saints Day (E)
d March-April: Easter Thursday and Good
Friday (E)
d November 19th: Virgen de la Almudena
(Patron Saint of Madrid) (L)
d May 1st: Labour Day (E)
d December 6th: Day of the Constitution
(E)
d May 2nd: Day of the Community of Madrid (A)
d May 15th: San Isidro (Patron Saint of
Madrid) (L)
d December 8th: Inmaculada Concepción (E)
d December 25th: Christmas Day (E)
d August 15th: Asunción de la Virgen (E)
d October 12th: Spanish National Holiday (E)
Telephone and Internet ticket sales
ATOCHA
Credit Cards
Although Madrid has a comprehensive
network of banks that are located throughout the city, the most practical way to
take money out is to use a cash dispenser
/ ATM as these are available 24 hours a
* (E) Estatal, (A) Autonómica y (L) Local.
Euro-Card/Master-Card
b 900 971 231
Visa
900 991 216
6000
b 902 206 000
Visa Japón
900 988 142
In the Taquilla Último Minuto (or Last
Minute Tickets), something unique to
Madrid, there is a great selection of theatre tickets that can be purchased just a
couple of hours before the start of the
performance, with discounts of up to
50%.
Other points of sale for theatre, cinema,
exhibition, concert tickets etc.
c www.servicaixa.com
b 902 332 211
• Localidades Galicia.
h Plaza del Carmen, 1.
b +34 91 531 91 31
c www.bullfightticketsmadrid.com
c www.telentrada.com
b 902 101 212
h Plaza del Carmen, 1
f Gran Vía / Sol
k Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm to
10pm.
+info: www.taquillaultimominuto.com
c www.elcorteingles.es
b 902 400 222
c www.entradas.com
b 902 221 622 / 902 488 488
c www.fnac.es
b +34 91 595 61 90
c www.teatro-real.es
b 902 244 848
c www.ticktackticket.com
b 902 150 025
c www.topticketline.es
b 902 888 788
72
Train Stations
73
AROUND MADRID
City transport
74
Visitors to Madrid are always advised to
take advantage of the comprehensive public transport system, especially the metro
that offers a cheap and quick way to get
around. The underground network, one of
the most comprehensive networks in Europe, consists of 12 metro lines, an additional
stretch between Opera and Príncipe Pío,
as well as 3 Metro-Light lines. The all-year
operating times are from 6am to 1:30am
(there are certain stations that operate a
special timetable). Madrid also offers a
comprehensive network of city buses (207
lines in total) that are operational between
6am and 11:30pm.
The cheapest way of getting around the
city is to buy what is called a metrobús,
a single ticket that is valid for 10 journeys
either on metro or bus that must be validated before the start of each journey.
These can be purchased in metro stations,
tobacconists and at certain newspaper
stands. Single tickets can be purchased
at metro ticket counters or directly from
the bus drivers.
2011 Rates
• Single ticket: €1.00
• Metrobús (valid for 10 journeys): €9.30
How to get to the
centre from MadridBarajas airport
The airport metro is line 8 and is the quickest service. It takes just 45 minutes to get
to the city centre from the airport. The airport has two metro stations: “Aeropuerto
T4”, in Terminal 4, and “Aeropuerto T1-T2T3” that serves the remaining terminals.
Tickets cost €1.00 and the service runs
from 6am to 1:30am.
The EMT buses (express service) that
connect the airport with the city center,
departs every 15-20 minutes and take
passengers to Cibeles and Atocha. The
service runs 24 hours every day and has
a especial fare of 2 €.
Passengers will also find a notable fleet of
taxis at the airport and these take approximately 30 minutes to reach the centre.
b 902 404 704
+info: www.aena.es
Tourist Travel Pass
The Tourist Travel Pass allows you
to use all public transport networks
within the Community of Madrid, as
often as you like during a designated
number of days: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days.
Travelers have the choice of two travel
areas:
• Zone A: to be used within the city
limits and comprises the services of
Metro, EMT de Madrid (buses), “Metro Light” ML1 and any suburban rail
networks falling within this area.
• Zone T: comprising of all public
transport services within the Community of Madrid, as well as prolongations of the network to Guadalajara
and Toledo, although it not valid on
RENFE regional service trains.
• All metro stations
• Traveler Assistance Centre at the Barajas-Airport Metro station T1-T2-T3
• Offices of the Regional Transport Consortium (www.ctm-madrid.es / 012 /
91 580 42 60)
• In designated tobacconist’s and newspaper stands in Madrid
• In tourism offices:
- Madrid Tourism Centre (Plaza Mayor, 27)
Taxis
Taxis in Madrid are white with a diagonal
red stripe across their front door that also
sports the city’s coat-of-arms. There are
