Belarus / 29.02.2024

What to visit in Madrid during the day. Self-guided route through the main attractions of Madrid. El Retiro Park

Madrid, located almost in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, is worthy of attention, even if it is not the main destination of the trip. Do you only have one day for the examination? You can feel the atmosphere of the greenest city in Europe, the capital of passionate flamenco and fiery bullfighting, in 24 hours, the main thing is to plan your route correctly.

The first point of the journey isAirportMadridBarajas- the largest in the country. It is located almost 15 km from the central part of the metropolis. Usually international flights are accepted at Terminal 4, but if you find yourself in the first or second, you will have to ride to the fourth to collect your luggage on a special free green bus.

fast, by taxi for 30 Euros, usually these are white cars with red stripes on the front doors (you can order a taxi using this link, and a driver will meet you at the airport and take you to the center),
economical, by express bus for 5 Euros, which goes to Atocha station with two stops, travel time is about half an hour,
budget, but with transfers, on the metro, one of the longest in Europe. Take the pink line 8 to the Nuevos Ministerois station, where you change to the 10 (blue) line, pass three stations to Tribunel, take the blue line (number 1), get off through one at Sol station, ending up in the heart of the Spanish capital. From here you can take a walking tour of the most remarkable tourist spots in Madrid

You can read more about public transport in Madrid.

Puerta del Sol

Square Puerta del Sol Its significance is comparable to Red Square in Russia. This is the starting point of tourist routes and all roads in Spain; kilometer zero is located here. The name translates as gate of the sun. It is always crowded. Notable area:

the clock on the building where the post office used to be located, they are as symbolic as our chimes;
a large number of shops and living statues;
fountain;
the main monument adorning the capital’s coat of arms is the Bear, which stretches towards the strawberry tree (El Oso y el Madrono). Tourists try to rub his paw, whoever can reach it.

Having received your first impressions, you should turn your back to the clock building and turn left, choosing the second intersection to find the largest square in the capital.

Plaza Mayor

The parade ground is framed by massive, ancient buildings. It is decorated with a royal statue on a horse. It is always noisy here, there are a lot of tourists, musicians, and artists. In early May, concerts are held there for a week. The first floors of the square and adjacent streets are occupied by restaurants where you can try jamon or sweet churros (sticks with chocolate fried in oil). By the way, one of the three tourist centers is located on it, where any information is available, a free map of the city. Address: Plaza Mayor, 27. Not far from the square, life is in full swing at the market ( Plaza de San Miguel), which is worth a visit to snack on local delicacies and eat fruit.

Calle Mayor

The square is connected to the San Miguel market by a street Calle Mayor, one of the most popular in Madrid, maintaining a special atmosphere. Pay attention to house 52, on the roof of which an angel crashed and the building at number 61, the narrowest in Madrid. The width of the house is only five meters. In addition to architectural delights, numerous cafes with local delicacies and souvenir shops attract attention. Go to the ancient Plaza de la Ville. It is decorated with the ancient town hall and the Luhanes Tower. Once you've thoroughly enjoyed the old-world spirit, continue down the stairs along Calle del Cordon to Segovia and the Royal Street.

Calle de Bailen (Royal Castle and Cathedral)

Balientesno Street is associated with the life of the reigning monarchs. In a majestic Catedral de la Almudena The wedding of the royal couple took place. Admission is formally free, but you are asked to leave a euro as a donation. The cathedral is associated with Royal Palace a large area with a beautiful panoramic view. You won’t want to leave this place right away; plan more time, deciding for yourself: to admire only the appearance or spend a couple of hours in the royal chambers.

To be fair, it is worth noting that Palacio Real, designed in Baroque and Rococo styles with elements of oriental culture, is not the permanent residence of the royal couple. Monarchs come here for significant events or for ceremonial receptions; the rest of the time the palazzo is open to tourists.

