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HISTORY, LEISURE, CULTURE, SHOPPING, MUSEUMS... INDISPENSABLE GUIDE OF

Madrid Guide

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Page 1: Madrid Guide

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Page 2: Madrid Guide

If you wish to be kept up to date with the very latest news and events from Madrid, register at www.esmadrid.com/recuerdamadrid.There you can download the form, fill in your personal details and send it to [email protected].

GUÍA IMPRESCINDIBLE DE MADRID

PATRONATO DE TURISMO DE MADRIDÁrea de Gobierno de Economía, Empleo y Participación CiudadanaAyuntamiento de Madrid

h Plaza Mayor 27, (Casa de la Panadería) 28012 MADRID

Diseño y Maquetación:E.M. Promoción Madrid

Depósito Legal:

Imprime:

Page 3: Madrid Guide

Dining out

Shopping in MaDriD

MaDriD for kiDS

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Page 4: Madrid Guide

greeting froM the MaYorAs well as being the capital city, Madrid is also the economic, social and cultural engine of Spain. It is a city that boasts a rich cultural past, but with its sights clearly set on the future. Proof of this can be seen by the major urban transformation that the city has undergone over recent years, as well as other ground-breaking projects being carried out in a number of fields in order to improve the quality of life for all its inhabitants, to better satisfy the expectations of its visitors, and positioning itself at the forefront of European capitals.

At the same time, Madrid is a modern metropolis that has ma-naged to hold on to its traditions and customs; a cosmopolitan capital, which welcomes citizens from all around the world with open arms ; it is pioneering, and focuses on accessibility and sustainability; it is an entrepreneurial metropolis. In conclusion, it is a city where visitors immediately feel at home; being in Madrid is the same as being from Madrid.

In a number of studies, Madrid has been acknowledged as one of the top ten cities to live in, to work in, to invest in and to visit. In fact, it has become one of the most appealing tourist destinations in Europe, as can be seen by the more than seven million tourists who choose to visit Madrid each year. Our cultural activities, sho-pping, food and drink and recreational activities are wide ranging and constantly evolving. Added to this are its numerous parks and gardens, which position Madrid as the number two capital in the world for the number of green spaces, and the city has a large number of sports centres and facilities where you can enjoy practicing sports.

Madrid invites you to discover all this for yourself, to enjoy the multitude of experiences and sensations that this wonderful city has to offer. We are sure that your trip will awaken your desire to return to Madrid in the future. And this is exactly what we hope to achieve.

Welcome to Madrid.

alberto ruiz-gallardónMayor of Madrid

Page 5: Madrid Guide

Mohammed I (852-886), son of Abder-ramán II, orders the construction of a cita-del and the fortification of the hamlet of Mayrit, thus creating a walled town. The site chosen to build the citadel is the same as the later Trastamara Castle, the Hapsburg Palace and the present-day Royal Palace built during the Bourbon dynasty.

King Alfonso VI of Cas-tile captures Madrid as part of his successful campaign to conquer Toledo.

The drawing up of the Fuero de Madrid, a series of municipal bi-laws and legal and penal regulations.

This year marks the death of Isidro de Merlo y Quintana who, in the 17th century, was cho-sen as the Patron Saint of Madrid.

Alfonso XI creates a special Chamber whereby open debate is substituted by 12 town counselors, 2 mayors and a sheriff. It is con-sidered to be the pre-cursor to the present-day City Hall.

Work begins on expand-ing the Plaza de San Sal-vador, the present-day Plaza de la Villa.

Creation of the first per-manent Magistrate of Madrid.

King Fernando III as-cribes the city’s coat-of-arms: a rampaging bear eating the fruit from a strawberry tree, quite a common tree in those times.

Madrid enters the Royal Court. The Town is of-ficially recognized as a “municipality” with rep-resentation in the Span-ish Court.

King Henry IV grants Madrid the title of Muy Noble y Muy Leal (Very Noble and Very Loyal) for loyalty shown to-wards his person.

ALFONSO VI OF CASTILE PLAZA DE LA VILLA

HENRY IV

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PALACIO DE LOS LUJANES

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Start of the Hapsburg Dynasty (the House of Austria). Charles I is crowned King of Castile.

Madrid joins the Comunero Movement under Juan de Zapata.

Francisco I of France is held prisoner in the Lu-janes Tower.

Emperor Charles V en-ters the city.

Madrid surrenders af-ter the defeat of the comuneros in Villalar.

Philip II chooses Ma-drid as the permanent headquarters of the Spanish Court. The city becomes the centre of a vast empire.

Building of the Casa de la Panad-ería –the Bakery.

Writer Miguel de Cer-vantes dies at his home in Madrid.

Charles I confers the title of Imperial y Coro-nada (Imperial and Crowned) to Madrid on request of Deputy Juan Hurtado de Mendoza.

Philip II orders the con-struction of a city wall, the third in the history of the city.

Building of the first General Hospital.

Philip IV orders the con-struction of the fourth city wall that lasts until the middle of the 19th century.

Painter Velázquez dies in Madrid.

Philip III purchases what is now known as the Retiro Park, later adding additional gar-dens and fountains.

Playwright Lope de Vega dies at his home in what is currently calle de Cervantes.

Building work begins on the Buen Retiro Palace. Of the original build-ings, only the Salón de Reinos and the Ball-room (The Buen Retiro Villa) still remain.

Culture flourishes in Ma-drid and city is home to writers such as Góngo-ra, Quevedo, Calderón de la Barca, Lope de Vega and painters such as Velasquez.

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PARQUE DEL RETIRO

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES FELIPE IV

CASÓN DEL BUEN RETIRO

1516 1521 15251520 15361524 1561 1590 16161544 15961566 1625 16601618 16351630

Charles I orders the reconstruction of the Palace of Madrid, con-verting it into a royal residence.

the hapSBurg (16th-17th CenturY)

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Page 7: Madrid Guide

The establishment of the Bourbon dynasty. Philip V claims the crown as heir to Charles II.

Foundation of the Royal Academy of Language.

King Charles III of Naples arrives in Madrid, instigator of the urban planning and the construction of buildings such as the Real Aduana (Royal Customs House) (1769), the Royal Post Office (1768), the Office of Natural History, the present-day Prado Museum (1785), the Royal Botanical Gardens (1781), as well as the Cibeles (1782), Neptune (1784), Apollo (1780) and Alcachofa (1782) fountains.

The former Palace is destroyed in a fire on Christmas Eve. Four years later, construc-tion work begins on the present-day Royal Palace. It is completed in 1764.

Dos de Mayo (2nd of May), the people of Madrid rise up against the invading French army. For 5 long hours, they fight against immeasurable odds, resulting in a thousand dead.

King Fernando VII grants Madrid the title of Muy Heroica (Most heroic) for the actions of its citizens on the Dos de Mayo.

José Bonaparte orders the tearing down of all areas of congestion in the city turning them into squares and public footpaths. He creates the area known nowadays as the Plaza de Oriente.

Definitive building work on the Plaza Mayor, giving it its present-day appearance.

Construction of the Puerta de Alcalá (The Alcalá Gates).

Building of the new San Antonio de la Florida Hermitage.

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FERNANDO VIIÁNGEL CAIDO - PARQUE DEL RETIRO

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Page 8: Madrid Guide

Alfonso XIII officially launches the project to demolish various buildings in order to widen the Gran Vía. Work continues until 1929. This area sees the mergence of the first department stores / markets, and other specialized sectors such as banks, insur-ance companies, cin-emas and offices.

Building work begins on the Ciudad Uni-versitaria, founded by Alfonso XIII.

The proclamation of the Second Republic at the Puerta del Sol. Build-ing work is completed on the building of the Ventas Bullring. Madrid-Barajas airport opens.

The Ciudad Lineal ur-ban planning project, the brainstorm of Ar-turo Soria, is approved.

Opening of the first stretches of tramways between Sol & Ser-rano and Recoletos & Hipódromo.

Construction of the Eliz-abeth II Canal and the aqueduct infrastructure to bring water from

the river Lozoya to Madrid.

Elizabeth II places the foundation stone of the National Library.

Restoration and exten-sion of Puerta del Sol.

Building work begins on the Bank of Spain on the site of the former Al-cañices Palace. Work is completed in 1891.

On the 19th of Novem-ber, the Prado Museum first opens its doors to the public.

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MONUMENTO A ALFONSO xII - PARQUE DEL RETIRO

1910 19311929SigLo XX18571861 1898189218841866

Page 9: Madrid Guide

1990 1992 1997 20101993 2007

Start of the “movida madrileña” (a counter cultural movement), with the emergence of cultur-al icons such as Pedro Almodóvar and Alaska.

Madrid, European Capital of Culture. During the course of the year, the following venues are of-ficially opened: the new Puerta de Atocha Train Station with AVE high-speed trains running from Madrid to Seville; the Reina Sofia Museum and Art Gallery; the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum; the City Museum; the Madrid Theatre, la Casa de América (former Linares Palace); the Argan-zuela Greenhouses; the Rodríguez Sahagún park; the Juan Carlos I park; the “Lighthouse” and the transport hub at Moncloa.

Opening of the National Music Auditorium in Príncipe de Vergara.

Reopening of the Royal Theatre for opera pro-ductions.

Centenary celebrations of the Gran Vía, whose very name evokes the essence and splen-dour of the shopping, the architecture, the culture, the fun and di-versity of Madrid.

Opening of the new extension to the Prado Museum and the re-structuring of the M-30 ring road.

Pope John Paul con-secrates the Almudena Cathedral.

1934 1943 19541932 19471936

Building work begins on the viaduct above calle Segovia that replaces the iron structure built in the 19th century.

Founding of the Gale-rías Preciados.

Construction of the Torre de Madrid building in the Plaza de España.

Building work begins on Nuevos Ministerios on the site of the former Hipódromo (horse-rac-ing track).

The start of the Civil War at which point Madrid is besieged for three long years.

The project to length-en the Castellana is approved.

1975 19801967 1979

Monarchy is re-stored with King Juan Carlos I.

Opening of the new Chamartin Station and the tunnel that links it with Atocha. In 1971, Chamartin station was extended.

April 3rd. First demo-cratic municipal elec-tions.

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EDIFICIO TELEFÓNICA - GRAN VÍA

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puerta DeL SoL Royal Post Office (Bourbon, 18th century), the Mariblanca sculp-ture (reproduction of the 17th century origi-nal), statue of Charles III on horseback (20th century), the Bear and the Strawberry Tree sculpture (20th century).

CaLLe De BaiLén: Almudena Crypt and Cathedral (19th and 20th century).

Cava De San MigueLOlde worlde restau-rants, the Botín (1725), the Arco de Cuchil-leros (Hapsburg, 17th century).

CaLLe arenaL & SurrounDing areaSan Ginés Church (Hapsburg, 17th cen-tury), Monastery of the Order of Descalzas Reales (16th century).

De La vega hiLL / eMir MuhaMMaD i parkRemains of the city walls (9th and 10th century).

pLaza MaYor (hapSBurg, 16th CenturY anD BourBon, 18th CenturY) Casa de la Panadería (the Bakery), Casa de la Carnicería (the Butcher’s), statue of Philip III on horseback.

pLaza De eLizaBeth iiRoyal Theatre (Eliza-bethan, end of 19th cen-tury), sculpture of Eliza-beth II (20th century).

CaLLe MaYorthe Duque de Uceda Palace. Home to the State Council and the Military Headquarters (Hapsburg, 17th cen-tury), the Sacramento Church (Hapsburg, 17th century), remains of the Santa María Church (11th and 12th century), Abrantes Palace, present-day Italian Institute of Cul-ture (Hapsburg, 17th century), San Nicolás Church (Plaza de San Nicolás, 13th century).

pLaza De La provinCiaSanta Cruz Palace or former Court Gaol (Hapsburg, 17th cen-tury), (19th century).

pLaza De La enCarnaCiónMonastery of the En-carnation (Hapsburg, 17th century).

pLaza De La viLLaLujanes Tower (15th

century), Casa de Cisneros (16th cen-tury), Casa de la Villa (Hapsburg, 17th cen-tury), sculpture of Don Alvaro de Bazán (19th

century).

puerta DeL SoLRoyal Post Office (Bourbon, 18th cen-tury), Kilometre Zero (20th century).

pLaza De orienteSculpture of Philip IV (17th century), sculp-tures of the Spanish kings and queens (18th century), Royal Palace (Bourbon, 18th century).

CaLLe MaYorHouse of Calderón de la Barca (Hapsburg, 17th century), Queen Mother’s Pharmacy (dating from the 16th-

century, building from the 20th century), San Miguel Market (19th-

century).

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puerta DeL SoL / CaLLe DeL CarMen El Carmen Church (Hapsburg, 17th century).

the retiro park (17th-20th CenturieS)Monument dedicated to Alfonso XII, The Ce-cilio Rodríguez Gar-dens, The Velasquez Palace, The Crystal Pal-ace, The Rose gardens, Fountain of the Fallen Angel, the Duque de Fernán Núñez pathway.

Carrera De San JeróniMoSpanish Parliament Building (19th cen-tury), Sculpture of Miguel de Cervantes (19th century).

CueSta De MoYanoMercado de libros de la Cuesta de Moyano.

gLorieta DeL eMperaDor CarLoS v (atoCha)Atocha Train Station (19th century), The Rei-na Sofía Museum and Art Gallery (18th centu-ry building, with addi-tions made in both the 20th and 21st centuries).

eL Barrio De LaS LetraS (WriterS’ Quarter):Area of taverns, Span-ish Theatre or the former Principe Thea-tre (Plaza de Santa Ana, dating from the 17th century, building from the 19th century), Royal Academy of His-tory (Calle de León, Bourbon, 18th century), the Trinitarians Con-vent (Calle Lope de Vega, Hapsburg, 17th century), the Juan de la Cuesta Printing House where Don Quixote was first printed in 1604 (Calle de Atocha, 87), the Lope de Vega House (Calle de Cer-vantes, 11, Hapsburg, 17th century). Austrias, siglo XVII).

