Madrid is the capital of Spain and is also Spain’s largest city. Madrid is home to over three million people and is best known for its rich cultural and artistic traditions. Any tourist visiting Madrid cannot help but be in awe of the many architectural and artistic pieces that the city presents. It is the city where history and modernity meet. All around the metro travelers will see the remnants of Spain’s religious past and colorful monarchy. With the magnificent cathedrals and medieval architecture, Madrid does bring the past back to life. But despite the many cultural landmarks, Madrid can be as modern and cosmopolitan like any other capital city in the world. In fact, Madrid has been said to have the most number of bars per capital in all of Europe’s cities. Natives are used to partying to up to six to eight in the morning. Visit Madrid and experience the melting of modernity and history.
If ever you do get around to touring Madrid, there are at least five things that you should do and try before leaving. The first thing that any reasonable tourist must do is to check out the Museo del Prado. The Museo del Prado is one of the finest and most famous art museums in the world. It offers a wide collection from different artists all over the world. The Museo del Prado features the more famous works of Caravaggio’s David with the Head of Goliath, El Greco’s Adoration of the Shepards, Goya’s The Third of May 1808, Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights and Velazquez’s Las Meninas. The Museo del Prado is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 9 am to 8 pm. Admission starts at €3 to €6. For those of you who want to experience great art without having to pay at all, you may want to take advantage of their admission every Tuesdays to Saturdays from 6 pm to 8 pm and Sundays from 5 to 8 pm.
For a great shopping expedition, Madrid is definitely the place to be. If you are looking to go posh and expensive then visit the Sol-Salamanca districts where top designers from all over the world have opened their own boutiques. For those that still want trendy products but at a reasonable cost, you can try and visit Calle Fuencarral. Any traveler must eat a squid sandwich, otherwise known as the bocadillo de calamares that can be found near the Plaza Mayor. The Plaza Mayor is the most famous plaza in Madrid where many important events have been celebrated including bullfights, tournaments, symphonies and executions, among others. Anybody who goes through Madrid must visit Plaza Mayor.
Anybody who is looking to really experience Madrid life should try going to the El Rastro on a bright Sunday morning. El Rastro is Madrid’s biggest flea market which offers its customers a variety of homemade products and good, live entertainment. Unfortunately, El Rastro is also popular for having many pickpockets so tourists should beware. Lastly, any good tour of Madrid would be incomplete without going to Gran Via and trying one of Madrid’s popular musical shows.