Take note! On Wednesdays and in the last hour and a half before closing, entrance to the palace is free; at other times, the cost of the tour is 10 euros. Audio guide is paid separately. On the ground floor you will get acquainted with a voluminous library, an armory with life-size figures of horsemen, and a pharmacological museum. Enjoy the frescoes as you climb the stairs. Three main places on the second floor that interest travelers:

luxurious throne room
mysterious hall of mirrors
fragile porcelain room

After a walking, educational marathon, it’s nice to take a break in the parks near the palace, there are two of them: the clearly structured Sabatini Gardens (Jardines de Sabatini) and the more democratic Campo del Moro park with ponds, paths and peacocks. Or immediately go into the underground passage, which will lead strictly diagonally to Don Quixote and his faithful friend.

Plaza de Espana And Calle Gran Via

Plaza de España decorates monument to Cervantes with the above-mentioned figures of popular literary heroes. This is where Madrid's main shopping street, Gran Via, starts, where you can feel the rhythm of the modern city in the best possible way. Calle Gran Via, which translates as a big road, is the place where all transport routes intersect. Ancient buildings are replaced by skyscrapers. After admiring the shops and having a snack in a cafe, turn onto Alcala street through the beautiful Plaza de Cibeles, Paceo del Prado (pay attention to the Estacion de Atocha station, turned into a greenhouse inside), to Plaza de la Lealtad. Lealtad Square attracts the Ritz and is the largest Prado Museum. Of course, you can’t walk around it in a few hours or a day, but you will get a general idea or just admire the building.

For reference: the museum has been operating since the 19th century, is considered the largest in the world, and is famous for its collections of works by Spanish, Italian, and Dutch painters. On Monday it is closed to the public, on other days the last two hours before closing at 20.00 (three hours on Sunday) – admission is free. The Spanish Hermitage is adjacent to the contemporary art gallery Museo Thyssen Bornemiza. Try the restaurant next to the gallery, where they serve special meatballs, potatoes with garlic sauce, pickled anchovies and many other tasty things.

It is convenient to go to the airport again from the Sol metro station, returning to Puerta del Sol.

If you have time and energy left, pay attention to two more attractions:

Farc Retiro (Retiro Park) , an entire city block is dedicated to it. It has cozy alleys of strawberry trees, fountains, ponds with boat rentals. Address: Plaza de Las Cortes, Principe de Verda or Ibiza metro station (line 9).

Stadium football club Real (Santigo Bernabeo Stadium), it is most convenient to get to it by tourist bus or by metro on the blue line (10) to the station of the same name.

A trip on the double-decker Touristic Bus will make things much easier for lazy tourists who want to get to know Madrid in one day. They run along two routes (historical and modern city), intersecting with each other. Having bought a ticket for 24 hours, you can freely move around the city on them, choosing the place you like or take a sightseeing tour. It usually takes no more than one and a half hours. The cost of the Madrid Card, which includes discounts to more than 40 museums, is 47 Euros, Madrid Vision - for travel only - 16 Euros.

Madrid, even if you come to it for one day, will leave an unforgettable impression. It will captivate you with its unique atmosphere, magnificent architecture, and exquisite cuisine, so much so that you will want to return, get to know each other better, get to the suburbs: the Mills of Don Quixote and other interesting places.

A walk through the historical center of Madrid can be planned something like this: Start from Puerta del Sol, from there in a northwest direction along Calle del Arenal you can go to the Church of San Ginés (iglesia de San Ginés), which is one of the oldest places of Christian religion in Madrid. Behind this church is the San Ginés chocolate bar, also […]

A walk through the historical center of Madrid can be planned something like this:

Start with an area Puerta del Sol, from it in a northwest direction along the street Arenal (Calle del Arenal) you can go to the church San Guinness (iglesia de San Ginés), which is one of the oldest places of Christian religion in Madrid. Z

and this church houses a chocolate bar San Gines– also a temple, but for chocolate lovers. Particularly good are chocolate con churros – strips of donuts that are deep fried and dipped in hot chocolate. Paying tribute to donuts, by Calle Mayor you can go to Plaza Mayor (plaza Mayor), where to turn west and go down, where the historical square Villa (Plaza de la Villa) with beautiful old buildings. Walking further along the street, on the left side you can see Casa de Cisneros.