CaLLe De aLCaLáRoyal Customs House or Ministry of Revenue (Bourbon, 18th cen-tury), San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Bourbon, 18th century), Madrid Casino (20th century), Calatravas Church (17th century), Metróp-olis Building (20th cen-tury), San José Church (18th century), Circle of Fine Arts (20th century), Cariátides Building (20th century), Bank of Spain (19th century).

paSeo DeL praDoRoyal Botanical Gar-dens, Prado Museum (Bourbon, 18th cen-tury, 20th century ex-tension work).

Carrera De San JeróniMoLhardy restaurant (Eliz-abethan, 19th century).

pLaza De CiBeLeSCibeles Fountain (Bourbon, 18th centu-ry), Buenavista Palace (18th century), Casa de América or Linares Palace (19th century), Cibeles Palace (20th century).

CaLLe De phiLip ivSan Jerónimo El Real Church (15th century), The Buen Retiro Villa and the Salón de Rei-nos (the Hall of King-doms) of the Buen Re-tiro Palace (Hapsburg, 17th century), Spanish Royal Academy of Lan-guage (19th century).

puerta DeL SoL

CaLLe De aLCaLáPuerta de Alcalá (Bour-bon, 18th century).

pLaza De CanovaS DeL CaStiLLo (neptune)Madrid Stock Market (19th century), Monu-ment to the Fallen of “Dos de Mayo” (19th century), Neptune and Apollo foun-tains (Bourbon, 18th century), Thyssen Bornemisza Museum (19th century).

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Getting to grips with a city like Madrid, especially one with more than a thousand years of history behind it, is a daunting and often time-consuming task. If your time in Madrid is limited, we have taken the liberty of compiling a list of monuments and places that visitors to Madrid should definitely not miss out on.

The Art Walk is a singular setting that combines art, architecture and nature and is located in one of the most characteristic areas of the city: the Paseo del Prado. It makes for a very pleasant stroll taking you past the Botanical Gardens as well as three of the most renowned museums in the world:

the art WaLk

Considered by many to be “the best art gallery in the world “, the Prado Museum is, if not the best, then one of the most respected art centres and is a must-see on any visit to Madrid. Its walls are decked with the best collections of works of art of the Spanish School from the 16th through to the 18th century. It also houses large collections from both the Flemish and Venetian schools, as well as smaller co-llections by German, French and English artists. The museum has been recently expanded and, thanks to a technically difficult overhaul by architect Rafael Mo-

neo, now includes the Claustro de los Jerónimos (Cloister of the Jeronimos).

h Paseo del Pradof Banco de España / Atochak Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 8pm.

Closed Monday€ Free entry Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm

to 8pm and Sundays from 5pm to 8pmb 902 107 077+info: www.museodelprado.es

Housed in the Villahermosa Palace, this is the world’s largest private art collection and brings together some 1,000 works of art that cover 700 years of art from around the world, all the way from the 13th cen-tury up to the up to the latest tendencies of the 20th century. The addition to the palace, located in the adjoining building, is home to the private collection of the widow of Baron Thyssen, Carmen Cer-vera, and contains works of art from the 17th century through to the 19th century of both Spanish artists and artists from around the world.

h Paseo del Prado, 8f Banco de España / Atochak Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pmb 91 369 01 51+info: www.museothyssen.org

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This renowned museum, as well as housing Guernica (1937) by Picasso, is home to works of art by some of the most important artists of the latter part of the 19th century to the present-day - mainly Spanish in ori-gin (Dalí, Miró, Juan Gris, Julio González, Tapies, Chillida...). The museum is located at the site of the former General de San Charles Hospital, designed by Sabatini du-ring the reign of Charles III and restored to its former glory in the 1980s. In September 2005, building work on the latest addition to the museum was completed. The new addi-tion (designed by architect Jean Nouvel) consists of three buildings that house galle-ries and temporary exhibitions, auditoriums and a library all of which can be accessed directly from the Sabatini building.

h C/ Santa Isabel, 52f Atochak Monday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm. Sunday from 10am to 2:30pm. Closed Tuesdays.€ Free entry Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 7pm to 9pm, Saturdays from 2:30pm to 9:00pm and Sundays from 10am to 2:30pm.b 91 774 10 00+info: www.museoreinasofia.es

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The idea of creating a Navy Museum dates back to the 18th Century, and as well as a library, the idea was to have all the natural sciences required for the comprehensi-ve training of the Spanish Navy, housed under one roof. Through the museum’s galleries, boasting historic artefacts such as the Juan de la Cosa Map, the first map to have included America, visitors can get a glimpse of all the major decisive events from the Catholic Kings and the discovery of the Americas through to the Battle of Trafalgar, with special focus on the 18th Century Spanish ship building. Visitors will learn about the history of Spanish navy, mostly with a military focus, during the crucial times in Spanish history.

h Paseo del Prado, 5f Banco de Españak Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm.

Closed Monday.€ Free entry b 91 523 87 89+info: www.museonavalmadrid.com

“La Caixa” cultural centre is also located along the Paseo del Arte and houses some fascinating temporary exhibitions as well as hosting other cultural activities. Built on the site of the former power station – one of the few examples of modern industrial architecture to be found in the historic cen-tre of Madrid – designed by architectural firm Herzog and De Meuron, entry to the centre is decorated with a breathtaking vertical garden, the work of French artists Patrick Blanc.

h Paseo del Prado, 36f Atocha / Banco de Españak from 10am to 8pm. Guided tour of

the building Mondays and Saturdays at 1pm and Fridays at 7pm. Advance bookings can be made at the informa-tion desk

€ Free entryb 91 330 73 00+info: www.obrasocial.lacaixa.es

Furniture, pottery, glassware, jewellery, ta-pestries, oriental art, etc. and up to 30,000 different objects, which over the course of history have been used to decorate houses, palaces and monuments of di-fferent cultures. The oldest objects in the collection date back to the 4th Century BC, and go all the way through to the first half of the 20th Century.

h Montalbán, 12f Banco de España / Retirok Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to

3pm and Thursdays, Fridays and Sa-turdays from 5pm to 8pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 3pm. Clo-sed Monday.

€ Free entry Thursdays from 5pm to 8pm, Saturdays from 2pm to 3pm and Sundays.

b 91 532 64 99 / 91 532 68 45+info: http://mnartesdecorativas.mcu.es

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pLaza De La viLLa roYaL paLaCe anD SurrounDing areapLaza MaYor

The Palace, built in the 18th century on the orders of the first king of the Bourbon dynasty (Philip V), houses treasures com-parable to other great European palaces. The surrounding urban landscape is very representative of Madrid’s colourful history and contains such emblematic buildings as: Plaza de Oriente, teatro real (royal theatre), almudena Cathedral, Campo del Moro gardens, Monastery of the encarnation, Sabatini gardens...The gates of the Royal Palace are the ve-nue for the Relevo Solemne de la Guardia Real (the Solemn Changing of the Royal Guard) a re-enactment of a ceremony that used to take place during the reigns of Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII. It takes place at midday on the first Wednesday of each

month (excluding July, August and Sept-ember, and on days of official acts of state or in inclement weather conditions) with a total of 429 military staff and 105 horses taking part.Every Wednesday from 11am to 2 pm, visi-tors can also see the Relevo de la Guardia en la Puerta del Príncipe del Palacio Real (the Changing of the Guard at the Prince’s Gate of the Royal Palace) - excluding days of the Solemn Changing of the Guard and official acts of state or in inclement weather conditions. Regaled in their dress uniform, each “post” (consisting of 2 foot soldiers and 2 riders on horseback) falls into for-mation in front of the Puerta del Príncipe (Prince’s Gate) to the musical accompani-ment of fife and drum.

This spectacular porticoed square has been the focal point of the city since Philip II settled on Madrid as the official residence of the Spa-nish Royal Court in 1561. In its lifetime it has been used for a variety of purposes: theatre, civic centre, market, etc., the focal point being the Casa de la Panadería (the Bakery). It stands opposite the Casa de la Carnicería (the Butcher’s) and both buildings can be easily recognized by their characteristic towers.Over the course of history, the square has suffered three fires, the last one in 1790 that resulted in it having to be rebuilt by Juan de Villanueva. Where the streets joined, the square was walled in with half-point arches, and dwellings were built above them. The only condition for owners of the proper-ties was that they were required to rent out their balconies (presently 237 in total) during celebrations. The higher the balcony, the higher the rental price.In the centre of the square stands the statue of philip iii on horseback, work of Flemish sculptor Juan de Bologna and Pietro Tacca that dates from the 17th century. It was pla-ced here in 1848, having been moved from its former home in the Casa de Campo.

h Plaza Mayorf Sol

Located in an area of the city popularly known as Hapsburg Madrid, it is home to buildings from the 15th, 16th and 17th Centuries, namely the Casa de la Villa, the Lujanes Tower and the Casa de Cisneros.In the centre of the square stands the stat-ue by Mariano Benlliure of Álvaro de Bazán, Marquis of Santa Cruz, who was Admiral of the Spanish Armada during the reign of Philip II. The Casa de la Villa, designed by architect Juan Gómez de Mora, is a two-storey building with towers on each of its four corners, and has changed little since it was first built. The only exception is the bal-cony that now faces onto calle Mayor that was built in the 18th century by Juan de Vil-lanueva so that the Queen would be able to see the Corpus Christi Processions. The building still has two of its original doors that date back to the days when it was first the town hall and later the city gaol.Linked to the Casa de la Villa by a small passageway – built at the beginning of the

The Presentation of Credentials is one of the most solemn acts in the life of a diplomat where the sending Head of State presents the new Ambassador to the King. The ceremony involves 377 members of the Royal Guard.

h C/ Bailénf Óperak WINTER (October-March) Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm. Sundays from 9am to 2pm. SUMMER (April-Sep-tember) Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm. Sundays from 9am to 3pm. May be closed for official acts of state.€ Free entry on Wednesday.b 91 454 88 00+info: www.patrimonionacional.es

20th century – is the Casa de Cisneros, built in the first third of the 16th century (1537), a great example of plateresque architecture and commissioned by the nephew of Cardinal Cisneros.On the left as you enter the square stands the Lujanes Tower (15th century) in Mude-jar style (Spanish/Moorish). It is one of the oldest civic buildings still standing in the city and according to legend King Fran-cois I of France was imprisoned there after being taken prisoner in the battle of Pavia in 1520.

h Plaza de la Villaf Sol / Óperak Guided tours of the Casa de la Villa available on Mondays (excluding public holidays) at 5pm. Advance bookings at the Madrid Tourism Centre (Plaza Mayor, 27).€ Free entry+info: www.esmadrid.com 2524

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riDBuilt in the 17th century during the reign of Philip IV, this is the most important (historically and artistically speaking) of all the parks in Madrid and is one of the most beautiful city parks in the world. The park was originally home to a set of buil-dings that comprised a large palace, and a garden with a host of features: hermita-ges, grottos, covered paths, ponds etc. Its most attractive and unrivaled features are the Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens, the Alfonso XII Monument, the Retiro Lake, the ruins of the San Isidro Hermitage, the Velasquez Palace, the Crystal Palace, the Fuente del Ángel Caído (Fountain of the Fallen Angel), the Ciprés Calvo trees (Bald Cypress), the Alcachofa Fountain, etc.

f Retirok WINTER (from October to March): from 7am to 10pm (gates start to open at 6am, with all gates open by 7am and closing starts at 9:30pm, with all gates closed by 10pm). SUMMER (from April to Septem-ber): from 7am to midnight (closing starts at 11:30pm, with all closed by midnight).Guided tours Saturdays at 11am. Advance bookings on 911 273 988.€ Free entry.+info: www.madrid.es

The Puerta del Sol is the nerve centre of Madrid – par excellence. There is probably no other spot in Madrid that best reflects both the blend of cultures and the wel-coming and cosmopolitan nature of the city. There are many icons that have been associated with the square over the years: the clock that rings in the New Year, the celebrated statue of the Bear and Straw-berry Tree (symbol of Madrid), “Kilometre Zero” – the epicentre of the Spanish road network, and the last survivor of the neon advertisement boards that once covered the rooftops, that of Tío Pepe. In its early days, in around the 15th century, this was one of the access points through the large wall that surrounded the city.

h Puerta del Solf Sol

Birthplace of the very first edition of Don Quixote and home to the major figures of Spanish literature, this traditional Madrid neighbourhood is today one of the nerve centres of the historic centre of Madrid being both the focal point of theatres, res-taurants, hotels and stores, as well as for its well-preserved streets, squares and historic buildings. This unique setting in the very heart of Madrid is of historical, cultural, tourist and economic significance and is often a rendezvous point for night-time revelers.

f Antón Martín / Sevilla / Atocha

In the popular La Latina district, Sundays and public holidays are the opening days of this famous open-air flea market that has been going strong for more than 400 years. The main street of this incredibly popular bazaar is the Ribera de Curtidores that starts at Plaza de Cascorro and conti-nues through to the Ronda de Toledo. On Sundays, sellers set up their stalls on the pavement to sell the most diverse array of wares. And the variety of goods is mind-boggling: from valuable antiques to small objects that at first glance would appear to serve no purpose at all!

h C/ Ribera de Curtidores and surroun-ding areaf La Latina / Tirso de Molina / Puerta de Toledok Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 3pm.

the retiro park puerta DeL SoL Barrio De LaS LetraS the raStro fLea-Market

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The Teatro Real was opened in 1850, co-inciding with the birthday of Queen Isabel II, on the site of the former open-air theatre that specialised in Italian opera and was called Caños del Peral. It was torn down in 1817. It was designed by architects An-tonio López Aguado and Custodio Mo-reno, who were commissioned to build a magnificent, irregular-shaped, hexagonal building. Its size is breathtaking, and it is estimated that in the stage area, which is some 60 metres high, you could fit the Te-lefonica building on Gran Vía. After a major refurbishment, in 1997 it was reopened as an opera house.

h Plaza de Orientef Óperak Guided tours Monday to Friday, exclud-ing Tuesdays and days when, for technical or artistic reasons, they can not take place, from 10:30am to 1pm, and Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 11am to 1:30pm, subject to change.b 91 516 06 60 / 91 516 06 96+info: www.teatro-real.com

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This is one of the most beautiful, most centrically located and the most renowned plazas of Madrid, a fusion of both ancient and modern, and is flanked by four mo-numental buildings built during the 19th and 20th Centuries: the Linares palace, the Cibeles palace (home to Madrid City Hall), the Bank of Spain, and the Buena-vista palace.In the very centre stands the iconic Cibeles fountain. Together with the Apollo and Neptune Fountains, these are the decora-tions per se of the Paseo del Prado and are the brainchild of King Charles III (18th cen-tury). You may be interested to note that the Cibeles Fountain and the immediate surrounding area is the traditional meeting point for fans of Real Madrid football club when celebrating their championship titles.

h Plaza de Cibelesf Banco de Españak Guided tours of the Linares Palace Sa-turdays and Sundays at 11am, midday and 1pm. For ticket reservations, please call: 902 400 222.