taxi ranks throughout the city. A green
light appearing on the roof of the taxi tells
clients that the taxi is available. Supplementary charges are added for pick-ups
from Madrid-Barajas Airport, bus and train
stations as well as from the Juan Carlos I
Trade Fair complex.
2010 rates
Start of trip (starting the meter):
- Community of Madrid Tourism Office
(C/ Duque de Medinaceli, 2)
• Every day of the week from 6am to 10pm:
€2.05
- Atocha Train Station (in the AVE foyer)
• Monday to Friday from 10pm to 6am the
following day: €2.20
• At/near tourist attractions
• On-line purchases: www.neoturismo.com
• Saturdays and public holidays from
10pm to 6am the following day: €3.10
2011 RATES
Supplementary charges:
Days
1 day
2 days
3 days
5 days
7 days
Zone A
Zone T
6.00
10.00
13.00
19.00
25.00
12.00
20.00
25.00
36.00
50.00
50% discount for children under 11.
• Journeys originating or terminating in
Madrid-Barajas airport, includes anywhere within the airport boundaries: €5.50
• Journeys originating in bus and Train
Stations, from the specially reserved taxi
ranks that are clearly signed: €2.95
• Journeys originating or terminating in
the Juan Carlos I (IFEMA) Trade Fair
complex: €2.95
• Journeys on December 24th or 31st that
terminate between 10pm and 6am the
following day: €6.70
No-charge services and obligations of the taxi:
• Baggage, as long as it fits in the boot/
trunk or roof rack.
• Guide dogs or any other pet in a travel cage.
• Receipt (hand-written or printed)
showing the NIF, amount, date, license
number and number plate.
• Choice of route.
Eurotaxis are specially adapted vehicles
that are suitable for all publics and are
particularly used by the handicapped.
b 91 540 45 03 / 91 371 21 31
taxi companies
• Radio Taxi Asociación Gremial.
b 91 447 51 80 / 91 447 32 32
• Radio Taxi Independiente.
b 91 405 55 00 / 91 405 12 13
• Radio Taxi Madrid.
b 91 547 82 00 / 85 00 / 86 00
• Tele-Taxi.
b 91 371 21 31 / 902 501 130
• Radio Teléfono Taxi.
b 91 547 82 00 / 85 00 / 86 00
AROUND MADRID
GETTING AROUND MADRID
Points of sale of the Tourist
Travel Pass:
75
Rates as of December 14th 2009.
For pedestrians
Madrid on bike
AROUND MADRID
As far as getting around on bike is concerned, Madrid offers more advantages
than disadvantages: little rain, relatively flat
terrain, many pedestrian areas, etc.
76
Passengers are allowed to travel on the
Metro with their bicycles on Saturdays,
Sundays and public holidays throughout
the day and evening. This service is available on all lines; and during the week (Monday to Friday) from 10am to 12:30pm and
from 9pm until the service terminates.
The Cercanías RENFE suburban train network also allows passengers to travel with
their bicycles every day of the week, excluding rush hour. Passengers are recommended to check rush hour travel restrictions
on the internet (www.renfe.es/cercanias).
Bikespain
h Plaza de la Villa, 1
b 91 559 06 53
c www.bikespain.info
Bravo Bike
h C/ Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, 19.
b 91 758 29 45 / 607 44 84 40
c www.bravobike.com
By Bike
h Avda. de Menéndez Pelayo, 35.
b 902 876 483
c www.bybike.info
Ciclos Otero
h C/ Segovia, 18-20.
b 91 547 32 25
c www.oterociclos.es
Motos & Bikes.
h C/ Príncipe de Vergara, 24
b 645 267 180
c www.motosandbikes.es
Pangea
h C/ Melilla, 10.
b 91 517 28 39
c www.rutaspangea.com
27 Bikes
h C/ Alcalde Sainz de Baranda, 16
b 91 573 06 92
cwww.27bikes.com
Trixi
h C/ Jardines, 12.
b 91 523 15 47
c www.trixi.com
UrbanMovil
h Plaza de Santiago, 2.
b 91 542 77 71
c www.urbanmovil.com
The best and most pleasant way to discover Madrid’s most characteristic areas
such as Hapsburg Madrid, or equally interesting areas but off the beaten track is to
stroll through its streets and squares. You
will discover some of Madrid’s many secrets, and when we say Madrid, we mean
the many facets of this charming city: happy and caring, dynamic and modern,
cosmopolitan and welcoming; a single city
with a multiplicity of characters.
And to make things even easier, the Madrid Tourist Board, through its Discover
Madrid Programme, has put together a variety of guided tours that will allow visitors
to discover the city in a host of different
languages (Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese).
h Plaza Mayor, 27 (Madrid Tourism Centre)
f Sol / Ópera
k Monday to Friday from 9:30am to
8:30pm. Saturdays from 11am to 5pm.
Sundays from 9:30am to 3pm.
@ [email protected]
+info: www.esmadrid.com/descubremadrid
NUEVOS MINISTERIOS
/ AEROPUERTO T4
4/2010
hPlaza Mayor, 27
fSOL
cwww.esmadrid.com

Guide-of-Madrid - IMDEA Networks Institute

Transcription

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