Check out my detailed guide to Madrid at →.

At the end you can cross the street Sacramento (Calle del Sacramento), go down the stairs and along the stone-paved street Cordon walk to the street Segovia, where the tower will meet you Mudejar which refers to the church San Pedro El Viejo, built in the 15th century.

Having reached Costanilla de San Pedro, you can see the wonderful Straw Square (Plaza de la Paja) and from there down the alley La Moreria go outside Baylen(Calle de Bailén), where you can admire the beautiful, although very expensive, street cafe terrazas, which are comfortably located in Vistillas Gardens. It’s a good place to take a break after a long walk, drink beer (cerveza) and walk along the street Bailén (Calle de Bailén) go, passing the cathedral and the Royal Palace, to the amazingly graceful Eastern Square (Plaza de Oriente)‎.

If you go to its western side, along the widened Baylen street you can reach Plaza de España (Plaza de España), which is surrounded by monumental towers. One of the main streets in Madrid begins on the eastern side of Plaza España. Gran Via, similar to the Parisian Boulevard Heismann. Walking past the graceful facades of the houses, past the dome of the Metropolitan building where Gran Via meets Alcalá, you can go down the hill and end your walk in the circular square Cibeles (Plaza de la Cibeles).

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Madrid is a metropolis from which you initially do not expect anything supernatural. This is not Barcelona with its fantastic Gaudi architecture, not the intricate Moorish Granada, not the stone medieval Cuenca hanging on a rocky cliff, and not the multicolored Seville, the city of the most passionate flamenco.

Madrid is unlikely to become your favorite in Spain, unless you are a fan of crowded streets and bustle, inherent in all capitals of more or less impressive size. Yes, here all this is softened by a lazy and long siesta, but the city still lives in a pulsating and dynamic rhythm, among cars scurrying back and forth, high-rise offices and fast food.

However, this is Madrid, this is amazing Spain, which means there is plenty to admire here and you won’t get bored. Especially if you only have 2-3 days, as was the case in our case. I will try to plot for you the optimal route that will lead you to the main attractions and demonstrate what this temperamental southern city is proud of.

Excursion around Madrid. Start - Puerta del Sol

It is believed that you should start putting together a complex puzzle of Madrid streets, parks, temples, galleries and roads from Puerta del Sol (Plaza of the Sun). , we settled 5 minutes from here and, having checked into our room at about 19.00, we saw the central square for the first time at the height of the fun. Every evening Puerta del Sol makes noise, dances and sings, and this carefree chaos continues until dawn.

I remember how amazing it was to go out early in the morning onto a small openwork balcony and, after the night’s roar, to hear complete silence, only occasionally interrupted by random passers-by. Madrid is still sleeping: the cats stretch sweetly in the windows, and even the sun's rays still glide through the houses lazily, slowly, as if half asleep... The Square of the Sun in the morning is also different: everyday people in suits rush through their everyday offices, idle tourists look at the map and plan a route , and Mickey Mouse, Darth Vader and other characters are preparing for a new working day...

Here are located: the ancient post office building, the zero point where all Spanish roads begin, a monument to King Charles III, as well as the symbol of Madrid - the Bear and Strawberry Tree monument. They say that previously, on the site of the city, there was a huge strawberry grove and there were many shaggy bears. You will see this symbol everywhere in Madrid: it decorates manholes, slabs, sidewalks...

Madrid: what to see on the way to the Royal Palace

Next, our path lies towards the Royal Palace. It’s interesting to see where His Majesty lives, isn’t it? Now, when the sun has not yet risen high, it is not painful to look at it yet and the city has not turned into a stuffy concrete jungle, walking along the wonderful buildings, looking at the fancy windows, roofs, old facades, bas-reliefs and signs is a real pleasure!