On the Bernabéu Stadium Tour, visitors can access all areas of the stadium: the pitch, the Presidential Box, the players tunnel, the players’ benches and the chan-ging rooms. And the pièce de résistance, a visit to the Trophy Room Exhibition, the best way to fully appreciate the legend that is the Real Madrid football club.

h C/ Concha Espina, 1 (Santiago Berna-béu Stadium, gate 20)f Santiago Bernabéuk Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10:30am to 6:30pm. On match days, tours available until 2 pm.b 902 311 709+info: www.realmadrid.com

The deep electric blues skies that generate beautiful sunsets almost every day of the year are characteristic of Madrid. Might we suggest that you watch the sun go down from one of the many great vantage points around the city: the Debod Temple, in the Parque del Oeste (Western Park), from the dome of the Almudena Cathedral or from the Vistillas Park or from one of the low hills in the Cerro del Tío Pío Park.

f Ventura Rodríguez / Ópera 141 (para llegar al Cerro del Tío Pío)

The Bullring, with a neo-Mudejar design (Moorish/Spanish), and with a crowd ca-pacity of 25,000, is the work of architects José Espeliú and Muñoz Monasterio, and first opened its doors to the public in 1931. There is bullfighting each Sunday from March until October, but the highlight of the year in the renowned San Isidro Festi-val, during the month of May. Inside there is a bullfighting museum that bares testa-ment to some of the incredible moments in the art and history of bullfighting.A guided tour of the bullring is available to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 2pm, with Tauro Tour Las Ventas (information and reservation number 91 556 92 37).

h C/ Alcalá, 237f Ventasb 91 356 22 00+info: www.las-ventas.com

Designed towards the latter part of the 19th century, building building work began in 1910. It represented a major accomplish-ment in city planning and was envisaged to modernize the Madrid by linking the city’s historic centre with the neighbour-hoods that had sprung up thanks in part to the city’s growth (Argüelles, Salamanca, Chamberí). Throughout its construction, which continued through to the middle of the 20th century, this was the home to some of the most contemporary architec-tural projects in the capital and became a veritable storefront of architectural styles.This grand avenue, of almost one and a half kilometres in length, has become one of the most emblematic thoroughfares of Madrid, not only from the city planning point of view, but for the social, economic and cultural role it has played in the life of the city - over the recent years, it has become the home to opening nights for both national and international musicals and is popularly known as the “Broadway” of Madrid.

h Gran Víaf Banco de España / Gran Vía / Callao / Santo Domingo / Plaza de Españak Guided tours Sundays at 12pm. Advan-ce bookings at the Madrid Tourism Centre (Plaza Mayor, 27).b 91 588 29 06+info: www.esmadrid.com

Architecturally speaking, 20th and 21st cen-tury Madrid can for the most part be found on the flanks of this sprawling boulevard, namely the Paseo de la Castellana that, along with its characteristically huge buil-dings, has grown to become the city’s financial district. Some of the major city planning projects of the past century have sprouted up along the length of the Caste-llana, such as the Colonia del Viso, AZCA, the Puerta de Europa Towers, the new Cuatro Torres Business Area (CTBA) on the Castellana, with a height of between 223 and 250 metres, or the future International Convention Centre.

h Paseo de la Castellanaf Gregorio Marañón / Nuevos Ministerios / Santiago Bernabéu / Plaza de Castilla / Begoña

LaS ventaS BuLL-ring pueSta De SoL - SunSetpLaza De CiBeLeS gran vÍa BernaBéu StaDiuM tourConteMporarY MaDriD

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¡froM LeSS than 5€!*Throughout the year, and as a great way to discover the city, the Madrid Tourist Board and its Discover Madrid programme offers visitors a great selection of fascinating tours that are available in a variety of lan-guages (Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese).

StorY tiMeA one-hour playtime activity for children between the ages of 5 and 10 aimed at getting them to use their imagination to discover the secrets of an “enchanted” Madrid. Story time is a one-of-a kind ex-perience that can be carried out both in-doors and outside and that tells the story of Madrid in terms that a child will fully understand, appreciate and enjoy.

the hanDS-on LeCture SerieS offers detailed, comprehensive information about specific aspects of the history, the art, customs, traditions and ways of life of the City of Madrid. Activities are divided into two halves:

1St haLf. LECTURE: focusing on the spe-cialized subject matter.

2nD haLf. EDUCATIONAL TOUR: guided tour that brings participants face to face with the places and monuments referred to in the preceding lecture.

DiSCoverMaDriD

Choose between:

BiCYCLetourS

Skate tourS

faMiLY tourS

theatriCaL anD MuSiCaL tourS

inDiSpenSaBLe MaDriD guiDeStour

SpeCiaLLY aDapteD tourS forthe phYSiCaLLY, MentaLLY anDSenSoraLLY hanDiCappeD.

“MaDe-to-MeaSure” group tourSYou decide the day and the subject matter.Simply contact us via email ([email protected]) or by phone on 914802036, and tell us what type of tour you are looking for.

+info:www.esmadrid.com/descubremadrid

ticket sales:Madrid Tourism Centreh Plaza Mayor, 27k Winter schedule (16th Sep-14th Jun) Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 8:30pm. Saturdays from 11am to 5pm. Sundays from 9:30am to 3pm.Summer schedule (15th Jun-15th Sep): Monday to Friday: 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. Sataurday: 12 noon to 5 pm. Sunday 9:30 am to 14:30 pmTele sales: 902 221 424Caja Madrid ATM networkwww.entradas.com

2011 estimate rates*

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Exhibition of archaeological, colonial art, and ethnographic collections brought to Spain between the 16th and 20th centuries. An an-thological approach that breaks down the collections into themes – of special note are the Treasure of the Quimbayas, Shellwork from the Conquest of Mexico and the oldest European collection on the Prairie Indians.

h Avenida de los Reyes Católicos, 6f Moncloak Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 3pm and Thursdays from 4pm to 7pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 3pm. Closed Monday.€ Free entry on Sundayb 91 549 26 41 / 91 543 94 37+info: ttp://museodeamerica.mcu.es

Located beneath the flyover that links ca-lles Juan Bravo and Eduardo Dato, the museum houses an excellent collection of Spanish abstract sculpture. Civil engi-neers José Antonio Fernández Ordóñez and Julio Martínez Calzón, who designed the bridge, and artist Eusebio Sempere came up with a concept to successfully bring the citizen face to face with the very latest tendencies in modern art.The other interesting characteristic of this museum is that it is part of an urban lands-cape where the functional elements – the bridge, approaches, pedestrian walkways, etc., - create a sense of unity where the sculptures on exhibit and their setting are at one with each other.

h Paseo de la Castellana, 41f Rubén Daríok Unlimited access€ Free entryb 91 588 86 72+info: ww.esmadrid.com/museosdemadrid

The museum aims not only to illustrate the artistic value of the artifacts, but also their didactic qualities, this being the un-derlying theme of the exhibit. Through the use of these artifacts, it is hoped to explain the ritual of Catholic mass, its origins and evolution, up to its present-day format. Of particular interest are the recently opened Chapter House and Vestry by renowned artist P. Marco Rupnik, S.J., creator of the famous Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Vatican. After the tour, visitors can climb to the top of the Dome where they will get an incredible panoramic view of Madrid.

h Plaza de la Almudena (access through the main Cathedral entrance)f Óperak Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2:30pm. Closed Sundays as well as on religious festivals or special mass.b 91 559 28 74+info: www.archimadrid.es

The house was purchased by Lope de Vega in 1610 and it is where he lived out the remaining 25 years of his life (1610-1635). The different rooms give a pretty clear picture of 17th century life in Madrid - home life, society, religion and culture of the times - in a spot that, almost 400 years after his death, is still very much identified with this writer from Madrid.

h C/ Cervantes, 11f Antón Martínk Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Closed Monday€ Free entry. Due to the characteristics of the house tour, group tours, with a maxi-mum of ten people, are available upon prior request and these will be accompa-nied by a guide. Tours begin every 30 mi-nutes and last approximately 45 minutes. b 91 429 92 16+info: www.madrid.org

This royal monastery was founded in the 16th Century by Princess Juana de Aus-tria, daughter of Emperor Charles I, whose tomb lies in one of the Monastery chapels. Inside visitors will discover a rich collection of works of art, many of them donated by noble families whose daughters entered into the order to dedicate themselves to a life of contemplation. Of special note amongst the works of art are the frescos on the stairway of the Capilla del Milagro (Chapel of Miracles), Brussels tapestries, numerous masterpieces, etc.

The collection of José Lázaro Galdiano (1862-1947) is one of the best examples of private collections in a country where the-se are quite rare. The Museum is housed in the former residence of the collector, the so-called Florido Park, in honour of his Argentinean wife, Paula Florido. The collection includes some wonderful or-namental pieces and an outstanding art gallery, which includes masterpieces from the Spanish School such as Murillo, Goya, Ribera..., the Flemish masters such as Van Eyck, Mabuse or Bosch, a piece that has been attributed to Leonardo da Vinci ,as well as a large public library with a fascinating collection of antique books and manuscripts.

h C/ Serrano, 122f Núñez de Balboak Wednesday to Monday from 10am to 4:30pm (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the third floor closes at 2pm). Closed Tuesdayb 91 561 60 84+info: www.flg.es

h Plaza de las Descalzas, 1f Callao / Sol / Óperak Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sa-turday from 10:30am to 12:45pm and from 4pm to 17:45pm. Friday from 10:30am to 12:45pm. Sunday and public holidays from 11am to 13:45pm€ Free entry on Wednesday.b 91 454 88 00+info: www.patrimonionacional.es

It was commissioned by Queen Margarita of Austria, wife of Philip III, to architect Juan Gómez de Mora and was built between 1611 and 1616. Of special note is the church, with a beautiful Escorial façade finished off with a very simple pediment and is the basis for the architectural style often termed Madrid Baro-que. The walls are home to an important co-llection of 17th and 18th century painting and sculptures, and it is well worth paying a visit. One of the highlights is a mysterious seclu-ded Baroque treasure chamber that houses a large collection of brass engravings, hard woods, ivory and coral. It is also home to a vial containing the blood of San Pantaleón, which, according to tradition, turns to liquid on the anniversary of the death of the saint.

h Plaza de la Encarnación, 1f Óperak Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sa-turday from 10:30am to 12:45pm and from 4pm to 5:45pm. Firdays from 10:30am to 12:45pm. Sundays and public holidays from 11am to 1:45pm€ Free entry on Wednesdayb 91 454 88 00+info: www.patrimonionacional.es

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The Museum is housed in the actual residen-ce-studio of painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, donated by his widow so that it be turned into the museum, and surrounded by a small garden with strong Andalusian influences, designed by the painter himself. The main floor and studio have been left in their original state. The museum houses the best Sorolla collection in the world with sculptures, ce-ramic ware, furniture and jewelry that were typical of a 19th century bourgeois household.

h Paseo General Martínez Campos, 37f Iglesia / Rubén Daríok Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 8pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 3pm€ Free entry on Sundayb 91 310 15 84+info: http://museosorolla.mcu.es

The fundamental aim of the Costume Mu-seum is to promote information about the historical evolution of the clothing industry and of the rich ethnological heritage exempli-fied by the different regional cultures of Spain. For this reason the exhibition is broken down chronologically into a series of smaller exhi-bits that date from the 18th to the 20th century.

h Avenida Juan de Herrera, 2f Moncloa / Ciudad Universitariak Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 7pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 3pm€ Free entry on Saturdays after 2:30pm and on Sunday.b 91 550 47 00+info: http://museodeltraje.mcu.es

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h Glorieta de San Antonio de la Florida, 5f Príncipe Píok Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am to 8pm. Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm. € Free entryb 91 542 07 22 / 91 701 18 63+info: www.esmadrid.com/museosde-madrid

A large convent complex built in the 18th Century to replace the then existing me-dieval Franciscan monastery. A large dome crowns the circular central floor some 58 metres high with a 38-metre diameter, and is one of the largest in the world. There is an exhibition of paintings that date from the 17th to the 19th century. Special men-tion should be made of the frescos on the inside of the dome.

