22 Feb Must-see sights in Madrid
Are you coming to Madrid and don’t know what to visit? Madrid is a big city that hides many cultural and historical wonders but here we leave you a selection of the must-see places to visit, we hope you like it and that you enjoy your visits!
Palacio Real
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest in Western Europe and is the most important building linked to the monarchy in Spain. It was built with granite and white stone and its 135,000 square metres hold great relics such as works of art by Sabatini, Tiepolo, Velázquez, among others, and many corners with a lot of history behind them.
Apart from the wonderful palace itself, we also recommend visiting the Royal Carriage Museum, the Royal Armoury and the Sabatini Gardens.
Gran Vía
The Gran Vía was built in sections between 1910 and 1929 and was the symbol of modern urban planning in the city. Along its 1,360 metres you can see large theatres, fashion shops, cinemas, restaurants and remarkable buildings such as the Capitol Cinema and the first skyscraper in Madrid (the Telefónica building).
Parque del Retiro
El Retiro is considered to be the lungs of Madrid and was inaugurated in 1868. It is one of the most beautiful parks in the city and is home to several points of interest that make this park even more special: Palacio de Cristal, formerly used as a greenhouse and now home to temporary exhibitions, artificial pond where you can rent rowing boats, Monument of Alfonso XII on the banks of the pond, and the Paseo de la Argentina (Statues) where there are statues dedicated to the Spanish monarchs originally intended to decorate the Royal Palace.
Puerta del Sol
This is the most visited, busiest and best known square in Madrid. It can be said that it is the geographical heart of Madrid, as it is the location of the kilometre zero plaque that marks the beginning of all the national roads. It is also home to the old Casa de Correos (Post Office), which has the famous clock that strikes the chimes on New Year’s Eve.
Templo de Debod
This temple is a piece of Egypt in the city. Its construction began in the 2nd century BC. and was sent to Madrid when Egypt built the dam, due to the city’s contribution to the salvage of the Nubian temples. It was transported by separate stones and rebuilt again here in the city, opening to the public in 1972.
This unique monument can be visited and is surrounded by gardens where you can walk around and enjoy the wonderful views of the city.
Plaza Mayor
The great Plaza Mayor was inaugurated in 1620 for the purpose of holding popular festivals, official events and bullfights, among others. The square suffered several fires and modifications until it reached its current form and has been a place of great influence in history and literature. In the centre is the statue of Felipe II, King of Spain, who was transferred to Madrid in the early days of the great square. The most emblematic buildings in this square are the Casa de la Carnicería and the Casa de la Panadería. Nowadays, it is one of the most vibrant areas of the city and is admired for all the history it has behind it.