Along the way there are several more squares. Photogenic ancient buildings attract attention in Plaza de la Villa: the town hall and the houses of wealthy owners, some of which were used as academies. Right there stands an important lord, whom we, in the simplicity of our souls, initially mistook for the famous monument to Cervantes. But later it turned out that Cervantes, along with his famous characters, were awarded a much more impressive monument. And this is the brave conqueror of the seas Don Alvar de Bazan.

Plaza Mayor is also nearby. A beautiful area the color of Burgundy wine. Once upon a time, people here watched royal ceremonies, knightly tournaments and bullfights from numerous balconies. This square has seen a lot in its lifetime... Next to Plaza Mayor there is a place where we have been drawn for a long time: a real Spanish market. Always, while watching travel programs, we lick our lips at all these fresh and delicious sea creatures caught in the southern seas.

Madrid San Miguel is more of a tasting place than a market in the classical sense. Of course, everything can be purchased here, but the prices are considered too high, “for tourists.” Therefore, it is better not to come here for bulk purchases, but you can and should try local delicacies, quality snacks, seafood, jamon, drinks, sweets, and exotic fruits here. My eyes are wide open! Moving from counter to counter, you can try whatever you want in small portions: very convenient, profitable and tasty!

Secrets of the Madrid court and the main attractions of Madrid

Having properly refreshed ourselves, we return to the road from which we turned onto Plaza Mayor, and after 10 minutes we find ourselves at the magnificent Royal Palace. Built in the 18th century, it is still the official residence of monarchs. True, the current king does not live here - he only comes to participate in official events. According to the guidebook, the total area of the premises, including basements, reaches 100,000 m2. The palace has 2000 rooms, 240 balconies, 870 windows, 110 front doors and 44 staircases. Not only is it the largest building in Madrid, it is also the largest of all the royal palaces in Europe.

You can take a glance at the life of the monarchs and try to unravel the “secrets of the Madrid court”: some rooms are open to the public from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 18.00, and on Sundays and holidays from 10.00 to 15.00. Ticket price: 8 euros. We didn’t go in because we’re not particularly fans of palace interiors. But later, after looking at the photo of the interior decoration, I regretted it. The Madrid Palace is truly worth seeing; its halls are rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and richest in Europe.

There is an information center nearby where you can purchase a detailed map of attractions. We will still need it! Opposite the Royal Palace is the Eastern Square (Plaza de Oriente), decorated with sculptures of the first Spanish monarchs. Here, in the shade of spreading plane trees, to the sounds of a Spanish guitar, it is cozy and relaxing. While we were relaxing and chewing juicy peaches, our Timokha got acquainted with the local kids at the site located right next to the Plaza de Oriente.

And if we go a little further forward, we will come out to the Square Spain, where, against the backdrop of impressive high-rise buildings, the monument to Cervantes and his heroes rises no less impressively. Beautiful performance! This is exactly how I imagined the “knight of the sad image” and his faithful squire.

Where to relax in Madrid: parks and... train station

If you turn right from here, towards the Royal Palace and climb up the hill, you will find yourself in a beautiful park, among palm trees and colorful magnolias. And in the middle of the park is a real Egyptian temple, which is about 2000 years old! Government Egypt donated it to Spain in gratitude for its help in saving Nubian antiquities that fell into the flood zone of the Aswan hydroelectric power station. The temple was carefully dismantled, transported to Madrid and reassembled on an island in the center of a specially made reservoir.

A little life hack: it’s better to come here when it gets dark. Then the temple is beautifully illuminated, and a magical view of the city at night opens from the hill. Needless to say, how romantic a picnic on the grass in the evening royal park is, in the light of the stars, when palm trees rustle quietly overhead, fountains shine, and the ancient temple shimmers mysteriously in the darkness... So, how to spend a perfect evening in Madrid, you already know.

