CHURCHES AND TOWERS
Iglesia de San Gines
On Calle de San Martin, one of Madrid’s oldest churches
Iglesia de San Pedro
On Calle de Segovia. Has a Mudejar tower.
Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (Convent of the Barefoot Royals)
This Convent was founded in 1559. Generous gifts from noblewomen made it one
of Spain’s richest religious houses. It is open Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am-12.30pm
and (except Friday) from 4-5.30pm. There is a small cost but on Wednesdays it
is free for EU citizens. On Sundays and holidays it is open from 11am to 1.30pm.
On Plaza de las Descalzas.
Panteon de Goya (or Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida)
This church contains Goya’s tomb and a ceiling and dome painted with his
religious scenes. The church is on Paseo de la Florida near the Principe Pio
metro. Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-2pm and 4-8pm, weekends 10am-2pm. Free on Wednesday
and Sunday.
Iglesia de San Andres
On Costanilla de San Pedro.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Almudena
This cathedral finally opened to the public in 1992 after 110 years of construction.
PLAZA'S
Plaza de Espana
This large square is flanked by the Gran Via (a Haussmannesque boulevard) and
the church of Panteon de Goya or Emrita de San Antonoio de Florida (see above)
Plaza Mayor
Madrid’s most famous square.
Plaza de la Villa
A historic Plaza along Calle Mayor with a 17th century town hall. On the same
square is the Casa de Cisneros (below) and the Torre de los Lujanes (above)
Other squares in Madrid include Plaza de la Cibeles and Plaza de las Descalzas
Reales
MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
Museo del Prado (http://museoprado.mcu.es)
This gallery has an emphasis on Spanish, Flemish and Italian art from the 15th
to 19th centuries. It also features Spanish greats Velazquez, El Geco and Goya.
Flemish artists include Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Paul Rubens and Italians
Tintoretto, Titian and Raphael.
Open Tue-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun and holidays to 2pm. Admission: €3, students €1.50.
Free on weekend afternoons (2.30pm-7pm). Ticket includes entry to the nearby
Cason del Buen Retiro. Another 12 month ticket called the Paseo del Arte can
also include entry to the Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Tel. 91 330 28 00.
P° del Prado s/n.
Metro: Atocha, Banco de España.
Bus: 9, 10, 14, 19, 27, 34, 37 & 45.
Museo Sorolla (http://www.mcu.es/nmuseos/sorolla/)
This museum features a collection of paintings by Valencian artist Sorolla and
other artists of the period. Admission: €2.40, students €1.20. Open:
Tue-Sat 10am-3pm, Sun 10am-2pm.
Tel. 91 310 15 84. Paseo del General Martínez Campos 37.
Bus: 5, 7, 14, 16, 27, 40, 45, 61, 147
metro: Iglesia, Ruben Darío.
Cason del Buen Retiro
This contains the Prado’s 19th century works and is near the Museo del
Prado. A ticket entry to the Prado also includes entry here.
Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (http://museoreinasofia.mcu.es/e/default.htm)
Mostly Spanish modern art focusing on 1900-1940 and including Picasso, Dali and
Miro. Open Wednesday-Monday 10am-9pm (Sunday to 2.30pm). Small cost for entry.
Calle de Santa Isabel 52, opposite Atocha station.
Admission: €3, students €1.50, free Sat 2.30pm-7pm, Sun 10am-2.30pm,
28 May, 12 Oct, 6 Dec. Open Mon & Wed-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-2.30pm.
Santa Isabel 52.
Tel. 91 467 50 62. Fax. 91 467 31 63.
Metro/Train: Atocha.
Bus: 6, 10, 14, 18,19, 26, 27, 32, 34, 36, 37, 41, 45, 46, 55, 57, 59, 68, 86,
119, Circular.
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales or the Museum of Natural Sciences (http://www.mncn.csic.es)
Limited appeal for those with an interest in natural sciences.
Admision: €3, students €2.40, higher charge for temporary exhibits.
Open Tue-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-2.30pm.
Tel. 91 411 13 28
José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid.
Bus: 7, 12, 14, 27, 40, 45, 147, 150
metro: Gregorio Marañón, Nuevos Ministerios, Ríos Rosas
train: Nuevos Ministerios.
Museo de América
Features artefacts from pre-Columbian Latin America including the Cortesano Manuscript
and native American culture.
Admission: €3, students €1.50, free entry on Sundays. Open Tue-Sat
10am-3pm, Sun & public holidays 10am-2.30pm.
Avenida de los Reyes Católicos 6.
Tel. 91 543 94 37.
Metro: Moncloa.
