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Charles Mitchell's bio is available.
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Traditional Madrid is a city that has the look of big cities everywhere. Madrid is a surprising urban environment situated in the middle of the rugged Spanish countryside. Of Spain's major cities, Madrid is most essential to the country's commerce and industry. Madrid, also, has the museums, government buildings, and grand squares usually associated with a great city. Night or day, one is reminded that Madrid is an important city.
The changes since democratization have made Madrid a more relaxed and friendly place to be. When in Madrid, one is reasonably aware that there is a real competition for foreign tourists. This competition for tourists creates advantages for the visitor and improves Madrid's pleasantness.
Madrid is still a reasonably friendly city despite its size. Throughout Madrid, people enhance the city's attractiveness. Groups of people having jollity are found throughout Madrid. The excitement other people are having is catching. Madrid is not Europe's most indulgent city. Rather, the visitor usually takes away a sense of how respectable Spain's people are.
Spain is enough different than the rest of Europe to make a visit to this country an important change in ideas about the continent. Madrid adds to ideas about the diversity among European countries. Madrid, also, is the center of the Spanish speaking world. All the Spanish speaking countries of the world contribute to enhancing Madrid's importance. A visit to Madrid, provides a much clearer idea of how much of the world has been shaped by Europe.
Madrid is an exciting place to be. As the capital of Spain, Madrid has an exciting sense of being where things are happening. Everything is convenient to locate in Madrid, and this adds substantially to appreciation of this city. Madrid's city center has premium entertainment, shopping, food, and even gambling.
Madrid, a City Increasingly Similar to other European Cities
Madrid is a city of wide streets and tall buildings. Walking in Madrid is reasonably effortless, and getting from place to place can be completely accomplished on foot. Madrid's city center is almost modern and finding places is as facile as in any other large city.
The important places included on this urban hike can all be reached on foot. Madrid has a superb subway system that connects the train stations, important attractions, the city center, and outlying areas. Madrid's tourist attractions are within a reasonably small distance of each other.
The visitor to Madrid almost certainly finds everything conveniently located. Madrid's important department stores are all within a few blocks between the Puerta del Sol and the Puerta del Callao. There are likewise many restaurants and places for evening entertainment also found within a reasonably small downtown area.
Study the map of Madrid before beginning your discovery of this city. While Madrid is not an abstruse city, the city plan is different enough to require a map to find one's way around. With a little planning with a map; however, a first day in Madrid can seem effortless.
The differences between Madrid and other European cities are decreasing each year. The visitor to Madrid is more aware each year that Spain is now in the European Economic Community. As reminders of Spanish integration into modern Europe become more numerous, the visitor can expect to find Madrid increasingly similar to other cities he has visited in West Europe.
Discover Madrid, a City of Varied
Attractions
Begin the Madrid urban hike at Plaza de la Cibeles. To reach Plaza de la Cibeles, take the metro to the Banco station and walk one block east on Calle de Alcala. A famous statute of a goddess, Saturn's wife and Jupiter's mother, pulled by two lions is situated in the center of the Plaza de la Cibeles. This statue, completed in 1792, is described as the most popular in Madrid if not all Spain. The Statue of the Cibeles is now surrounded by a fountain with jets of water behind the goddess.
The Bank of Spain is situated on the southwest corner of the Plaza de la Cibeles. The Spanish Defense Ministry is located in the Buena Vista Palace on the other side of the Calle de Alcala. The Placio de Communicationes is located opposite the Bank of Spain.
From the Plaza de la Cibeles, continue east on Calle de Alcala another two blocks until reaching the Plaza de la Independencia. The Puerta de Alcala, built in honor of Carlos III in 1778, is located here. There are well kept artistic flower beds around this monument.
Next, turn left on Calle Serrano and walk two blocks to the Archaeological Museum. Spanish art exhibited here dates from the 5th century B.C. Roman art that has been found in Spain is on display. Replicas of the Altamira cave paintings are included in the museums's prehistory collection.
After looking at the Archaeological Museum, return to the Plaza de la Independencia, and from here enter the Parque del Retiro and walk to the Alfonso XII Monument. This very large monument includes a statue of Alfonso seated on a horse with a reflecting pool. The reflecting pool is so large that one can rent a boat and go rowing. The Velaquez Palace and the Palacio de Cristal are also found here. Having completed a look at the Parque del Retiro, find the Alcachofa Fountain and walk west to the edge of the park.
The Spanish Army Museum is located near this exit to the Parque del Retiro. This museum is housed in a mansion built in 1631. On display are muskets, rifles, cannon, and uniforms from all periods of the Spanish Army. From here, continue north on Calle de Alfonso IX and turn left on Calle de Montalban. The Naval Museum is one block further. This museum contains an important collection about the Spanish discovery of North America. The first map showing America drawn by Juan de la Cosa about 1500 is on exhibit here.
After the Naval Museum, walk south for two blocks to the Prado Museum. Built originally as a natural sciences museum, the Pradonow houses one of the world's great art collections. Spanish artists in the collection include Ribera, Murillo, El Greco, Goya, and Bosch. Many foreign artists are also exhibited in the Prado's collections.
