Sights

Palacio Real
The Palacio Real has 3,000 rooms - more than any other palace in Europe. Inhabited until 1941, the palace is now only used by the Royal family for state occasions. The interiors are magnificently decorated with frescoes by Tiepolo and Giaquinto, as well as paintings by Goya, Rubens, Valezquez, and El Greco. There are dozens of Flemish and Spanish tapestries and endless dazzling rococo decorations. Check out the Porcelain Salon. Simply stunning, it is covered in coloured relief tiles illustrating Chinese scenes. The king's Arabian Salon is a beautiful reproduction of the Sala Dos Hermanos in the Alhambra. About 30 of the 300 rooms in the palace are open to the public.

The Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is an impressive 17th century arcaded square in the heart of Madrid. It has played a vital role in the history of Spain for over 400 years and has seen festivals, plays, public burnings of heretics, and the crowning of kings. It is adorned with eye-catching multicolored murals and is surrounded by baroque architecture. In the 1970s, vehicles were prohibited from the plaza and as a result, it is a lively place in summer filled with crowds attending concerts and festivals or simply milling about. The square plays host to a range of shops and cafés and to some of the most spirited tapas bars in town.

Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol is regarded as the true geographical heart of Spain - lying right in the middle of Madrid. All distance markers along the roads on the national Spanish highway system use Puerta del Sol as their reference point and on New Year’s Eve each year Puerta del Sol becomes Spain's “Times Square” with thousands of revelers packing the square swallowing grapes at each of the twelve strokes of midnight. The Puerta del Sol is the most popular meeting place in Madrid.

Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes
Designed at the beginning of the 18th century, the Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes houses one of the most important art collections in Spain. Its riches include works by Goya, El Greco, Murillo, Velazquez, Correggio, Rubens, and Tiepolo. Make sure to stop at the Instituto de Calcografia located inside the building to buy incredible limited edition prints from the original plates.

Parque del Retiro
The park was used privately by the royal family since the year 1632 and it opened for the public in the 18th century. Nowadays Retiro is one of the most popular places for relaxing in Madrid.

The Prado Museum
The Prado Museum is regarded as one of the world’s great museums. The multinational exhibits include works by Spanish artists such as El Greco and Velázquez, Italian painters such as Fra Angelico and Raphael and Flemish artists as Bosch, Rubens and Van Dyck. The best known works include Velázquez’s Las Meninas (The Maids of Honor), Goya’s Naked Maja and Clothed Maja, and Bosch’s The Garden of Delights.