h Plaza de San Franciscof La Latina / Puerta de Toledok Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 12:30pm and from 4pm to 6:30pm. Satur-days from 11am to 1:30pm (if there are no religious services). In the month of August from Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 12:30pm and from 5pm to 7:30pmb 91 365 38 00

Although it has changed its name various times over the years, it is still popularly known as Casa de San Isidro, because ac-cording to tradition this was the residency of the Vargas family (for whom San Isidro worked) and also the palce where the Saint lived and died.The permanent exhibition illustrates this history of Madrid from prehistoric times up to the 17th century, using numerous archaeological remains found in the city. The Museum also boasts a large collection of scale models and a selection of artwork linked to the tradition of San Isidro and Santa María de la Cabeza.h Plaza de San Andrés, 2f La Latinak Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am to 8pm. Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm. € Free entryb 91 366 74 15+info: www.esmadrid.com/museosde-madrid

Henry IV, in the first half of the 15th century, commissioned the construction of a small castle that Charles I later rebuilt in 1553, and was finally finished in 1558 during the reign of Philip II. The Pardo Royal Palace inheri-ted the general structure of the medieval castle, flanked by towers and surrounded by a moat.The main feature of the interior décor are the tapestries, woven at the Royal Tapestry Factory, based on compositions painted by Bayeu, Castillo, and especially those of Goya, who was commissioned by the Pala-ce to paint five of his most renowned series. Amongst the works of art are the renowned Portrait of Elizabeth the Catholic by Juan de Flandes and the Portrait of Don Juan José de Austria on horseback by Ribera, as well as important pieces of furniture from the 18th and 19th century.

h C/ Manuel Alonso 601

k WINTER (October-March) Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 4:45pm. Sun-days from 10am to 1:30pm. SUMMER (April-September) Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 5:45pm. Sunday from 9:30am to 1:30pm. May close for institu-tional or official acts.€ Free entry on Wednesday.b 91 376 15 00+info: www.patrimonionacional.es

Just metres from the Puerta del Sol stands a building that is home to the San Fernan-do Royal Academy of Fine Arts, founded in 1744 by King Philip V. Its primary focus was on perfecting and studying of the three noble arts - namely painting, sculpture and architecture. The building was constructed between 1724 and 1725 by architect José Benito Churriguera as a house / palace for banker Juan de Goyeneche. Inside is the Academy Museum that is home to a major collection of paintings, sculptures and works of art from different European schools. The thirteen works by Goya on exhibit in the Museum are the main focus of the collection.

h C/ Alcalá, 13f Sol / Sevillak Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Saturdays from 9am to 3pm. Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 2:30pm. Closed Monday.€ Free entry Wednesday (excluding public holidays)b 91 524 08 64+info: http://rabasf.insde.es

The former palace of the Marquis de Mata-llana, built in 1776, is home to a fascinating collection of 19th Century paintings, furnis-hings and decorative art, which give us a better understanding of the cultural and po-litical goings on of daily life in Madrid during the Romantic period. Works of art by Goya, Esquivel, Madrazo, Alenza and the Bécquer, pottery by Sargadelos and Sèvres, jewe-llery made of ebonite, lava or natural hair,

a collection of porcelain dolls, 15 pianos, imperial and Elizabethan furniture and the pistol, which Larra used to commit suicide, all go to recreate the age of Romanticism, a cultural movement, which coursed through the veins of young artists, intellectuals and politicians alike during the first half of the 19th Century.

h C/ San Mateo, 13f Tribunal / Alonso Martínezk SUMMER (May-October): Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 8:30pm. Sun-days and public holidays from 10am to 3pm. WINTER (November-April): Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 18:30pm. Sun-days and public holidays from 10am to 3pm. Closed Monday.€ Free entry Saturdays after 2pm and all day Sundays.b 91 448 10 45+info: http://museoromanticismo.mcu.es

The Shrine, dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, was designed by Italian architect Philip Fontana, neoclassical in design, and built between 1792 and 1798 with frescoes painted by Francisco de Goya in 1798. It is a small museum but it holds a two-fold special significance - the artistic value of the murals that decorate its walls, and the commemorative value as it has housed the mortal remains of the artist since 1919. In order to conserve the paintings, in 1929 the services were relocated to a replica hermi-tage built next door, allowing the original building to be used purely as a museum.

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Madrid, with its more than 3,000 restau-rants, offers visitors an unforgettable dining experience with a choice of restaurants from the five continents. Not only is there international cuisine, but also a wide se-lection of regional dishes, as well as the local cuisine with its undisputed influence of the cooking styles from both Castile regions, the result of a fusion between the cooking habits of the Royal Court and the commoners. The dish synonymous with Madrid is the cocido madrileño that com-prises a three-course meal with a soup to start, followed by greens and vegetables, and finished of with a meat dish.

Dining outIn Madrid, seafood and fish dishes are also part of the staple diet: 1,000 tonnes of seafo-od product’s arrive each day to its renowned fish market, the biggest in Europe and the second biggest in the world only to Tokyo.

The traditional desserts are quite con-ventional with things such as rosquillas tontas y listas (a type of donut coated with either icing sugar or ground al-monds), buñuelos de viento (cream puffs), chocolate with churros (frit-ters) or bartolillos de crema (egg custard tart). And these are just some of the great selection of delicious desserts.

Another of the specialties in Madrid is the tapas that comprises a bite-size portion, hot or cold, that is served with wine, ver-mouth, beer or a refreshment. Although tapas can be enjoyed anywhere in the city, there are particular areas of the city which, due to circumstances or geogra-phical area, have their own particular style of tapas.

The centre of Madrid is considered to be the best area for having tapas simply for being in the very heart of the city. The area in and around Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, popularly known as Hapsburg Ma-

drid, is an area where you can enjoy having tapas in a great atmosphere.

Other busy areas for tapas are the Latina and the so-called Writers’ Quarter where you can find traditional taverns where ta-pas form the cornerstone of an excellent dining experience.

During the summer months, the specialties whether they may be, fish, tapas or inter-national cuisine, can be enjoyed on one of the many open-air terraces, especially at dinnertime, and in all areas of the city.

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The century-old restaurants in Madrid are an example of the professionalism of suc-cessive generations that can clearly be seen in the uniqueness of each establishment. Diners who come to these restaurants can enjoy traditional dishes that will never go out of style and can savour some of their mouthwatering dishes that represent more than a hundred years of the history of Madrid.

More information is available on the fo-llowing web page www.restaurantescen-tenarios.es.

• Bodega La Ardosa (1892)h C/ Colón, 13f Tribunal / Gran Víab 91 521 49 79+info: www.laardosa.com

• La Bola (1870)h C/ La Bola, 5f Santo Domingo / Óperab 91 547 69 30+info: www.labola.es

• Botín (1725)h C/ Cuchilleros, 17f Solb 91 366 42 17 / 30 26+info: www.botin.es

• Café Gijón (1888)h Paseo de Recoletos, 21fColón / Banco de Españab 91 522 37 37 / 91 521 54 25

• La Casa del Abuelo (1906)h C/ Victoria, 12f Solb 902 02 73 34+info: www.lacasadelabuelo.es

• Casa Alberto (1827)h C/ Huertas, 18f Sol / Antón Martínb 91 429 93 56 / 07 06+info: www.casaalberto.es

• Casa Ciriaco (1887)h C/ Mayor, 84f Sol / Óperab 91 548 06 20

• Casa Labra (1860)h C/ Tetuán, 12f Solb 91 531 00 81+info: www.casalabra.es

• Casa Pedro (1702)h C/ Nuestra Sra. de Valverde, 119 (Fuencarral)b 91 734 02 01+info: www.casapedrorestaurante.com

• Los Galayos (1894)h C/ Botoneras, 5f Solb 91 366 30 28+info: www.losgalayos.net

• Lhardy (1839)h Carrera de San Jerónimo, 8f Sol / Sevillab 91 521 33 85 / 91 522 22 07+info: www.lhardy.es

• Taberna Malacatín (1895)h C/ Ruda, 5f La Latinab 91 365 52 41+info: www.malacatin.com

• Taberna Oliveros (1857)h C/ San Millán, 4f La Latinab 91 354 62 52+info: www.tabernaoliveros.com

CenturY-oLD reStaurantS in MaDriD uSefuL voCaBuLarY

3938

gaStronoMYWaLkTen of the best restaurants in Madrid offering diners a mouth-watering cuisine with a great variety of dishes in an unbeatable setting. All ten are located in the same area, namely the Casa de Campo showground, although each one is unique and has their own particular charm. Housed in very distinctive buildings – manor houses, palaces and ancestral homes -, the restaurants comprising the Paseo de la Gastronomía combine their finely honed culinary skills with a pleasant ambience. Discover this culinary walk, located in the very heart of the city’s green zone, and enjoy a delicious meal seated in their dining rooms, or on their open-air terraces, beneath the stars of the Madrid skies.

Telephone reservations are required and information is available regarding group bookings. More information available at www.madridespaciosycongresos.es.

• A Casiñab 91 526 34 25 / 91 526 32 61+info: www.acasina.com

• Colonial de Mónicob 91 479 37 33 / 91 479 26 86+info: www.grupomonico.es

• Casa de Burgos de Aracelib 91 464 40 77+info: www.grupoaraceli.es

• La Masía de José Luisb 91 479 86 15+info: www.joseluis.es

• La Pesquerab 91 464 16 12+info: www.lapesquera.com

• Restaurante Curritob 91 464 57 04+info: www.restaurantecurrito.es

• Restaurante Guipúzcoab 91 470 04 21 / 91 470 25 47+info: www.restauranteguipuzcoa.com

• El Bosque Sagradob 91 526 78 17+info: www.elbosquesagrado.es

• El Pabellón de Ondarretab 91 479 97 79+info: www.ondarreta.es

• El Palacio de la Misiónb 91 464 77 77+info: www.palaciodelamision.com

Chatoa short, wide-bottomed wine glass.

Caña draft beer served in a cylinder-sha-ped glass.

SangrÍa a refreshing drink made from a sweet soda, red wine, sugar, cin-namon, lemon and/or other liquors or fruits.

BoCaDiLLoa roll sliced in two lengthways ser-ved with a variety of fillings.

Menú DeL DÍaA fixed-price menu offered by ho-tels and restaurants, with a limited selection of dishes.

puLga a small roll.

tapaa small serving of food usually to accompany a drink.

raCióna serving of traditional food, nor-mally larger in size than a tapa, and normally served with a drink.

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Shopping in MaDriD

The city of Madrid is a must-see for anyone planning a shopping trip. From the exclusiveness of some of the greatest designers and the “showrooms” of the most select names in international fashion, to traditional products from Madrid and the most avant-garde, visitors to Madrid will find thousands of excuses to go shopping

A full day is required to get the most out of the Madrid shopping experience, as the city’s shopping areas are very popular throughout the year with residents of Madrid and visitors alike.

Disponer de al menos un día libre para dedicarlo a las compras por la ciudad es indispensable, ya que sus zonas comerciales atraen durante todo el año el interés de madrileños y visitantes.

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The area surrounding Plaza Mayor, Puer-

The Barrio de las Le-tras (Writers’ Quarter), is the birthplace of the first edition of Don Quixote and home to some of the key figures of Spanish literature. Nowadays it is the city’s nerve centre where you will find many theatres, hotels, terrace bars and the area still conserves many of the more tra-ditional stores such as silver smiths, antiquities and book stores, side by side stores offering the very latest in the artistic avant-garde. It is worth

Within the Plaza Mayor Tourism Centre, is the Madrid Shop store that sells the¡Madrid! brand merchandising that in-clude guides and bo-oks or DVDs about his-tory, architecture, the Madrid museums, as well as t-shirts, statio-nary, the single Siem-pre en Madrid or tickets to the main events and shows going on in the city of Madrid.

f Sol / Ópera / Callao / Gran Vía

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mentioning that this dis-trict takes you from the Paseo del Prado all the way to the Royal Palace, which makes for a very pleasant walk.

f Sol / Sevilla / Antón Martín

ta del Sol and Plaza de Oriente, is full of small traditional sto-res, many of which have not changed in appearance in the last 100 years: pharmacies, cake shops, stores se-lling religious relics, haberdashers, antique book stores, hat shops or ceramic workshops. Many of these establis-hments sell traditional Spanish articles such as fans, shawls, guitars or capes.

These streets are con-sidered to be the most progressive and ulvtra-modern shopping areas of the city, and in recent years have become point of reference for Spanish modernism. On them you can find the boutiques of young fashion designers, accessories, arts and crafts… Special mention

Known as the Barrio de Chueca, its unbeatable location has facilitated its transformation into an urban catwalk for independent fashion labels, characterized by its Design.

Calles Conde de Xique-na, Almirante and Pia-monte together form a

shopping district that has its own particular feel, with stores offering a wide range of labels with Spanish designs of both fashion and household accessories.

f Chueca / Gran Vía / Alonso Martínez

The streets of this multi-cultural neighbourhood are home to traditional Madrid stores as well as many others that sell traditional goods from different countries, from food products to art and crafts.

f Lavapiés

should be made of Triball, located between calles Ballesta and Corredera Baja de San Pablo, an area that has seen a sharp increase in popularity with the opening of art galle-ries, restaurants, clothes stores and is a great area for shopping in general.

f Gran Vía / Tribunal

Centre: the heart of MaDriD

Shopping DiStriCtS

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Serrano Shopping DiStriCtDeveloped in the middle of the 19th Century, the Barrio de Salamanca or Salamanca District, is located between Paseo de Recoletos and the El Retiro Park. This orderly network of wide, straight and tree-lined streets was designed by Carlos María de Castro, and ins-tigated by the Marquis of Salamanca. It very soon became the area chosen by the fledgling Madrid middle-classes to set up home. Faced with the gloomy and old-fashio-ned dwellings available in other areas of the cen-tre of Madrid, the Barrio de Salamanca made an

The shopping area of Ar-güelles can be found in and around calles Prin-cesa and Alberto Agui-lera, where you will find the major clothes chain stores as well as shops selling accessories and gifts, as well as the ma-jor department stores.

fArgüelles / Moncloa

argÜeLLeS

The AZCA business district, and calle Oren-se in particular, a very busy shopping area, provide visitors with a variety of stores ran-ging from the most po-pular clothes chains, to major department sto-

azCa

res, home to boutiques selling major labels by both Spanish and in-ternational designers.

f Nuevos Ministerios / Cuzco / Santiago Bernabéu

ideal setting for a more modern way of life.