From the Prado, continue around the Plaza de Canovas del Castillo and walk west on the Calle de San Jeronimo. The Spanish Parliament is two blocks to the west. This is where the democratic government of Spain is chosen.
Continue in the same direction on the Calle de San Jeronimo, and in several blocks reach the Puerta del Sol. This is the very center of Spain, at least as far as the country's road systems is concerned. All Madrid streets are numbered from the Puerta del Sol, and several important Madrid streets originate in the Puerta del Sol,itself.
Follow the Calle de Mayor west from the Puerta del Sol. In about three blocks, turn south and in half a block find the Plaza Mayor. Completed in 1619 during Spain's Austrian period, Plaza Mayor exemplifies this period's architecture. When the Austrians ruled Spain, the square's 477 balconies were boxes for events that took place in the plaza below. Entertainments, pageants, and even bullfights were once held in the Plaza Mayor.
After looking at Plaza Mayor, walk south on the Calle de Toledo about four blocks to Cascorro Square. Find the entrance to the Rastro, Madrid's huge open air market, from Cascorro Square. This market extends south from Cascorro Square along the Ribera De Curtidores and the other narrow streets in this area of Madrid.
Following a look at the Rastro, return to the Plaza Mayor and the Calle de Mayor. Continue west on the Calle de Mayor. In several blocks, reach the Calle de Viaducto, and turn right.
The Royal Palace is about two blocks further on Calle de Viaducto. The Royal Palace was built between 1738 and 1764 and is the work of several architects. The Royal Palace is an enormous, almost square shaped building. The palace's public tours includes all kinds of sumptuous rooms. An important highlight of the palace tour is the Armory featuring an unusual collection of Spanish armor.
From the palace, walk north on Calle de Viaductor for two or three blocks, to the Plaza de Espana. A monument to the Spanish literary genius Cervantas is found here. Madrid's tallest, modern buildings are built surrounding the Plaza de Espana.
Next follow Calle de Ferraz from the northeast corner of the Plaza de Espana for two blocks to the Cuartel del la Montana. The Temple of Debod that was rebuilt brick by brick after being moved from Egypt is found in these gardens. The rising waters of the Nile required the Temple of Debod be moved or destroyed.
There are several small streets that leave the Temple of Debod and lead south past the North Station. Trains from the north of Spain and Irun in France arrive here. Directly to the South of the North Station is the Campo del Moro. There are now beautiful gardens, fountains, and attractive walks in the Campo del Moro. This area was named because Mohammedan troops camped here before invading Madrid in 1109.
After having looked at the Campo del Moro leave through the northeast corner, follow Paseo San Vincente and return to the Plaza de Espana. Next, follow the Grand Via from the southeast corner of the Plaza de Espana to Plazade Callao. There are many exceptional restaurants and places with evening entertainment to be found in this area of Madrid. The side streets near the Plaza de Callao are unusually cheering in the evening.
From Plaza de Callao follow Calle de Preciados or del Carmen to thePuerta del Sol. Madrid's big modern department stores make this area convenient for shopping. Virtually anything Spanish one would like to purchase can be obtained in this neighborhood. This is also a satisfactory neighborhood for resupplying mundane travel needs.
Next, take the subway from the Puerta del Sol to the the Puerta Exit and the Plaza de La Moncloa. The Arco de Victoria is in the center of this plaza. Walk a block beyond the Arco de Victoria on the avenue of the same name and find the Museum of America. This museum's collections includes fabric, idols, ceramics and pre and post Columbian American art.
After seeing the Museum of America, return to the Moncloa Exit and take the subway to the Lista station. Madrid's Bull Ring is only a few blocks from the Lista station. Walk two blocks west on Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset, and find the Bull Ring. There is a bull fight in the Bull Ring every Sunday afternoon from March to October.
Improving the Madrid Experience
Madrid is Spain's most important town. To fully appreciated Madrid's urban hike, spend some time planning the day's activities. Madrid's differences from other cities can prove frustrating. While finding ones way around can seem intricate, with a few hours preparation Madrid should be uncomplicated to understand. Liking for Madrid improves substantially as one becomes more familiar with this city.
Since Madrid is a very large city, finding a place to have lunch or dinner is not perplexing. Spanish cooking can be very agreeable, and there is a superb choice of places with many different cuisines. Perhaps try sangria, a local favorite. Sangria, a refreshing mixture of red wine, fruit juices,and mineral water, is especially popular during Madrid's hot summer weather.
Spain has only recently favored increased integration with the other countries of Europe. Spain recently joined the European Economic Community and NATO. Spanish isolation from modern Europe has long been a fact that has shaped Spain. Now that Spain is together with the European countries, expect to find some changes. Reading about Spain's recent decisions to join the important European organizations could be useful. Photographing Madrid allows a superlative opportunity to record your impressions of the Spanish capital.
Madrid is a distinguished city, and photographing the city should improve any visit. Varied photographic subjects are in abundance. Madrid's urban scenery is both modern and historically pleasant. Spanish people also offer numerous photographic opportunities. Madrid is Spain's capital and does reflect all the county. A visit to Madrid is, thus, an opportunity to see the most important Spanish city. Almost everything Madrid is top Spanish in idea. This means that a visit to Madrid may require adjusting some ideas. The more careful preparation given a trip to Madrid, the better a visit likely to be had.
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