In the meantime, from Plaza Espanya we are heading towards the Retiro Park, beloved by the Spaniards - there is simply no better place to escape the midday heat. This park is worthy of a separate blog, I will tell you about it next time. Getting to it from our previous point is not difficult: you need, without turning anywhere, to walk through the shopping center of Madrid: the busiest street, along high-rise buildings, restaurants and theaters (maps and signs along the way will tell you more). It’s noisy, crowded, hot, but it’s all the more pleasant to then dive into the green coolness of the park!

And across the street from Retiro Park is Atocha Central Station, which is definitely worth a visit even if you don't have to go anywhere. It would seem: well, the station and the station, what’s interesting about it? This is one of the largest train stations in the world and is home to a huge tropical garden. The greenhouse, pigeons, palm trees, turtles - all this delighted our Timokha! Here you can observe the habits of turtles, you can buy interesting children's books, you can try very tasty ice cream and, in the end, just enjoy the freshness and coolness. During the day in Madrid you won’t find this everywhere, let me tell you!

Prado Museum: tickets, prices, impressions

And the last place today that it would be a shame not to see while in the Spanish capital is the Prado Museum. It can also be reached on foot. It is located a 20-minute leisurely walk from Retiro Park at the address: Paseo del Prado s/n. 28014, metro Banco de España, Atocha. I won’t say that my husband and I are passionate about painting, rather the opposite. Of all the types of art, this is the one that is least close to us. But the Prado is a treasury with a rich collection of Spanish, Italian, Flemish and Dutch masters, where even people as far from painting as we are will be interested.

Construction of the museum lasted more than 20 years under the leadership of the Spanish architect Juan de Villanueva. The first collection consisted of more than 300 paintings; now there are over 6 thousand paintings, more than 400 sculptures and works of jewelry. El Greco, Diego Velazquez, de Goya, Van Dyck, Raphael - can you really resist these names? Therefore, after waiting until Timofey fell asleep in the stroller, we, of course, headed to the Prado.

A ticket to the Prado Museum costs 14 euros (with an audio guide - 23). But it turned out that after 18.00 entry is absolutely free! It was about 16.30 and, of course, we were pleased with the prospect of saving money. We went to a restaurant nearby for a bite to eat, walked through a nearby park, and looked into a Toledo souvenir shop. By the way, Toledo, the ancient capital, is a city of incredible beauty and is located very close to Madrid. Alas, we were not able to visit it, but if you are in Spain, I highly recommend it.

By 18.00 we returned to the Prado Museum. Of course, they guessed there was a catch, so they weren’t particularly surprised by the huge queue. But while we were confusedly wondering whether to take a turn or come tomorrow and pay for the entrance, the administrator approached us. Oh joy: it turns out that small children are allowed in without a queue! So, thanks to our beloved baby, in a matter of minutes we received 3 coveted tickets absolutely free of charge!

You can’t take photographs inside, so I can’t show you the masterpieces stored there. But we are certainly impressed! The 2 hours spent in the halls of the museum flew by completely unnoticed. Timofey, upon waking up, also looked at the paintings very enthusiastically, asked hundreds of questions and singled out his favorites. He especially liked one of the models of ancient temples, and he really wanted to “play with the house.” (I had to explain that dad would then have to work for this house until the end of his days.) Just, if you are there with children, do not take them to Goya: his dark images are so vivid, real and delightful that even an adult feels uneasy .

The museum has a souvenir shop where you can buy all kinds of little things with reproductions of paintings. Then we sat for a long time near the museum, discussed, remembered, shared emotions from what we saw... These paintings have very powerful energy: I didn’t think that painting could cause real catharsis in me. Finally, inspired and tired, we head home. The clock strikes 20.00, and wonderful Spanish dolls appear out of nowhere, dance, bow in all directions and wish passers-by a good evening. Well, how do you like Madrid? He still has something to surprise you with!

To be continued.

Discussion

Puerta del Sol :) Madrid is still not famous for its ports.

El Oso y el Madrono

The image of the Strawberry tree and the bear adorns the coat of arms of Madrid. It's nice to see the sculpture live. It is not large-scale, it stands on a granite rectangular pedestal. You can pet the bear's paw. It was moved in 2009, I think, and now it stands in Puerta Del Sol at the entrance from Alcala Street.

