| Madrid Barajas Airport Car Rental | | | | The Lake |
| 1. Plaza Mayor | | | | Close to the northern entrance of the Parque del |
| | | | | Retiro is a large artificial lake, the Estanque del Retiro. |
| The Plaza Mayor, a grand arcaded square in the | | | | Here you can rent a rowing boat, especially popular |
| center of Madrid is very popular with tourists and | | | | during weekends. A large monument with an |
| locals alike. The symmetrical rectangular square | | | | equestrian statue of King Alfonso XII overlooks the |
| features a uniform architecture, very similar to the | | | | lake. The monument, erected in 1922 by King |
| contemporary Place des Vosges in Paris. | | | | Alfonso's mother, consists of a semicircular colonnade |
| History | | | | with an |
| During the middle ages the site was just a market | | | | Palacio de Cristal Parque del Retiro |
| place outside the city walls. In the 1560s, King Philip II | | | | Palacio de Cristalequestrian statue of the King in |
| asked Juan de Herrera, architect of the Escorial, to | | | | front. |
| turn the market place into a real square. It would | | | | Palacios |
| take until 1617, during the reign of King Philips III, | | | | More to the south is another, much smaller lake. At |
| before the construction of the new Plaza Mayor | | | | the edge of the lake is a beautiful glass building, the |
| started. Under the direction of Herrera's successor, | | | | Palacio de Cristal. Built in 1887 by Ricardo Velázquez |
| Statue of King Philips III, Plaza Mayor | | | | Bosco after the Crystal Palace in London, it was |
| Statue of | | | | initially used to house exotic plants brought over from |
| King Philips III | | | | the Philippines. It is now mainly used for temporary |
| Juan Gómez de la Mora, the plaza was completed in | | | | exhibitions. Nearby is another pavilion, the Palacio de |
| just two years. | | | | Velázquez, designed in 1884 by the same architect. |
| The result was a large square, measuring 120m long | | | | Now also used |
| and 90m wide (394ft x 295ft). It was surrounded by | | | | Palacio de Velázquez, Parque del Retiro |
| wooden buildings, at one point up to six stories high. | | | | Palacio de Velázquezfor temporary exhibitions, it |
| Fires destroyed all the buildings around the Plaza | | | | originally served as a pavilion for the national |
| Mayor three times in history: in 1631, 1672 and 1790. | | | | exhibition of the mining, metal, glass and ceramics |
| Each time they were rebuilt, the last reconstruction | | | | industry. |
| after a design by Juan de Villanueva is what we see | | | | Satan |
| today. | | | | Another feature of the park is the Rose Garden, the |
| Plaza Mayor | | | | Rosaleda. And possibly the most remarkable feature |
| Festivities | | | | of the Retiro Park is one of its statues, El Angel |
| Since its creation, the Plaza Mayor has been the | | | | Caído. It is dedicated to Satan, possibly the only |
| center of festivities, bull fights, royal coronations and | | | | such statue in Europe. |
| executions. These would be attended by as many as | | | | Location |
| 50,000 spectators. It is still used today for public | | | | The Retiro Park is located east of the city center, |
| celebrations. | | | | not far from the Prado Museum. Its main entrance is |
| Statue | | | | near the Alcala Gate, at the Plaza de la |
| At the center of the square is a bronze statue of | | | | Independence. |
| King Philips III, constructed in 1616 by the Italian | | | | |
| sculptors Giovanni de Bologna and his apprentice | | | | 4. Gran Via |
| Pietro Tacca. In 1848 it was moved from the Casa | | | | |
| de | | | | The one street you shouldn't miss on your trip to |
| Casa de la Panaderia, Plaza Mayor, Madrid | | | | Madrid is the Gran Via, a showcase of early 20th |
| Casa de la Panaderia | | | | century architecture. |
| Campo to the Plaza Mayor. Around the same time, | | | | Gran Via, Madrid |
| the plaza was redesigned with gardens, but those | | | | Gran Via |
| were removed in 1936. | | | | The lively street is one of the city's most important |
| Casa de la Panaderia | | | | shopping areas. It also contains a large number of |
| The most prominent building on the Plaza Mayor is | | | | hotels and large movie theaters. But what makes this |
| the Casa de la Panaderia, the seat of the powerful | | | | street so special it the architectural design of many |
| baker's guilt. It was completed as early as 1590, | | | | of the large buildings. While walking through this |
| before the square was even laid out. Its current | | | | crowded street make sure you look up once in a |
| design with symmetric towers dates from after the | | | | while and admire the often lavishly decorated grand |
| last fire in 1790. The colorful allegoric murals were | | | | 'edificios'. |