In and around the re-modelled calle Serrano, top-notch businesses and services set up shop, turning the area into the chic district of Madrid. Major Spanish and international de-signers, delicatessens,

luxury hotels, classy restaurants, art galleries and antique stores have turned the streets (calles) such as the aforemen-tioned Serrano, Ortega y Gasset, Claudio Coello, Lagasca or Jorge Juan, into a shoppers paradise.

f Serrano / Velázquez / Goya / Núñez de Balboa

(see “Must-see Madrid”)

h C/ Ribera de Curtidores and surroun-ding areak Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 3pmf La Latina / Tirso de Molina / Puerta de Toledo

SpeCiaLizeD MarketS

goYa Market; teXtiLeS, art anD CraftS anD giftS:

h Avenida de Felipe IIk Monday to Saturday from 10am to 8pmf Goya

StaMp anD Coin CoLLeCting

h Plaza Mayork Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 2pmf Sol / Ópera

DeLiCateSSen

h Plaza de San Miguel (San Miguel Market)k Open every day from 10am to 10pmf Sol / Ópera+info: www.mercadodesanmiguel.es

the raStro fLea Market

MERCADO DE SAN MIGUELEL RASTRO4342

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MoDeL Making

h Paseo de las Delicias, 61 (Railway museum)k first Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm (excluding August)f Delicias

fLoWerS

h Plaza de Tirso de Molinak Open every day from 11am to 6pmf Tirso de Molina

painting

h Plaza del Conde de Barajas k Sundays from 10am to 2pmf Ópera / Sol

BookS

h Cuesta de Claudio Moyanok Monday to Friday from 10am to 2:30pm and from 4:30pm to 7pm. Saturdays, Sun-days and public holidays from 10am to 2:30pmf Atocha

Stores in Madrid are free to open at wha-tever time they choose but generally spea-king, stores open between 9:30am and 2pm, and then again between 5pm and 8:30pm from Monday to Saturday. The major shopping centres do not close at lunchtime and stay open to 10pm from Monday to Saturday. Stores also open their doors on the first Sunday of each month, as well as other Sundays that are considered of high demand, as well as on some public holidays.

In the centrally located Sol district, shops are open all year round.

taX refunDS (taX free)All visitors to Madrid who are not residents of the European Union can request the refund of the IVA (equivalent to VAT) on all purchases greater than €90.16. At the entrance to all stores you will see the name of the company that emits refund cheques.

To be reimbursed, you should follow these steps:

• Every time you make a purchase, ask for a refund cheque. This is required for your taxes to be later refunded.

• Upon leaving the European Union, pre-sent your refund cheques, along with your passport, your boarding pass and your purchases at the Customs Desk so that they can be verified.

• For a cash refund, hand in your copy of the refund cheques that have been duly stamped by Customs at the cash refund

During 2010, shops are allowed to open on a total of 22 Sundays and public holidays: 3rd and 10th January; 7th February; 7th and 19th March; 4th April; 2nd May; 3rd and 6th June; 4th July; 1st and 29th August; 5th September; 3rd and 12th October; 7th and 28th November; and 5th, 8th, 12th, 19th and 26th December.

PLAZA DEL CONDE DE BARAJAS

CUESTA DE CLAUDIO MOYANO PLAZA TIRSO DE MOLINA

CALLE SERRANO

4544

opening tiMeS

desk of the nearest Tax Free Office or at any other of the international offices.

• You can also send your refund cheques via mail, these must be duly stamped by Customs, indicating the account number of your credit card and the tax refund will be credited to your credit card in the currency of your choice.

Participating Tax Free Companies:

• Tax Free Shopping Global Refund www.globalrefund.com | b 900 435 482

• Tax Free Shopping Premier www.premiertaxfree.com | b 915 756 497

• Tax Free Spain Refund www.spainrefund.com | b 915 237 004

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Page 26: Madrid Guide

In and around calles Toledo, Mayor, Sego-via and Cava Baja, in addition to the great selection of restaurants, there are also a good number of quiet bars where you can enjoy a peaceful chat and a drink before starting your night. Those who are into ha-ving a good time will not be disappointed either given that this area is home to an endless array of cocktail bars and discos.

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Travelers to Madrid probably already know that this is one of the most vibrant and ani-mated capitals in the world, both during the day but especially at night. Until the early hours, discos, jazz lounges, pubs, bars playing live music, flamenco theatres, ta-verns, cocktail bars and eccentric venues that are virtually impossible to categorize, open their doors – especially on weekends – to a pleasure-seeking public looking to have a good time.

And when the spring arrives, the party atmosphere moves to the streets that become peppered with terraces and open-air cafés.

MaDriD nightSOn the ground floor of the Europe Tower and along the Avenida de Brasil there are pubs and discos that are frequented by people from all walks of life. This particular area as well as the Paseo de la Castellana is renowned for being home to some of the most exclusive bars and restaurants that Madrid has to offer.

A large selection of cocktail bars and restaurants. Given their close proximity to the university, they are often frequented by students.

Plaza de Santa Ana is home to some of Madrid’s most traditional bars and pubs. Calle Huertas and the surrounding area has the highest concentration of cocktail bars, pubs and discos of anywhere in Ma-drid, and is therefore one of the most lively areas of the city. This enclave is frequented by all kinds of people, but especially by tourists and foreign students.

MaLaSaña

aLonSo MartÍnez - BiLBao MonCLoa - argÜeLLeS

People from all walks of life meet in the Plaza del Dos de Mayo and the surroun-ding area where there are various live mu-sic venues, especially of the rock variety. During the 1980s, this area was the home to the infamous movida madrileña.

The Plaza de Alonso Martínez is home to a variety of bars and terraces. In the su-rrounding area you can also find pubs and discos and these are mostly frequented by the younger generation.

ChueCa

SoL-Latina

huertaS

Behind calle Fuencarral and as a natural progression of the street life, both day and night, Chueca is one of the most genuine and cosmopolitan neighbourhoods in the centre of Madrid: The Madrid Soho. In recent years, this neighbourhood has be-come a point of reference for the gay and transsexual collective and is one of the most vibrant and entertaining neighbour-hoods of the Madrid nightlife.

Each year on the last Saturday of June or the first Saturday of July, the streets play host to the Gay Pride Celebrations and for a whole week the neighborhood is filled with a party atmosphere, full of colour and celebrations.

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Live MuSiCMadrid’s nightlife is one of its great appeals, and is renowned world-wide. A contributing factor to the city’s reputation is the Associa-tion of Live Music Venues, under the wor-king name La noche en vivo (Live nights), which includes more than 45 venues from both the city and the Madrid region. Not to be missed live sessions where all types of musical styles, and audiences can be found, where you can listen to the rising stars of the future, as well as to groups and singers who have already made a name for themselves but who nevertheless have not forgotten the venues that first launched their careers.+info: www.lanocheenvivo.com

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the MuSeuM of aviation (AERONAUTIC AND ASTRONAUTIC MUSEUM)

The Museum houses over 100 planes as well as uniforms, medals, engines, model airplanes and other aviation artifacts, and amongst its collection you will also find some rather unique pieces: the Vilanova-Acedo, the old-est plane in Spain; the “Jesús del Gran Poder”, with which captains Iglesias and Jiménez crossed the South Atlan-tic in 1929; the German bomber Hein-kel He 111 E-1 and the C-19 autogyro (precursor to the modern helicopter), designed by Juan de la Cierva, that first took to the skies in 1932.

h Autovia A-5, km.10.5 518 / 521 / 522 / 523

k Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 2pm. Closed Monday and throu-ghout August.g Free entryb 91 509 16 90+info: www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es

angeL nieto MuSeuM

Madrid is proud to have a museum dedicated to this formidable mo-torbike racer who won three world titles. This is a must-see for all mo-torbike aficionados.

h Avenida del Planetario, 4f Méndez Álvarok Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 6pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Closed Monday and throughout August.g Free entry for childrenb 91 468 02 24+info: www.motocra.com/museo-angelnieto.htm

atLétiCo De MaDriD MuSeuM

The Atlético de Madrid Museum is recognized as one of the top-five football museums in the world. A trip to this museum allows visitors to dis-cover in greater depth the legendary history of one of the major century-old clubs in the world.

h Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, 67 (Vicente Calderón Stadium, gate 23)f Pirámidesk Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm. On match days from 11am until the start of the match.b 91 365 09 31 / 902 260 403+info: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com

MuSeuM of vintage airpLaneS in fLight

A collection of historic planes that was started in 1984 and includes 23 examples of 17 different models of plane that represent 60 years of Spanish aviation history and are in perfect flying condition.

nationaL LiBrarY MuSeuM

The museum houses artifacts relating to the National Library’s history, its functions, and its major collections, complemented by a tour through the history of literature and writing and the spreading of knowl-edge thanks to the written word.

h Paseo de Recoletos, 20f Colón / Serranok Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 2pm. Closed Monday.g Free entry b 91 580 77 59 / 78 23+info: www.bne.es

Home to collections from different ethnic groups from the five continents, as well as a physical anthropology collection. These are artifacts that reflect the eco-nomic activities, clothing and ornaments, domestic life, their belief system... The major part of the permanent collection comes as a result of expeditions and trips by Spanish explorers and scientists in the 19th and 20th centuries.h C/ Alfonso XII, 68f Atocha / Atocha Renfek Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 8pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 3pm. Closed Mondayg Free entry Saturdays from 2pm to 8pm and all day Sunday.b 91 539 59 95 / 91 530 64 18http://mnantropologia.mcu.es

nationaL MuSeuM of anthropoLogY

anDén Cero (pLatforM zero)Platform “0” houses an essential part of Madrid’s industrial heritage: the history of the Madrid metro system and its important role in stimulating the economy and a catalyst for social change within the city. It also shows the advances in civil engineering, technology and architecture, as well as the start up of the design and ad-vertising industry.

h Chamberí Train Station (Plaza de Chamberí)f Iglesia / Bilbaoh Engine Yard (C/ Valderribas, 49)f Pacíficok Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 7pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 2pm. Closed Mondayg Free entryb 902 444 403+info: www.esmadrid.com/anden0 www.metromadrid.es

WhaT exacTly dO We dO WITh

The kIds Is a frequenTly asked

quesTIOn by parenTs When vIsITIng

MadrId, buT IT Is True TO say ThaT

each year The nuMber Of acTIvITIes

specIfIcally desIgned WITh The lITTle

Ones In MInd has Increased. acTIvITIes

ThaT cOMbIne bOTh educaTIOn and

play and ThaT allOW parenTs TO

enjOy fun acTIvITIes WITh TheIr

chIldren Or In The cOMpany

Of OTher chIldren

TheIr OWn age.

h Cuatro Vientos Airport, hangar nº 3 483 / 486 / 487

k Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 2pm. Closed Mondays. Air display of vintage planes on the first Sunday of each month, excluding the months of January and August.g Free entry b 91 508 08 42+info: www.fio.es

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5352

Opened in 1982, the museum’s aim is to

conserve and exhibit the ma-chines and materials (modern and not so modern) that have been used over the course of history by the different departments of the Fire Brigade.

h C/ Boada, 4f Buenos Airesk Monday to Friday from 10am to 1:30pm. Closed throughout August.g Free entryb 91 478 65 72

MuniCipaL fire BrigaDe MuSeuM

WaX MuSeuM

The museum is home to wax replicas of major celebrities both past and present. It also recreates famous historic events and settings.

h Paseo de Recoletos, 41f Colónk Monday to Friday from 10am to 2:30pm and from 4:30pm to 8:30pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holi-days from 10am to 8:30pmb 91 319 26 49+info: www.museoceramadrid.com

the CitY MuSeuM

The City Museum allows visitors an in-depth look at the evolution of Madrid from a historical perspective from its early days right up to the 20th century with urban planning design, monuments, cus-toms and traditions, etc.

h C/ Príncipe de Vergara, 140f Cruz del Rayok Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am to 8pm. Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm.g Free entryb 91 588 65 99+info: www.esmadrid.com/museosdemadrid

the raiLWaY MuSeuM

Located inside one of the oldest Train Sta-tions in Madrid, the museum houses one of the most comprehensive collections of railway objects and artifacts in Europe, comprising steam, diesel and electric en-gines, passenger carriages, as well as ar-ticles related to the history of the railways.

the geM anD MineraL MuSeuM

The goal of the Gem and Mineral Museum is to conserve, research, and promote the richness and diversity of Spain’s geo-logical, paleontological, and mineralogical heritage through its major collections of minerals, rocks and fossils from around all regions of Spain and from the former colonies, as well as mineral deposits of special significance.

h Paseo de las Delicias, 61f Deliciask Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Closed throughout August.b 902 228 822+info: www.museodelferrocarril.org

h C/ Ríos Rosas, 23f Ríos Rosask Monday to Sunday and public holidays from 9am to 2pm.g Free entryb 91 349 57 59+info: www.igme.es