Plaza Mayor

From Puerta del Sol square we move to the left (if you stand with your back to the clock tower). If you turn left on the second or third street, you get to Plaza Mayor. It is somewhat similar to the Place des Vosges, just as closed on all sides. But in the center there are not lawns with grass, but a paved street. In the middle there is an equestrian monument. If you are in Madrid in May, then in the square you can listen to a number of concerts in honor of the patron saint of Madrid, Saint Isidro (his day is celebrated on May 10, and festivals are organized during the week before and after this date). There are restaurants in the galleries on the ground floors; you can dine at tables set out on the square. There are no museums on the square, so it's just an interesting point on the walk map.

Chocolateria San Gines

From Puerta del Sol, walk along Arenal Street to the current San Gines Church, turn left and then walk along a narrow street and end up at the magical sign of the San Gines Chocolate House. This is said to be the oldest churreria in Madrid. Churros are sticks that are made from dough similar to our crumpets and fried in boiling oil. The dough is a little bland, so they sprinkle it with powdered sugar, and most importantly, they serve thick hot chocolate, where you need to dip the churro before eating it.

Decorated in the style of an old Parisian bistro. There are always a lot of people there, however, there is always a table in the basement room. Compared to prices in Spain, on average, “coffee + snack” is inexpensive here. A cup of chocolate with six churros costs €3.80.

San Miguel Market

The market is different from what you see at Boqueria in Barcelona. It is not to buy groceries, but rather to try different tapas, have a snack, eat seafood, sweets and fruits. The benches are small. Dogs are not allowed inside. There are not many tables, but you can continue your walk with bags of food.

Wander through the streets

After the market, return to Calle Mayor and continue to Plaza Villa. On it, turn off and walk down the narrow street (Calle del Cordon) at the first intersection, look back, see the Mudejar tower, take photographs of the nameplates to collect a collection, and go down the steps of the street to Calle Segovia. Honestly, you can wind your way through whatever streets you like, the main thing is to get to Calle Segovia and go right. Something important awaits you there.

Bailen Street Viaduct

An incredible bridge that allows Bailen Street to pass over two hills. I highly recommend going there. It is difficult to take photographs there, since on both sides the viaduct is covered with large plastic transparent panels. The bridge was a favorite place for suicides, and city authorities had to take action. The view from it of the Serra de Guadarama mountain range is stunning.

On Bailen Street is located one of the “youngest” cathedrals in Spain. It was consecrated by the Pope only in 1993. Admission is free; you just need to donate one euro. The current royal couple of Spain were married in this cathedral.

Panorama and Royal Palace

The next building after the cathedral is the active Royal Palace. You can get into some of the chambers, entrance is 10 euros, plus an audio guide for four. Dogs are not allowed there.

But what I like most is the square between the cathedral and the palace, and the panorama that opens from it. It's breathtaking. When I was there for the first time, it was at sunset - I wrote to Sestrik in a text message that I would die right here from such beauty. You can sit on the steps of the cathedral and look at the Sierra forever.

Campo del Moro park

There is a lot of greenery around the palace. Just behind the northern facade begin the Sabatini Gardens, named after the Italian architect who built the royal stables, previously located on the site of the park, in the 19th century. This is a regular park, with clear forms and trimmed bushes. Deliberately artificial, in my opinion.

And if you pass it and go down the hill, you will find yourself in the Campo del Moro park. You can definitely take a walk here. It has paths, ponds, streams, peacocks and some other birds walk around. On a hot afternoon, there is no better place; the crowns of the trees are reliably shielded from the sun’s rays. But you can’t go there with dogs.

It is important to note that for some reason Google Maps in Russian calls the entire park area next to the Royal Palace the Sabatini Gardens. And this is not true. The Campo del Moro park has a separate entrance, at the foot of the slope above which the palace rises. You can't get there through the Sabatini Gardens.

