Travel Madrid Guide

Madrid, the capital city of Spain, is one of the largest cities in the entire European Union. Madrid is lively, and known for its constant activities at all hours of the day and night. It is not uncommon to encounter traffic jams in the middle of the night in Madrid, or a full-blown festival at 7 in the morning. Madrid's popularity stems from its liveliness and fun culture.

Perhaps Madrid's most popular tourist attraction, Picasso's "Guernica" has a home in this city. Guernica was a Spanish town which was bombed during WWII, and Picasso's painting exemplifies the horrors found there. The huge painting is most dramatic when experienced first hand; and can be seen at the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, which also houses numerous other famous works by Picasso and other Spanish artists.

The majority of Madrid's hotels sit inside of the district of the "Puerto del Sol", the exact center of the city, and also the exact center of Spain. The Puerta del Sol was originally the site of the city's main gate in the 15th century, and is now home to much of the city's liveliest nightlife. Just minutes from "Puerto del Sol" is the Plaza Mayor, the old town square. For centuries the Plaza Mayor was the center of activity in Madrid and is now a popular hang out for artists and the local wealthy.

The Prado Museum in Madrid boasts the world's largest collection of "masterpieces". This is Madrid's number one tourist destination and the great works which can be seen here include pieces by Spanish artists like Goya and Velázquez, as well as works by Bosch, Rubens and Boticelli. The museum's collection is in constant rotation as the building itself is not large enough to display all 9,000 works. The museum is large and can be very daunting, tour guides are recommended.

The Parque del Retiro is a classic Spanish urban park. This relaxing and quiet place sits just outside of the city center and offers some real Madrid flavor. On any given sunny morning you can witness old Spanish men smoking cigarettes and playing lively games of chess, or old handkerchief ladies feeding birds. The park also offers recreational space for jogging, cycling or playing games. It is a great place to relax with a family or a picnic.

At the end of a day of Madrid sight-seeing, there will be no lack of excellent restaurants and busy night-spots for any traveler. Madrid is a classically Spanish city with a great attitude and a natural beauty found no where else in the world.

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Madrid City Guide - A complete guide to Madrid with information on Hotels, Restaurants, Attractions, Events, Transport, Shopping, Weather, Entertainment and plenty of Travel Tips.