CoSMoCaiXa MaDriD

h C/ Pintor Velázquez, (Alcobendas)f Marqués de la Valdaviak Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm. Closed Monday (excluding public holidays).g Free entryb 91 484 52 00+info: www.fundacio.lacaixa.es/centros/cosmocaixamadrid_es.html

nationaL MuSeuM of SCienCe anD teChnoLogY

The museum houses an important col-lection of gadgets and devices that date back to the Renaissance period and il-lustrate the history and evolution of sci-ence and technology, with special focus on what was happening in Spain.

nationaL MuSeuM of naturaL SCienCe

The National Museum of Natural Sci-ence administers a large collection of specimens, and runs a series of exhibits and educational activities aimed at the general public. The common goal is to heighten the public’s awareness the great diversity of the natural world.

h C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2f Gregorio Marañónk Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 6pm. Saturdays from 10am to 8pm (excluding July and August – open from 10am to 3pm). Sundays and pu-blic holidays from 10am to 2:30pm.b 91 411 13 28+info: www.mncn.csic.esOpen

Mondays

Open Mondays

Open Mondays

h Paseo de las Delicias, 61f Deliciask Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and from 4pm to 6pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 2:30pm. July and Au-gust: Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 3pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 2:30pm. Closed Monday.g Free entryb 91 530 31 21+info: www.muncyt.es

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ratón pérez houSe & MuSeuM

Located in the very house where Father Co-

loma, author of Ratoncito Pérez (the Spanish

equivalent of the tooth-fairy) based the sto-

ries of this famous and beloved character.

h C/ Arenal, 8 –1º

f Solk Mondays from 5pm to 8pm. Tuesday to

Saturday from 11am to 2pm and from 5pm

to 8pm. Closed Monday mornings, Sundays

and public holidays. Free entry for children.

b 91 522 69 68+info: www.casamuseoratonperez.com

reaL MaDriD MuSeuM

The Bernabeu Stadium Tour allows visitors to access some of the traditionally restricted areas of the stadium: the trophy room, the pitch, the Presidential Box, the players’ tun-nel, the benches and the changing rooms.h C/ Concha Espina, 1 (Santiago Berna-béu Stadium, gate 20)f Santiago Bernabéuk Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10:30am to 6:30pm. On match days, tours are stopped 5 hours prior to the scheduled kick-off.b 902 311 709+info: www.realmadrid.com

MaDriD funfairRides, shows and street entertainers. The facilities also include a kid’s zone with rides specially designed with smaller children in mind.

h Casa de Campof Batánk Open from midday. Closing time de-pendent on available daylight so this may vary depending on the time of year.b 91 463 29 00 / 902 345 001+info: www.parquedeatracciones.es

MaDriD zoo & aQuariuM

This comprehensive zoo has some 500 species of animal from the 5 continents with 6,000 samples; but it also has a large aquarium that specializes in tropi-cal marine life. There is also a dolfinarium that puts on some incredible displays by these very intelligent mammals.

h Casa de Campof Casa de Campok Open all year round. Closing time de-pendent on available daylight so this may vary depending on the time of year.b 902 345 014 / 91 512 37 70 / 91 512 37 80+info: www.zoomadrid.com

iMaX MaDriD

The world’s most advanced movie pro-jection systems (Imax, Omnimax and Imax 3D). Incredible screens that literally envelope viewers and make them the star of the show.

h C/ Menesesf Méndez Álvarok Open all year round with morning, afternoon and evening sessions.b 91 467 48 00+info: www.imaxmadrid.com

faunia (MaDriD BioLogiCaL park)

A nature and biodiversity them park di-vided into different themed areas, the most notable being the largest polar eco-system in Europe.

h Avenida de las Comunidades, 28f Valdebernardok Open all year round from 10am. Clo-sing time dependent on available daylight so this may vary depending on the time of year.b 91 301 62 10+info: www.faunia.es

Warner theMe park MaDriD

Five different themed areas with rides, shows, games, restaurants and shops, with characters from the world of Warner.

h San Martín de la Vega (A-4 dual car-riageway, exit 22)f C3 to Aranjuez, getting off at the “Par-que de Ocio” stop (trains leave from the Atocha Train Station)

412 (departs from Plaza de Legazpi)k Open from March until January. Ope-ning and closing times vary depending on the time of year.b 902 024 100 / 91 821 12 34+info: www.parquewarner.com

MaDriD pLanetariuM

The main goal of the Planetarium is to reconnect visitors with the Cosmos and to strengthen the bond by educating in-dividuals on the fundamentals of astron-omy in an easy to understand format that is suitable for all ages.

h Avda. del Planetario, 16 (Enrique Tier-no Galván Park)f Méndez Álvarok Tuesday to Friday from 5pm to 7:45pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11am to 1:45pm and from 5pm to 8:45pm. Summer (June 23rd –September 23rd) Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 1:45pm and from 5pm to 7:45pm.b 91 467 34 61 / 91 467 38 98 +info: www.planetmad.es

the DeBoD teMpLe

A gift to Spain from the Egyptian State in

1968 in appreciation for the help given in the

salvaging of the Abu Simbel temples. Con-

struction on the temple began in the 2nd

century B.C. and continued throughout both

the Ptolemaic and Roman times.

h Pº del Pintor Rosalesf Ventura Rodríguez / Plaza de España

Open Mondays

k Tuesday to Friday from 10am to

2pm and from 4:30pm to 6:15pm.

Saturdays and Sundays from 10am

to 2pm.g Free entryb 91 366 74 15+info: www.esmadrid.com/museosdemadrid

MadrId has a nuMber Of greaT places Where The WhOle faMIly can have

fun TOgeTher.

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The cable-car is a great opportunity to get a

very different view of Madrid. The crossing takes visitors 40m off

the ground and reach-es speed of 3.5 m/s.

h Paseo del Pintor Rosales

f Argüellesk Opening and clo-sing time dependent on available daylight.

b 91 541 11 18+info: www.teleferico.com

MaDriD SnoWzone

This is the only indoor ski slope in Spain and the largest in Europe. Located at the Madrid Xanadú Shopping and Recrea-tional Centre.

h Madrid Xanadú Shopping Centre. A-5 dual carriageway exits 22 and 25 (Arroyomolinos).

528 / 534 (departs from Príncipe Pío)f Batánk Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 10pm. Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to midnight.b 902 361 309+info: www.madridsnowzone.com

DreaMS iCe paLaCe

1,800m2 ice rink.

h C/ Silvano, 77f Canillask Skate rink (closed for the summer): Wednesday and Thursday from 8:45pm to 10pm. Friday from 5pm to 11:30pm. Saturday from midday to 3pm and from 5pm to 11:30pm. Sundays and public holidays from midday to 3pm and from 5pm to 10pm.b 91 716 01 59+info: www.palaciodehielo.com

CarLoS Sainz Centre (kart & BuSineSS)

A 3,000m2 racetrack, technically very advanced and safe, with a built-in real-time timekeeping system.

h C/ Sepúlveda, 3 (Barrio Art Decó Re-creational Centre)f Puerta del Ángelk Monday to Thursday from 6pm to 11pm. Fridays from 6pm to midnight. Sa-turdays from 11am to midnight. Sundays from 11am to 11pm.Junior drivers (8-14 years, minimum hei-ght 1.30m): Monday to Friday from 6pm to 8pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11am to 5pm. Drivers un-der 18 years of age must be accompa-nied by an adult. All drivers 15 years old and above must show ID.b 902 170 190+info: www.kartcsainz.com

roWBoat rentaLS

On the lakes at the Retiro Park and at the Casa de Campo, visitors can enjoy a peaceful row or a trip on a small launch, and on many weekends it is the perfect venue for most wa-ter sports.

• THE RETIRO LAKEh El Retiro Parkf Retirok Open every day from 10am until sunset.b 91 574 40 24+info: www.madrid.es

• CASA DE CAMPO LAKEh Paseo Embarcadero, 8 (Casa de Campo)f Lagok Open every day from 10am until sunset.b 91 464 46 10+info: www.madrid.es

Water parkS

• AQUÓPOLIS - SAN FERNANDO DE HENARES

h San Fernando de Henares (A-2 dual-carria-

geway, km. 15.5)k June to September from midday to 7pm. July

and August from midday to 8pm.

b 91 673 10 13+info: www.aquopolis.es

• AQUÓPOLIS - VILLANUEVA DE LA CAñADA

h Avenida de la Dehesa, (Villanueva de la

Cañada)k June to September from midday to 7pm. July

and August from midday to 8pm.

b 91 815 69 11+info: www.aquopolis.es

CirCo priCe – CirCuS anD theatre

A multidisciplinary cultural arena that is suitable for hosting performances not only linked to the circus, but also to music, theatre, art, in short, any kind of event. A place where the whole family can have fun throughout the year.

h Ronda de Atocha, 35f Atocha / Embajadoresb 91 527 98 65+info: www.esmadrid.com/circoprice

the retiro MuniCipaL puppet theatre

Throughout the year, you can enjoy a

variety of performances in this fulltime

puppet theatre, where both children

and adults can delight in some truly

magical characters.

h The Retiro Park (access via the

Plaza de la Independencia)

f Retirob 91 792 41 12+info: www.tittirilandia.com

www.madrid.es

MiCropoLiX

Recreational park for boys and girls with more than 30 themed areas where chil-dren can experience a hundred different professions through games that are su-pervised by specially trained staff.

h Alegra Shopping Centre. A-1, exit 20. C/ Julio Rey Pastor, 17 (San Se-bastián de los Reyes).f Hospital Infanta Sofía

152Bk Fridays from 5pm to 9pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11am to 8pm.b 91 799 00 00+info: www.micropolix.com

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Madrid is city full of culture, with wonderful monuments, entertainment and great food; but at the same time, it is an ecological and environmentally friendly city. A stroll through the Retiro or Oeste parks, or the Sabatini or Campo del Moro gardens is a pleasurable experience that should not be missed out on.

eL retiro park(see also “Must See Madrid”)

CaMpo DeL Moro garDenSIt owes its name to the fact that on a number of occasions, it was chosen as the place to set up camp by the Muslim armies when besieging the city. It was Queen Isabel II, in 1844, who commissio-ned the creation of a park/garden on the west wall of the Royal Palace, which was when it became the gardens as we know them today. It boasts two famous foun-tains, the Newts Fountain (Tritones) and the Shell Fountain (Conchas), that mark the two ends of the gardens, intertwined with sweeping, rolling paths.h Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, 1f Príncipe Pío

k WINTER (October to March): Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Sundays from 9am to 6pm. SUMMER (April to Sept-ember): Monday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm. Sundays from 9am to 8pm.b 91 454 88 00+info: www.patrimonionacional.es

roYaL BotaniCaL garDenSLocated next to the Prado Museum, it was commissioned by Charles III in 1781, and designed by architect Juan de Villanueva and botanist Gómez Ortega. The gardens currently occupy some 8 hectares of land and are divided into three terraces, the two lower ones, Neoclassical in style (the Square Terrace and the British Schools’ Terrace) and the upper one, Elizabethan Romantic in style (Plan of the Flower Terra-ce). Also worth mentioning, are the functio-nal structures such as greenhouses, the Villanueva Pavilion, the Linneo Pond or the Research and Laboratory building. The gardens are surrounded by magnificent iron railings and can be accessed by ei-ther of the two gates: the Murillo and the King’s Gate, both of which were the work of Villanueva.

The Botanical Gardens are one of the largest in Europe, and received the first specimens of American flora, collected from a herbarium and which included plant specimens from a number of scientific expeditions carried out in the 18th and 19th Centuries. It is a spectacular garden, located in the very heart of Madrid, where you can browse, stroll, learn and delight in nature any time of the year.h Plaza de Murillo, 2.f Atochak Monday to Sunday opening time 10am. Closing time depends on the month: January-February 6pm, March 7pm, April 8pm, May-June-July-August 9pm, Sept-ember 8pm, October 7pm and November-December 6pm.b 91 420 30 17+info: www.rjb.csic.es

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PARQUE DEL CAPRICHO

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the MoLinoS garDenSThe Molinos Gardens date back to the start of the 20th Century. The gardens are well preserved, a shady stream with an almond plantation that boasts a variety of species, protected by deciduous and coniferous woodlands, through which the main paths cross. It still has its two wind-mills, after which it was named, cellars, a rationalist mansion (architecturally one of a kind in Madrid), the Casa del Reloj with courtyards and other farm buildings and a lake.h C/ Alcalá, 527 to 531f Suanzesk from 6:30am to 10pm+info: www.esmadrid.com

Juan CarLoS i parkThis park, the largest green space in Ma-drid, second only to the Casa de Campo, is located in the Campo de las Naciones complex on the site of the century old Hinojosa olive grove, and is considered to be a “puerta de la ciudad” or city gate. The overall design of the park can only be appreciated from the sky and the proximity of Madrid-Barajas Airport means that its general design can be seen from the air. Its design is reminiscent of the growth of a city around an estuary, surrounded by a symbolic wall. It is home to some stunning spots such as the Labyrinth, the Three Culture Garden, the Holocaust Monument, the Anne Frank Tree, or the 19 sculptures that have converted the park into a kind of open-air museum.At the park’s Estufa Fría, visitors can appreciate a plant collection comprising some 220 varieties, divided into 12 diffe-rent zones, each with its own ambience and feel, such as the river bank woodlands

or the Japanese garden. Another highlight, although outside the park this time, is the indigenous Mediterranean garden. h Glorieta Don Juan de Borbón.f Campo de las Nacionesk Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm and from 4pm to 7pm. Saturdays, Sun-days and public holidays from 10am to 7pm (information and bike rentals at the information buildings are the entrance to the Park).b 91 721 00 79+info: www.esmadrid.com

eL CapriCho parkThe origins of the Capricho Park in the Alameda de Osuna district of the city, date back to the latter part of the 18th Century, when the Duke and Duchess of Osuna decided to build their country home on the outskirts of Madrid. This is possibly the most interesting of all Madrid parks, as it is a fusion of three classical types of design (Italian, French and landscape), conserving each of their most appealing and characte-ristic traits, thus fully warranting the name of El Capricho (the whim).The park is also home to a palace, a ball room, a chapel, a stream, a lake, island and small dock, a shrine to Baco (Dionysus), a greenhouse, a 6,000m2 labyrinth made of plants and even has its own beekeeper.h Paseo Alameda de Osunaf El Capricho

105 / 151k WINTER (October to March): Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 6:30pm. SUMMER (April to September): Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 9pm.b 91 588 01 14+info: www.esmadrid.com

MaDriD rÍoThe new Madrid stretches out past the banks of the Manzanares river. There, the riverside has been reclaimed and it can be used and enjoyed by both visitors and inhabitants as a huge green space suitable for long walks and bike rides, and whe-re, in the future, there will also be an area for canoeing and other boating activities. The numerous footbridges over the river, such as the one designed by Dominique Perrault, make it easy to cross from one bank to another, almost without realising it. Madrid Río is one of the most ambitious city planning projects in the world, fo-llowing the rerouting of the Madrid ring road underground. It is a part of the city that has been reclaimed, and now hosts a variety of events, as well as being home to one of the leading cultural venues, Matadero Madrid.