Museo Arqueologico Nacional (http://www.man.es)
Relics from Iberian, Roman, Carthaginian, Visigothic, Muslim and Christian periods
in Spain’s history.
Admission: €3, students €1.50, free on Saturday afternoons after 2.30pm
and Sundays.
Open Tue-Sat 9.30am-8.30pm, Sun 9.30am-2.30pm.
Calle de Serrano 13.
Tel. 91 577 79 12. Fax. 91 431 68 40.
Metro: Retiro, Serrano.
Bus: 1, 5, 9, 14, 19, 27, 45, 51, 74 & 150.
Museo Lázaro Galdiano (http://www.flg.es)
A collection of paintings from Constable, Gainsborough and Goya and also other
items like clocks, furniture, and jewellery
Admission: €2.50. Open Tue-Sun 10am-2pm.
Calle Serrano 122.
Tel. 91 561 60 84
Fax. 91 561 77 93
Metro: Nuñez de Balboa.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (http://www.museothyssen.org)
A collection purchased from the private collection of a German-Hungarian family
with works from Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh, Miro, Picasso,
Gris, Pollock, Dali and Lichenstein. Opposite the Prado, Paseo del Prado 8, open
Tuesday-Sunday 10am-7pm. Small cost for entry.
Located in the Villahermosa Palace, Paseo del Prado 8.
Admission: €4.20, students €2.40. Open Tue-Sun 10am-7pm.
Tel. 91 369 01 51
Metro: Banco de España.
TOP
FOUNTAINS AND GARDENS
Real Jardin Botanico
Open daily from 10am-8pm and right next to the Prado. A great place to relax
after an intensive museum visit.
Parque del Buen Retiro
Another place to relax in the busy city centre. It was originally built in the
17th century as a retreat for Felipe IV. Featues include the Paseo de las Estatuas,
statues originally from the Palacio Real that now line a path through the garden;
and El Angel Caido (The Fallen Angel).
Metro: Retiro, Ibiza & Menéndez Pelayo.
MARKETS
El Rastro
A large Sunday morning flea market between Calle de Ribera de Curtidores and
Calle de los Embajadores (metro Latina). Be careful for pickpockets.
OTHER AREAS
Plaza de Toros Monumental de las Ventas
This is the world’s largest bullring and the best play to see a bullfight
(corrida)
Local soccer favourites Real Madrid also play here when they are at home.
Puerta del Sol
This is the official centre of Madrid near Plaza de las Descalzas and the Monasterio
de las Descalzas Reales. It’s a good place to start a sightseeing tour
of the city.
Casa de Cisneros
A 16th century building in Plaza de la Villa.
Gran Via
Famous boulevard running through the city centre lined with shops and businesses.
Torre de los Lujanes
In Plaza de la Villa this Gothic-Mudejar or tower is one of the oldest buildings
in the city.
Chocolateria de San Gines
Open 7-10am, 1-7pm
Metropolis Building
A superb dome roofs this building at he east end of Gran Via.
Palacio Real
An 18th century former royal residence. The tour includes 50 of the 2800 elaborate
rooms, clocks, violins and chandeliers plus the Royal Armoury and Pharmacy and
paintings. Open Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm, Sunday and holidays 9am-2pm. Free
Wednesdays for EU citizens. Go to Metro Opera.
Admission: €6, students €3.
Bailén s/n.
Tel. 91 542 00 59.
Metro: Sol.
Casa de la Moneda (http://www.fnmt.es/esp/museo/emuseo00.htm)
One of Madrid’s few fully free museums. This one outlines the history of
the use of coins and paper money, lottery tickets and stamps.
Housed at the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (FNMT) Calle del Doctor
Esquerdo 36.
Open Tue-Fri 10am-2.30pm & 5pm-7.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-2pm.
Tel. 91 566 65 44. Fax. 91 566 68 09.
Metro: O'Donell, Goya.
Bus: 28, 30, 56, 71, 143, Circular. TOP
AROUND MADRID
El Escorial
This 16th century monastery-palace is one hour north-west of Madrid. It was built
by Felipe II who was king of Spain, Naples, Sicily, Milan, the Netherlands and
parts of the Americas to commemorate victory over the French in 1557 and as a
mausoleum for his father. Open Tues-Sun 10am-6pm (earlier in winter). Admission
cost applicable but includes a guide.
You can day trip from Madrid to El Escorial. Herranz buses run 30 services a
day from Intercambiador de Autobuses at the Moncloa metro station in Madrid.
On Sundays and holidays there are only 10 services.