| only added recently, in 1992. | | | | Conception |
| 2. Royal Palace | | | | In the mid 19th century, Madrid's urban planners |
| | | | | decided that a new thoroughfare had to be created, |
| The Palacio Real or Royal Palace is the largest and | | | | connecting the Calle de Alcalá with the Plaza de |
| certainly one of the most impressive palaces in | | | | España. The project required many buildings in |
| Europe. It has more than 2000 luxuriously decorated | | | | Metropolis Building, Madrid |
| rooms, 50 of which can be visited. It is located on | | | | Edificio Metropolis (left) |
| the east of Madrid's historic center, within walking | | | | Edificio Grassy (right)the center of the city to be |
| distance of the Plaza de España. | | | | demolished. Decades after the first plans were made, |
| History | | | | construction still hadn't started and the media ridiculed |
| Royal Palace, Madrid | | | | the project, cynically calling it the 'Gran Via' or 'Great |
| Royal Palace | | | | Road'. Finally in 1904 it was approved and |
| Soon after the Royal Fortress burned down on | | | | construction started a couple of years later. The last |
| Christmas Eve of 1734, King Philips V wanted to | | | | part of the street was completed in 1929. |
| replace the fortress by a palace, this time built from | | | | Grand Edificios |
| limestone and granite to make it fireproof. It was to | | | | The new road created opportunities for architects, |
| be modeled loosely on the Versailles Palace near | | | | who had the ability to create large buildings in the |
| Paris, where Philips V had spent part of his youth. | | | | latest architectural styles. The first eye catching |
| Construction of the new palace started in 1938 based | | | | building starting from the Calle de Alcalá is the most |
| on a design by the Italian architect Juan Bautista | | | | famous of all, the Edificio Metrópolis or Metropolis |
| Sachetti. 26 Years and three kings later, the huge | | | | building. The landmark was built between 1907 and |
| palace, covering an area of 135,000m2, was | | | | 1911 after a design by the architects Jules & |
| completed. It would take another 100 | | | | Raymond Février. The original statue was |
| Plaza de la Armeria, Palacio Real, Madrid | | | | Edificio Telefonica, Madrid |
| Plaza de la Armeriayears before all the rooms were | | | | Edificio Telefónicareplaced in 1975 by a statue of a |
| decorated. | | | | winged Goddess Victoria. |
| The Palace | | | | A bit further along the Gran Via, on the left hand side |
| Visitors enter the Palace via the large Plaza de la | | | | is another landmark, the Edificio Grassy, another |
| Armería. Some of the sumptuous rooms accessible | | | | corner building with a small tower. It was built in 1917. |
| to visitors are the 400m2 large dining room, the Sala | | | | From the Edificio Grassy, you can already see the |
| de Porcelana (china room) and the Salón del Trono | | | | tower of the Telefónica building, a skyscraper built |
| (throne room) with red velvet walls. The palace also | | | | between 1926 and 1929 for the Spanish |
| includes the Arméria Real, the royal army museum. | | | | telecommunications company. The 88m/290ft high |
| It contains a beautiful collection of armory, including | | | | building was the largest in Madrid and would have |
| King Charles V's armour suit. | | | | been a good fit in Chicago. Not surprisingly, the |
| Royal Residence | | | | architect of the Telefónica building was an American, |
| King Carlos III, son of King Philips V moved into the | | | | Louis S. Weeks. |
| new palace in 1764. The Palacio Real would be the | | | | Plaza del Callao |
| main residence of the Spanish kings until 1931, when | | | | If you walk further in the direction of the Plaza de |
| king Alfonso XIII went into exile | | | | España the Gran |
| Royal Palace from the Campo del Moro, Madrid | | | | Edificio de Espana |
| View from the Campo del Moroafter republicans had | | | | Edificio de España |
| won the elections and demanded him to step down. | | | | Via crosses a small square, the Plaza del Callao. This |
| Today the royal family lives in the small Zarzuela | | | | square is the heart of cinematic Madrid, with about |
| Palace, a former hunting lodge outside Madrid. The | | | | six movie theaters. One of them, the Capitol, is |
| Royal Palace is still used for official ceremonies and | | | | located in a beautiful Art Deco building. |
| receptions. | | | | Plaza de España |
| Campo del Moro | | | | The last part of the Gran Via, constructed between |
| The Palace is bordered on the east by the Campo | | | | 1925 and 1929 leads to the Plaza de España, a large |
| del Moro, a large park that goes uphill from the Rio | | | | square dominated by two skyscrapers built in the |
