Sights
Royal Palace
Home to the Kings of Spain from Carlos III all the way through to Alfonso XIII, Madrid´s Royal Palace is now open to anyone who wants to take a trip through Spanish history. Visitors can wander through the many rooms, enjoying the beautiful architecture and the art collection still housed here.
Changing of the guard
The Solemn Changing of the Guard is performed at the Royal Palace every first Wednesday of the month at midday.
Address: Puerta del Príncipe (access by Calle Bailén).
Every Wednesday 11am-2pm (except August and September).
Solemn Changing: first Wednesday of each month at midday (except July, August, and September), weather permitting, as long as it does not coincide with another official event.
El Retiro
Created in the 17th century, during the reign of Philip IV, from a historical-artistic perspective this is the most important park in the city and one of the most beautiful urban parks in the world. The most notable and unique elements are the Monument to Alfonso XII, the large Pond, the ruins of the Chapel of San Isidoro, the Velázquez Palace, the Crystal Palace, the Fountain of the Fallen Angel, Artichoke Fountain, etc.
La Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is Madrid's main square. It is located right in the centre of the city, just a few minutes walk from the Puerta del Sol. Despite the rather high prices charged by the restaurants and cafés under the arches that skirt the square, this is still a marvellous place to sit out, try some good Spanish wine, sample some tasty tapas and watch the passers-by.
Plaza de Cibeles
Possibly the most beautiful of the many grand squares in Madrid is the Plaza de Cibeles. At its center is the Fuente de la Cibeles. This fountain, named after Cibele, roman goddess of nature, is seen as one of Madrid's most important symbols. The most prominent of the buildings at the Plaza de Cibeles is the Palacio de Comunicaciones. The cathedral-like landmark was built in 1909. This impressive building was home to the Postal and Telegraphic Museum until 2007 when the landmark building became Madrid's official city hall (Ayuntamiento de Madrid) and a cultural center.
Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena
The cathedral is a mixture of styles with a neoclassical exterior, a gothic revival interior, and a neo-romanesque crypt. It is constructed of granite and marble, with a large neoclassical cupola and two towers at the main entrance. The Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena sits next to the Palacio Real, separated from it by a spacious square, the Plaza de la Armería.
La Plaza de Santa Ana
The Plaza de Santa Ana, together with the nearby small streets which make up the Huertas district, is one of Madrid's most lively and vibrant areas, with hundreds of tapas bars, terrace cafes, pubs, restaurants and Irish bars all within a relatively small area. The square itself is located just a short walk from both the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol.
The Debod Temple
Many people are surprised to learn that there is an authentic Egyptian temple dating from the 2nd Century BC in the middle of Madrid and dedicated to the gods Amon and Isis. The temple originally stood in Debod in the Nile Valley not too far from the city of Aswan, but the need for the new dam meant that it had to be moved elsewhere or it would have remained underwater forever. Today it stands near Plaza de España, next to the Paseo del Pintor Rosales, with a surrounding park.
