BP Spanish Cities Guide Spanish Cities Guide Main Spanish Cities Guide Madrid City Guide - 2 - Things to See
Madrid City Guide - 2 - Things to See |
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While you’re here consider getting a Madrid Card (http://www.madridcard.com/en/Inicio.aspx) for help with prices for monuments and museum but also food, shopping and transport.
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) Plaza de las Descalzas Reales Open: Sat & Tues-Thurs 10.30am-12.30pm and 3pm-5.45pm, Fri 10.30am-2.30pm, Sun 11am-1.15pm Tel. 91 454 8800 Admission: €5 This Convent was founded in 1559. Generous gifts from noblewomen made it one of Spain’s richest religious houses in the 16th Century but by the mid 20th century it housed poor women. Panteon de Goya (or Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida) Paseo de la Florida Metro: Principe Pio Admission: free Wed & Sun Open: Tuesday-Friday 10am-2pm and 4-8pm, weekends 10am-2pm This church contains Goya’s tomb and a ceiling and dome painted with his religious scenes. 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 was built in 1619 by Juan Gómez de Mora. While it was once the place heretics were condemned and burnt at the stake, it’s now a popular spot for people watching, a drink or snack. 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 Centro de Arte Reina Sofia Plaza Santa Isabel 52, Atocha Open: Mon & Wed-Sat 10:00-21:00, Sun 10:00-14:30
Mostly Spanish modern art focusing on 1900-1940 and including Picasso, Dali and Miro. Museo del Prado Paseo del Prado, Salamanca 91 330 28 00
Banco de España, Atocha
Tue-Sun 09:00-20:00
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. Admission: €8 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 Paseo del Prado 8, Las Letras Tel. 91 369 01 51 www.museothyssen.org Metro: Banco de España Open: Tue-Sun 10:00 - 19:00
A little bit of everything with collections of Canalettos, Monet, Sisley, Renoir, Pissarro, Degas, Constable and Van Gogh. Museo Sorolla 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. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales or the Museum of Natural Sciences José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 Tel. 91 411 13 28 www.mncn.csic.es Admision: €3, students €2.40, higher charge for temporary exhibits. Open: Tue-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-2.30pm. Bus: 7, 12, 14, 27, 40, 45, 147, 150 metro: Gregorio Marañón, Nuevos Ministerios, Ríos Rosas train: Nuevos Ministerios. Limited appeal for those with an interest in natural sciences. Museo de América Avenida de los Reyes Católicos 6 Tel. 91 543 94 37 http://museodeamerica.mcu.es Metro: Moncloa Admission: €3 Open: Tue-Sat 9.30am-3pm, Sun & public holidays 10am-3pm. Features artefacts from pre-Columbian Latin America including the Cortesano Manuscript and native American culture. Museo Arqueologico Nacional Calle Serrano 13, Salamanca Tel. 91 577 79 12
http://man.mcu.es
Metro: Serrano, Colón, Recoletos Open: Tue-Sat 09:30-20:00, Sun 09:00-15:00
Relics from Iberian, Roman, Carthaginian, Visigothic, Muslim and Christian periods in Spain’s history. Admission: free Museo Lázaro Galdiano Calle Serrano 122. Tel. 91 561 60 84 www.flg.es Admission: €2.50 Open: Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm. Metro: Nuñez de Balboa. A collection of paintings from Constable, Gainsborough and Goya and also other items like clocks, furniture, and jewellery Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza 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. 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). It was once a meat market but today it’s the place to be for a bargain, although you should 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). Estadio Santiago Bernabéu This is the famous stadium where local soccer favourites Real Madrid play here when they are at home. You can do a stadium tour on non-match days for €14. See the official site for details. 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. Metropolis Building A superb dome roofs this building at he east end of Gran Via. Palacio Real Calle de Bailén 2, Plaza de Oriente Tel. 91 542 00 59. Open: Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm, Sunday and holidays 9am-2pm. Free Wednesdays for EU citizens. Admission: €9 Metro: Sol An 18th century former royal residence and the largest in Europe. The tour includes 50 of the 2800 elaborate rooms, clocks, violins and chandeliers plus the Royal Armoury and Pharmacy and paintings. On the first Wednesday of the month at noon is the changing of the guard. Casa de la Moneda Calle del Doctor Esquerdo 36 Tel. 91 566 65 44
Buses: Lines 2, 28, 30, 56, 71, 143 and the Circular Line
Metro: O'Donnell (Line 6) - Goya (Lines 2, 4)
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