| Manzanares | | | | 1950s, the symmetric Edificio de España and the |
| Plaza de Oriente, Madrid | | | | Torre de Madrid. Here the Gran Via becomes the |
| Plaza Orienteto the Royal Palace. From the green | | | | Calle de Princessa, leading north to the Arco de la |
| lawn in front of the park, you have a nice | | | | Victoria. |
| unobstructed view of the palace. | | | | |
| Plaza Oriente | | | | 5. Plaza de España |
| In front of the Palace is the Plaza Oriente, a beautiful | | | | The Plaza de España is one of Madrid's largest and |
| square with an equestrian statue of Philips IV. The | | | | most popular squares. On a sunny day it is filled with |
| Royal Palace originally bore the same name as the | | | | street vendors, tourists and sunbathing locals. |
| square, Palacio Oriente, or East Palace. | | | | Edificio de Espana |
| Statues of queens are all over the square. The | | | | Edificio de España |
| intention was to put these statues on top of the | | | | The square is located at the end of the beautiful |
| palace but they were too heavy, so they were | | | | Gran Via, one of Madrid's busiest streets. The green |
| placed on the square in front of the palace instead. | | | | square is surrounded by streets, but it is still a very |
| | | | | relaxing place during daytime. It features a large |
| 3. Parque del Retiro | | | | fountain and famous statue honoring the Spanish |
| The Parque del Buen Retiro is the most popular park | | | | writer Cervantes. |
| in Madrid. It can get crowded during weekends when | | | | History |
| many Madrilenian families go for a stroll in the park | | | | Located close to the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), the |
| and street musicians, sidewalk painters, fortune | | | | site was occupied by |
| tellers, jugglers and street performers animate the | | | | Torre de Madrid |
| crowd. | | | | Torre de Madrida barrack. After it was demolished, a |
| Parque del Retiro, Madrid | | | | new public square was created. It became a popular |
| A Royal Park | | | | meeting place in the 1950s, after two of Madrid's |
| The Retiro Park was created as a royal park; it | | | | largest buildings were constructed: the Edificio de |
| belonged to the Real Sitio del Buen Retiro palace. In | | | | España and the Torre de Madrid. Both buildings |
| 1632, the palace was built by King Philips IV as a | | | | were constructed by the project developer |
| retreat for the Royal family. Retiro stands for | | | | Metropolitana and designed by the Otamendi |
| retreat, hence the name of the park and palace. At | | | | brothers. |
| the time the park was well outside the city walls, but | | | | Skyscrapers |
| now Madrid has completely enclosed the Retiro park. | | | | The Edificio de España was built between 1947 and |
| The 130ha or 320acre large royal park opened to the | | | | 1953 and is the most elegant of the two |
| public in 1868. It | | | | skyscrapers. It consists of a central 25 story tower |
| Fountain at the Retiro Parkis partially laid out in a | | | | flanked by two wings. |
| formal French style, while other parts are more | | | | The Torre de Madrid was built in 1957. At the time of |
| natural. | | | | construction, it was the tallest concrete building in the |
| Museo del Ejército | | | | Monument to Miguel de Cervantes, Plaza de Espana |
| Of the original palace, only two buildings survived, the | | | | Monument to |
| rest was destroyed during the Napoleonic wars. One | | | | Miguel de Cervantesworld with a height of 142m or |
| of the remaining buildings houses the Museo del | | | | almost 466ft. Nicknamed La Jirafe or 'giraffe', it was |
| Ejército, an army museum. The museum covers | | | | the tallest building in Madrid until the Torre Picasso |
| Spain's military history. It contains a nice collection of | | | | was built in 1989. |
| armor. The most important item in the collection is | | | | Monument to Miguel de Cervantes |
| the sword of El Cid or La Tizona. Not really | | | | The most popular sight at the Plaza de España is |
| weaponry, but another notable item on display | | | | the monument to Miguel de Cervantes, writer of the |
| Alfonso XII Monument, Retiro Park | | | | world famous story of Don Quixote de la Mancha |
| Alfonso XII Monumentis the cross that Columbus | | | | and his trusty squire, Sancho Panza. Visitors flock to |
| took with him to the New World. The other surviving | | | | the monument to get their picture taken in front of |
| building is the Casón del Buen Retiro, a museum with | | | | the bronze statues of Don Quixote on his horse and |
| a collection of 19th and 20th century paintings, | | | | Sancho Panza on his mule. Behind them a is statue of |
| including works by Joaquín Sorolla. | | | | Cervantes himself, looking over his creations. |