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CaSa De CaMpoKing Philip II purchased the Casa de Cam-po in 1553 and began to develop the large estate that would stretch from the Palace to the Royal Hunting Lodge in El Pardo, until reaching its current size of 1,800 hec-tares. This huge park has not lost any of its woodland features, still wooded for the most part, the veritable lungs of the city of Madrid.In the 20th Century during the 2nd Re-public, it was handed over to the city of Madrid, and it has been used ever since for recreational purposes thanks to its size, proximity and easy access.f Lago / Batán / Casa de Campob 91 479 60 02 (Casa de Campo Environ-mental Information Centre)+info: www.esmadrid.com

SaBatini garDenSThese classicistic gardens with their neatly trimmed hedges are located outside the northern walls of the Royal Palace. They were created in about 1930 on the spot of the former Royal Stables, built by Francis-co Sabatini and part of the service of the Royal Palace.h C/ Bailén, 2 and 4f Plaza de España / Óperak WINTER (October to April): from 9am to 9pm. SUMMER (May to September): from 9am to 10pm.+info: www.esmadrid.com

fuente DeL Berro parkThis former recreational farm is an exce-llent example of naturalistic gardening. Currently, it is home to some unique woo-dland specimens, as well as monuments by Becquer, Iniesta and Puskin.h C/ Enrique D’Almonte, 1f O’Donnellk WINTER (October to March): from 6am to 10pm. SUMMER (April to September): 6am to midnight.+info: www.esmadrid.com

parQue DeL oeSteA park designed at the start of the last century by Cecilio Rodríguez, replete with monuments, landscaped and with English garden traits, with its steep slopes and winding paths, and naturalist in style. The park later grew to include, in a south-eas-terly direction, the Debod Temple Gardens and the Ferraz Gardens, that link the park as a whole with the Carmelitas Descalzas Church and Plaza de España. It is home to a number of commemorative monuments. The Madrid cable car links this edge of the city with the Casa de Campo. It was built in 1906, an initiative of the then Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Aguilera. h Paseo del Pintor Rosales with Paseo de Moretf Argüelles / Moncloa / Ventura Rodríguezk RAMÓN ORTIZ ROSE GARDENS: Monday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm. Opening times are extended during the summer months – 9am to 9pm.b Rose Gardens: 91 548 95 12 / 91 548 95 13 / 91 548 95 14+info: www.esmadrid.com

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SeCret garDenS prÍnCipe De angLona garDenS

The garden, as we know it today, was commissioned by the Marquis of Roma-na to Javier de Winthuysen, painter and garden designer, in 1920. Even with the recent remodelling, it still conserves its original structure. It comprises a series of brick-lined paths that go to create four separate quadrants, and a central intersec-tion where there is a fountain.Small and elegant, the garden is a fusion of neoclassicism elements and Andalusian courtyard, but the main feature being its suspended structure, located on a raised embankment, with the exception of the slo-pe along calle de Segovia, which borders it.h C/ Príncipe de Anglona, 1f La Latinak WINTER (October to February): from 10am to 6:30pm. SUMMER (March to September): from 10am to 8:45pm.+info: www.esmadrid.com

atoCha Station greenhouSeIn the very centre of Madrid is a tropical garden, which, due to its characteristics, its location and its plant life, is the only one of its kind in the world. We are talking about the Atocha Station Greenhouse, which currently comprises 4,000m2 of greenery, and home to a total of 7,200 plants from 500 different spe-cies from the Americas, Australia, Asia and Africa. For these reasons, the greenhouse is no longer merely a place that passengers simply pass through, it is a place where visi-tors can stop to have a rest, read, or simply chat, in a characteristically tropical setting.h Glorieta del Emperador Carlos Vf Atocha RENFE / Atocha

paLaCio De CriStaL De argan-zueLa greenhouSeThe greenhouse is built using a metallic structure, rectangular in shape, and cove-red with panes of reinforced glass, resul-ting in a totally glassed-in building, with an overall surface area of 7,100m2, more than five times the area of the Palacio de Cristal in the Retiro Park. The greenhouse boasts a modern, computerised climate control system and houses more than 1,200 spe-cies of plants, most of which are exotic.h Paseo de la Chopera, 10f Legazpik Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 5:30pm.b 91 588 61 37 / 40+info: www.madrid.es

San iSiDro CeMeterYThe San Isidro Cemetery, built in 1811 alongside the San Isidro Chapel, is the oldest one in Madrid. From inside, you get a breathtaking panoramic view of the city with the Royal Palace as a backdrop. The cemetery surprises visitors with its spectacular beauty thanks to its amazing cypress trees and the 19th Century fune-ral architecture, designed by the greatest architects of their time, with some mauso-leums being veritable shrines that contain carved elements designed and created by some of the greatest sculptors.h Paseo Quince de Mayo, 62f Marqués de Vadillob 91 365 08 41

INVERNADERO DE LA ESTACIÓN DE ATOCHA

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footBaLLIn Madrid, you can watch top class football throughout the year. Real Ma-drid and Atlético de Madrid, both clubs being over one hundred years old, play in the first division of the Spanish Football League. The other Madrid football teams are Rayo Vallecano and Getafe. The Spanish Football League starts in early September and ends in June. Matches are played on Saturdays and Sundays with European competition and the Copa del Rey (the King’s Cup) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

reaL MaDriDSantiago Bernabéu Stadiumh C/ Concha Espina, 1f Santiago BernabéuTicket sales: 902 324 324 and from the stadium ticket-sale counters on match days from 11am onwards (depending on availability of tickets).b 91 398 43 00 / 70+info: www.realmadrid.com

SportShorSe raCing Horse racing at the racetrack takes pla-ce every Sunday during the spring and autumn season. It is located nearby the Monte del Pardo, and is a prefect way to do something a little different with your Sunday mornings. During the summer months of June and July, there are also evening races on Thursday nights.

zarzueLa raCeCourSeh Coruña Dual-carriageway (A-6), km. 8k Open Sundays from 10am to 3pm. Ra-ces start at 11am.b 91 740 05 40+info: www.hipodromodelazarzuela.es

BaSketBaLLreaL MaDriD

Madrid Caja MágicaVistalegre Sports Palace (Manzanares Park)h Avda. Plaza de Torosf Vistalegreb 91 422 07 80+info: www.realmadrid.com

eStuDianteSCommunity of Madrid Sports Arena (Palacio de Deportes)h Avenida de Felipe IIf Goyab 91 258 60 17+info: www.clubestudiantes.com

atLétiCo De MaDriDVicente Calderón Stadiumh Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, 67f PirámidesTicket sales: 902 530 500 and from the stadium ticket-sale counters on match days from 11am onwards (depending on availability of tickets).b 91 366 47 07 / 91 365 09 31+info: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com

raYo vaLLeCanoTeresa Rivero Stadiumh Payaso Fofóf Portazgob 91 478 56 72 / 91 478 22 53+info: www.rayovallecano.es

getafe CLuB De fútBoLColiseum Alfonso Pérezh Avda. Teresa de Calcuta, (Getafe)f El Casarb 91 695 97 71+info: www.getafecf.com

TELEFÓNICA MADRID ARENA

HIPÓDROMO DE LA ZARZUELA

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pLaza De toroS De LaS ventaSA guided tour of the bullring is available to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 2pm, with Tauro Tour Las Ventas (information and reservation number 91 556 92 37).h C/ Alcalá, 237f Ventasb 902 193 166+info: www.las-ventas.com

viStaLegre paLaCe BuLLringh Avda. Plaza de Torosf Vistalegreb 91 422 07 80+info: www.palaciovistalegre.com

BuLLfighting MuSeuMThis museum, opened in 1951, serves as a witness to the great moments in the art and history of bullfighting.h C/ Alcalá, 237 (Las Ventas bullring)f Ventask Bullfighting season (March to October): Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am to 2:30pm. Sundays, public holidays and festivals from 10am to 1pm. Off-season (Novem-ber to February): Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 2:30pm.€ Free entry.b 91 725 18 57

There is bullfighting each Sunday from March until October, but the highlight of the year in the renowned San Isidro Festival, during the month of May when there is bu-llfighting every day with some of the great bullfighters in Spain. Other bullfighting fes-tivals worthy of note are the ones during the “La Feria de Invierno” (Winter Festival)

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Although Madrid is not the birthplace of flamenco, the capital of Spain is considered by many to be the “showcase of flamenco” and any artist wishing to make a name for themselves on the international stage must first succeed here. The city has a number of tablaos flamencos (flamenco theatres). From time to time the city plays host to flamenco festivals or you can enjoy one of the shows performed by some of the great flamenco artists at one the city’s major theatres.

Café De ChinitaSh C/ Torija, 7f Santo Domingob 91 547 15 02+info: www.chinitas.com

LaS CarBoneraSh Plaza del Conde de Miranda, 1f Sol / Operab 91 542 86 77+info: www.tablaolascarboneras.com

CarDaMoMoh C/ Echegaray, 15f Solb 91 369 07 57+info: www.cardamomo.net

CaSa pataSh C/ Cañizares, 10f Antón Martín / Tirso de Molinab 91 369 04 96 / 91 369 33 94+info: www.casapatas.com

CorraL De La MorerÍah C/ Morería, 17f La Latinab 91 365 84 46 / 91 365 11 37+info: www.corraldelamoreria.com

CorraL De La paCheCah C/ Juan Ramón Jiménez, 26f Plaza de Castilla / Cuzcob 91 353 01 00 / 91 353 01 02+info: www.corraldelapacheca.com

eL CLanh C/ Ronda de Toledo, 20f Puerta de Toledob 91 528 84 01+info: www.salaclan.com

fLaMenCo LaS taBLaS

h Plaza de España, 9f Plaza de Españab 91 542 05 20+info: www.lastablasmadrid.com

torreS BerMeJaSh C/ Mesonero Romanos, 11f Callaob 91 532 33 22+info: www.torresbermejas.com

in February, the “Feria de la Comunidad” (Festival of the Community of Madrid) du-ring the first days of May and the “Feria de Otoño” (the Autumn Festival) at the start of October. Tickets can be bought at the Plaza de Toros ticket counters on the very day. For the “San Isidro Festival” it is best to buy tickets beforehand.

Plaza de toros de las Ventas

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praCtiCaLinforMationtouriSt offiCeS

MaDriD touriSM Centreh Plaza Mayor, 27 (Casa de la Panadería)f Sol / Óperak Monday to Sunday from 9:30am to 8:30pm

Centro De turiSMo CoLónh Plaza de Colón (pedestrian passageway

between calles Génova and Goya)f Colónk Monday to Sunday from 9:30am to 8:30pm

pLaza De CiBeLeSh Plz de Cibeles, on the Paseo del Pradof Banco de Españak Monday to Sunday from 9:30am to 8:30pm

pLaza De CaLLaoh Plaza de Callaof Callaok Monday to Sunday from 9:30am to 8:30pm

paSeo DeL arte / art WaLkh Calle Santa Isabel on the corner of Glo-

rieta del Emperador Carlos V (Atocha)b Atochak Monday to Sunday from 9:30am to 8:30pm

MaDriD-BaraJaS airport (terMinaL 4)h Arrival Halls 10 and 11f Aeropuerto T4k Monday to Sunday from 9am to 8pm

MaDriD-BaraJaS airport (terMinaL 2)h Arrivals foyer between arrival halls 5 and 6f Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3k Monday to Sunday from 9am to 8pm

reMote aCCeSS:b 91 588 16 36 | F: 91 480 20 41www.esmadrid.com@ [email protected] Monday to Sunday from 9:30am to 8:30pm

foreign touriSt aSSiStanCe ServiCeS (Sate)

This service aims to provide personalised assistance to foreign tourists who, having been the victim of a crime or having su-ffered some other traumatic experience. Such assistance is provided by specially trained staff from the Madrid Tourist Board and the National Police Force.h Calle Leganitos, 19 (Central Police

Station)f Santo Domingo / Plaza de España /

Callaob infosate: 91 548 85 37 / 91 548 80 08b 24 hour crime line: 902 102 112k every day from 9am to midnight.@ [email protected]+info: www.esmadrid.com/satemadrid