Castilla y Leon
This region includes the following towns of Sergovia, Avila, Salamanca and Leon
Sergovia
This town was originally a Celtic settlement but was conquered by the Romans
in 80 BC (who left an 800m aqueduct), the Visigoths (who left a 16th century
Gothic cathedral), and the Moors (who left an alcazar with turrets towers and
spires). From Madrid 16 daily buses run to Sergovia and slow trains (Chamartin
or Atocha stations). Buses also run to Avila and Salamanca. The bus station in
Sergovia is off Paseo Ezequiel Gonzalez.
Avila
There are 8 gates, 88 towers and an 11th and 12th century city wall in Avila.
The walls are still perfectly preserved and you can get a view over them from
Los Cuatros Postes. Avila is also the highest city in Spain, the birthplace of
St Teresa of Avila, a brutal location for the Spanish Inquisition and the height
of celebration for the Festival of Santa Teresa (8-15 October). The Easter celebration
of Semana Santa is also recommended here. There are 17 daily trains to/from Madrid
(2 hours). Trains also connect to Salamanca. The station is 1.5km east of the
old town. Buses run to Madrid, Segovia and Salamanca. The station is 700m east
of the old town. Bus No.1 links the train station and the old town.
Salamanca
Plaza Mayor is the centre of life in Salamanca and a wonderful spot on a sunny
day with cafes, musicians and street life. Also in town are two cathedrals – a
Gothic stucture that took 220 years and a Romanesque much older building. There
are also two convents, it is said Colombus stayed in the Convento de San Esteban
once. Salamanca has a popular nightlife with a university population. Head to
Calle de San Justo, Calle de Varillas or Calle del Consuelo. To get there buses
run from Avenida de Filiberto Villalobos 85, 1km north-west of Plaza Mayor. AutoRes
sends 16 express buses daily to Madrid (2.5 hours) and non-express buses. Santiago
de Compostela, Caceres, Avila, Segovia, Leon and Valladolid also have services.
Four trains leave for Madrid (Chamartin, 3.5 hours) via Avila (1.45 hours). There
is one daily train for Portugal, Lisbon at 4.55am. To get around town take bus
no. 4 from the bus station around the old town perimeter to Gran Via. Bus no.
1 runs from the train station down Calle de Azafranal. To get to the station
take bus no. 1 on the Gran Via.
Leon
Less visited Leon has a Gothic cathedral with stained-glass windows, a Romanesque
Basilica and burial place of Leonese royalty, a Gaudi construction at Casa de
Botines and some buzzing nightlife. Trains run from Madrid to Leon (10 daily),
and also to Astorga, Oviedo, Gijo, Valladolid, Barcelona (3 daily), La Coruna
( 5 daily) and other destinations in Galicia. FEVE trains go only to Guardo which
links on to the Pais Vasco but leave from a different station. Empresa Fernandez
runs to Madrid (8 daily, 4.5 hours). Buses also go to Astorga, Bilbao, Oviedo,
Zamora, Salamanca and Valladolid.
Castilla La Mancha
Toledo
This town was the main city of Muslim central Spain and led the way as a centre
of learning and the arts. There are numerous things to see including the cathedral,
alcazar, Sinagoga del Transito (Jewish synagogue), San Juan de los Reyes (Franciscan
monastery), and many collections of the works of El Greco who lived here from
1577-1614. To view his works go to the Museo de Santa Cruz, Iglesia de Santo
Tome and Casa y Museo de El Greco. Buses run every hour to Madrid’s Estacion
Sur. The station is on Avenida de Castilla-La Mancha. The Asia line rruns from
Toledo to Cuenca at 5.30pm on weekdays. Trains from Madrid’s Atocha station
depart at 7.20am and run till 9pm from Toledo. The station 400 east of Puente
de Azarquiel. For other locations around Spain you must go to Madrid first. Bus
no. 5 links the train and bus stations with Plaza de Zocodover. Tourist Office,
Puerto Nuevo de Bisagra, tel. 925 22 08 43
Cuenca
The old town of Cuenca sits on top of a deep gorge and many monuments are precariously
positioned on the cliff top including the Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses). Other
points of interest include the Museo de Arte Abstracto Espanol, Museo Diocesano
and the cathedral on Plaza Mayor. To get there take a bus to/from Madrid (9 daily,
2.5 hours), Barcelona, Teruel or Valencia. Five trains run daily to Madrid Atocha
(2.5 hours) and three to Valencia. Bus No. 1 or 2 leave near the bus and train
stations and run you to Plaza Mayor in the old town. Tourist Office, Calle de
Alfonso VIII 2, tel. 969 23 21 19