Centro de Turismo de Madrid

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nThe Madrid Card offers cardholders a se-ries of services by establishments partici-pating in the tourist pack promotion, inclu-ding free access to 40 museums (including the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen) as well as discounts in shops, restaurants, recreational centres and car rentals.

points of sale:

· Madrid Tourism Centre. h Plaza Mayor, 27.· Madrid-Barajas Airport. Terminal 4 Hotel Reservations, Viajes Aira.· Madrid-Barajas Airport. Terminal 2 Arri-vals. Metro Madrid Passenger Service Centre.· Main hotels and travel agencies.· “Madrid Visión” buses and ticket desk. Calle de Felipe IV, next to the Prado Mu-seum.· Wax Museum. Paseo de Recoletos, 41.Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Paseo del Prado, 8.· Telesales: b 902 088 908 / 91 360 47 72 (Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm and from 3pm and 7pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm, excluding public holidays).· On-line sales: www.madridcard.com / www.neoturismo.com

Avenida de América Transport hubf Avenida de América

estación sur Bus stationb 91 468 42 00 / 45 11f Méndez Álvaro

h Avenida del Mediterráneo, 49f Conde de Casal

moncloa Transport hubf Moncloa

príncipe pío Transport hubf Príncipe Pío

plaza elíptica Transport hubf Plaza Elíptica

• Alcalá de Henares, 32 Km k 40’

• Aranjuez, 47 Km k 45’• Ávila , 115 Km k 95’• Cuenca, 167 Km k 2h 30’ (N) y 2h (E)• Salamanca, 212 Km k 3h 5’ (standard bus) y 2h 30’ (express bus)

• Chinchón, 45 Km k 55’

• El Escorial, 56 Km k 55’

• Segovia, 87 Km k 90’• La Granja, 99,2 Km k 120’

• Toledo, 71 Km k 75’

b 902 422 242

b 902 198 788b 902 020 052b 902 020 052b 902 020 052

b 91 409 76 02

b 91 896 90 28

b 915 598 955 / 915 413 283

b 902 422 242

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i Madrid Visión Ticket Kiosk in Calle Philip IV, next to the Prado Museumf Banco de Españab 91 765 10 16 / 91 779 18 88+info: www.madridvision.es

The following companies organize tours of Madrid and the surrounding areas:

i Juliatravelh Plaza de España, 7b 91 559 96 05c www.juliatravel.com

i Pullmantur h Plaza de Oriente, 8b 91 541 18 05c www.pullmantur-spain.com

i Trapsaturh C/ San Bernardo, 5b 91 541 63 21c www.trapsatur.com

MaDriD CarD MaDriD viSión organizeD tourS

TOLEDO CUENCA SEGOVIA ÁVILA ARANJUEZ

Station DeStination teLephone

BuSeS to the SurrounDing areaS

7170

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nMadrid presently has two main Train Stations: Atocha and Chamartín. All ma-jor intercity routes depart and arrive at one or the other.

atoCha train StationThis is the arrival and departure sta-tion for the AVE (High Speed Train) that presently has routes to the following Spanish cities: Cordova, Seville, Toledo, Saragossa, Lleida, Tarragona, Barcelo-na, Huesca and Malaga.h Glorieta del Emperador Carlos Vf Atocha Renfe• Information and ticket reservations: 902 320 320• International information: 902 243 402+info: www.renfe.es

In the taquilla último Minuto (or Last Minute tickets), something unique to Madrid, there is a great selection of thea-tre tickets that can be purchased just a couple of hours before the start of the performance, with discounts of up to 50%.

h Plaza del Carmen, 1f Gran Vía / Solk Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm to 10pm.+info: www.taquillaultimominuto.com

Other points of sale for theatre, cinema, exhibition, concert tickets etc.

• Localidades Galicia. h Plaza del Carmen, 1. b +34 91 531 91 31c www.bullfightticketsmadrid.com

c www.elcorteingles.es b 902 400 222

c www.entradas.comb 902 221 622 / 902 488 488

c www.fnac.es b +34 91 595 61 90

c www.servicaixa.comb 902 332 211

c www.telentrada.comb 902 101 212

c www.teatro-real.esb 902 244 848

c www.ticktackticket.comb 902 150 025

c www.topticketline.es b 902 888 788

Although Madrid has a comprehensive network of banks that are located throug-hout the city, the most practical way to take money out is to use a cash dispenser / ATM as these are available 24 hours a

The major celebration in Madrid falls on May 15th, San Isidro’s Day, the Patron Saint of the city, but it is not the only one. Different neighbourhoods have their own celebrations, the most traditional and typi-cal being those of San Antonio de la Florida (June 13th), San Antón (January 17th) or the Virgen de la Paloma (August 15th), during which both the men and women don their traditional chulapos and chula-pas. Other major celebrations are those of Christmas, Carnival and Easter.

During the course of the year there are 14 official public holidays*:

d January 1st: New Year (E)

d January 6th: Epiphany or Day of the Three Wise Men (E)

d March-april: Easter Thursday and Good Friday (E)

d May 1st: Labour Day (E)

d May 2nd: Day of the Community of Ma-drid (A)

d May 15th: San Isidro (Patron Saint of Madrid) (L)

d august 15th: Asunción de la Virgen (E)

d october 12th: Spanish National Holi-day (E)

d november 1st: All Saints Day (E)

d november 19th: Virgen de la Almudena (Patron Saint of Madrid) (L)

d December 6th: Day of the Constitution (E)

d December 8th: Inmaculada Concep-ción (E)

d December 25th: Christmas Day (E)

teLephone anD internet tiCket SaLeSATOCHA

train StationS puBLiC hoLiDaYS

CreDit CarDS

ChaMartÍn train Stationh C/ Agustín de Foxáf ChamartínInformation and ticket reservations: 902 320 320International information:902 243 402+info: www.renfe.es

day. Most cash dispensers offer services in a variety of languages. Generally, if you use a cash dispenser / ATM that is part of a bank other than your own you must pay a small commission.

4Bb +34 91 362 62 00

American express b 902 375 637

servired b 902 192 100

euro-Card/master-Cardb 900 971 231

Visa900 991 216

Visa Japón900 988 142

6000 b 902 206 000

Practically all commercial establishments, hotels and restaurants accept credit cards, but it is always best to carry some cash on you. The older and more traditional taverns and bars only accept payment in cash.

In the case of theft, loss or retention of the card by a cash dispenser, it is best to cancel the card immediately:

* (e) estatal, (a) autonómica y (L) Local.

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The airport metro is line 8 and is the quic-kest service. It takes just 45 minutes to get to the city centre from the airport. The air-port has two metro stations: “Aeropuerto T4”, in Terminal 4, and “Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3” that serves the remaining terminals. Tickets cost €1.00 and the service runs from 6am to 1:30am.The EMT buses (express service) that connect the airport with the city center, departs every 15-20 minutes and take passengers to Cibeles and Atocha. The service runs 24 hours every day and has a especial fare of 2 €.Passengers will also find a notable fleet of taxis at the airport and these take approxi-mately 30 minutes to reach the centre.

b 902 404 704+info: www.aena.es

pointS of SaLe of the touriSt traveL paSS:

• All metro stations

• Traveler Assistance Centre at the Bara-jas-Airport Metro station T1-T2-T3

• Offices of the Regional Transport Con-sortium (www.ctm-madrid.es / 012 / 91 580 42 60)

• In designated tobacconist’s and news-paper stands in Madrid

• In tourism offices: - Madrid Tourism Centre (Plaza Mayor, 27)

- Community of Madrid Tourism Office (C/ Duque de Medinaceli, 2)

- Atocha Train Station (in the AVE foyer)

• At/near tourist attractions

• On-line purchases: www.neoturismo.com

Taxis in Madrid are white with a diagonal red stripe across their front door that also sports the city’s coat-of-arms. There are taxi ranks throughout the city. A green light appearing on the roof of the taxi tells clients that the taxi is available. Supple-mentary charges are added for pick-ups from Madrid-Barajas Airport, bus and train stations as well as from the Juan Carlos I Trade Fair complex.

2010 rateS

sTArT of TrIp (sTArTInG The meTer):

• Every day of the week from 6am to 10pm: €2.05

• Monday to Friday from 10pm to 6am the following day: €2.20

• Saturdays and public holidays from 10pm to 6am the following day: €3.10

SuppLeMentarY ChargeS:

• Journeys originating or terminating in Madrid-Barajas airport, includes anywhe-re within the airport boundaries: €5.50

• Journeys originating in bus and Train Stations, from the specially reserved taxi ranks that are clearly signed: €2.95

• Journeys originating or terminating in the Juan Carlos I (IFEMA) Trade Fair complex: €2.95

• Journeys on December 24th or 31st that terminate between 10pm and 6am the following day: €6.70

no-ChArGe serVICes AnD oBlIGA-TIons of The TAXI:

• Baggage, as long as it fits in the boot/trunk or roof rack.

• Guide dogs or any other pet in a travel cage.

• Receipt (hand-written or printed) showing the NIF, amount, date, license number and number plate.

• Choice of route.

eurotaxis are specially adapted vehicles that are suitable for all publics and are particularly used by the handicapped.

b 91 540 45 03 / 91 371 21 31

taXi CoMpanieS

• Radio Taxi Asociación Gremial. b 91 447 51 80 / 91 447 32 32• Radio Taxi Independiente. b 91 405 55 00 / 91 405 12 13• Radio Taxi Madrid.b 91 547 82 00 / 85 00 / 86 00• Tele-Taxi. b 91 371 21 31 / 902 501 130• Radio Teléfono Taxi. b 91 547 82 00 / 85 00 / 86 00a

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getting arounD MaDriDVisitors to Madrid are always advised to take advantage of the comprehensive pu-blic transport system, especially the metro that offers a cheap and quick way to get around. The underground network, one of the most comprehensive networks in Euro-pe, consists of 12 metro lines, an additional stretch between Opera and Príncipe Pío, as well as 3 Metro-Light lines. The all-year operating times are from 6am to 1:30am (there are certain stations that operate a special timetable). Madrid also offers a comprehensive network of city buses (207 lines in total) that are operational between 6am and 11:30pm.

The cheapest way of getting around the city is to buy what is called a metrobús, a single ticket that is valid for 10 journeys either on metro or bus that must be va-lidated before the start of each journey. These can be purchased in metro stations, tobacconists and at certain newspaper stands. Single tickets can be purchased at metro ticket counters or directly from the bus drivers.

2011 Rates• Single ticket: €1.00• Metrobús (valid for 10 journeys): €9.30

hoW to get to the Centre froM MaDriD-BaraJaS airport

The tourist travel pass allows you to use all public transport networks within the Community of Madrid, as often as you like during a designated number of days: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days. Travelers have the choice of two travel areas:

• Zone A: to be used within the city limits and comprises the services of Metro, EMT de Madrid (buses), “Me-tro Light” ML1 and any suburban rail networks falling within this area.

• Zone T: comprising of all public transport services within the Com-munity of Madrid, as well as prolon-gations of the network to Guadalajara and Toledo, although it not valid on RENFE regional service trains.

CitY tranSport

taXiS

Days Zone A Zone T

1 day

2 days

3 days

5 days

7 days

6.00

10.00

13.00

19.00

25.00

12.00

20.00

25.00

36.00

50.00

2011 rateS

touriSt traveL paSS

7574 50% discount for children under 11.Rates as of December 14th 2009.

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iDAs far as getting around on bike is con-cerned, Madrid offers more advantages than disadvantages: little rain, relatively flat terrain, many pedestrian areas, etc.

Passengers are allowed to travel on the Metro with their bicycles on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays throughout the day and evening. This service is availa-ble on all lines; and during the week (Mon-day to Friday) from 10am to 12:30pm and from 9pm until the service terminates.

The Cercanías renfe suburban train net-work also allows passengers to travel with their bicycles every day of the week, exclu-ding rush hour. Passengers are recommen-ded to check rush hour travel restrictions on the internet (www.renfe.es/cercanias).

Bikespainh Plaza de la Villa, 1b 91 559 06 53c www.bikespain.info

Bravo Bikeh C/ Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, 19.b 91 758 29 45 / 607 44 84 40c www.bravobike.com

By Bikeh Avda. de Menéndez Pelayo, 35.b 902 876 483c www.bybike.info

Ciclos oteroh C/ Segovia, 18-20.b 91 547 32 25c www.oterociclos.es

The best and most pleasant way to dis-cover Madrid’s most characteristic areas such as Hapsburg Madrid, or equally inter-esting areas but off the beaten track is to stroll through its streets and squares. You will discover some of Madrid’s many se-crets, and when we say Madrid, we mean the many facets of this charming city: ha-ppy and caring, dynamic and modern, cosmopolitan and welcoming; a single city with a multiplicity of characters.

And to make things even easier, the Ma-drid Tourist Board, through its Discover Madrid Programme, has put together a va-riety of guided tours that will allow visitors to discover the city in a host of different languages (Spanish, English, French, Ger-man, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese).

h Plaza Mayor, 27 (Madrid Tourism Centre)f Sol / Óperak Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 8:30pm. Saturdays from 11am to 5pm. Sundays from 9:30am to 3pm.@ [email protected]+info: www.esmadrid.com/descubremadrid

Motos & Bikes.h C/ Príncipe de Vergara, 24b 645 267 180c www.motosandbikes.es

pangeah C/ Melilla, 10.b 91 517 28 39c www.rutaspangea.com

27 Bikesh C/ Alcalde Sainz de Baranda, 16b 91 573 06 92cwww.27bikes.com

trixih C/ Jardines, 12.b 91 523 15 47c www.trixi.com

urbanMovilh Plaza de Santiago, 2.b 91 542 77 71c www.urbanmovil.com

MaDriD on Bike for peDeStrianS

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hPlaza Mayor, 27fSOLcwww.esmadrid.com