* Madrid travel guide is not complete. Information will be added.

Madrid weather:

Getting to Madrid:

Madrid is conveniently located in the center of Spain, so there are many trains from different regions of Spain. High-speed trains connect Madrid with, and Malaga. Madrid's main station is called Atocha.

There are also plenty of intercity buses (buses remain the most common form of transport in Spain), which are usually a slower option than trains but also cheaper.

View Madrid:

If you intend to actively explore Madrid or travel by tourist bus MadridVision, then buy it at tourist offices MadridCard- it gives the right to free visits to 40 museums, free use of public transport, significant discounts in shops, restaurants, clubs, etc. (1 day - 28 €, 3 days - 55 €) www.madridcard.com.

You can also purchase in offices PaseodelArtTicket, which provides significant discounts on visits to the three main Madrid museums (Prado, Reina Sofia Center, Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection). Many museums are open for free on Sundays and Saturday afternoons (although this results in a very large crowd of visitors). There are also annual museum passes.

Sights of Madrid and routes around the city:

Tourist route: Old Madrid

Puerta del Sol

The best place to start your walk in Madrid is Puerta del Sol(Puerta del Sol), irregular square, intersection of 8 streets. She is considered the "heart of the Marid"; indeed, both day and night the square is filled with people; there are many cafes and bars where both Madrid residents and tourists spend almost all their time. The name of the square is associated with the “Sunny Gate” that once stood at the entrance to the city; Later, several churches were built on the square.

These days, the main structure on Puerta del Sol is the building Government of Madrid(Communidad de Madrid). This imposing brick building on the south side of the square was built in the 1760s. under Carlos III under the leadership of the French arch. Marche is like a post office. Since 1847 it was occupied by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 1931, it was from the balcony of the ministry that the Second Republic was proclaimed. During the Franco dictatorship, the police headquarters was here, and many unpleasant stories and terrible legends are associated with this building by the people of Madrid. In 1963, Communist X. Grimau jumped out of the window of the top floor of the police, miraculously survived, but was soon executed.

The turret, added in 1866, houses the most famous Madrid clock; like the Moscow chimes, on New Year's Eve they give the signal for the beginning of the holiday. According to Spanish tradition, while the clock on Puerta del Sol is striking, you must swallow twelve grapes.

The zero kilometer is marked on the pavement in front of the government building, from which all Spanish roads and the numbering of Madrid streets begin.

In the center of the square there is an equestrian statue of Carlos III (1992), and on the corner with Calle del Carmen (Carmen Street) there is a bronze symbol of Madrid, « OsoatelMadrono» (1967), a she-bear near a strawberry tree (the name of the tree is associated with the shape of its fruits, reminiscent of strawberries).

Explaining the origin of this symbol is difficult; it appeared back in the 11th century. and still adorns the city's coat of arms.

Plaza Mayor

From Puerta del Sol, Calle Postas leads to another famous and older square in Madrid, the.

Just north of Puerta del Sol, on the Plaza de San Gines is located Church of San Gines(Iglesia de San Gines, XIV century, open during services), where paintings by El Greco are exhibited.

The entire area west of Puerta del Sol is called "", or "" - in memory of the royal dynasty that ruled Spain until 1700, when Philip V of Bourbon ascended the throne. By order of one of the Habsburgs, Philip III, it was planned (the equestrian monument of Philip III is installed in the center of the square).

Plaza Mayor received its name, the “main” one, at the beginning of the 16th century, after the reconstruction of Arrabal Square, which had previously been located here. Then the pavement was paved with stone, three-story houses with arcades were built - in 1620. A large square area was opened. In 1853 it was reconstructed by the architect. X. de Villa Nueva. In the XVI-XVIII centuries. Plaza Mayor really was the center of the city: there was a market here, bullfights were held, verdicts were announced, and public executions were held. The square served as the starting (or ending) point of religious processions and carnivals. Philip V, Fernando VI, Carlos IV were declared kings here, and ceremonies dedicated to the canonization of St. Teresa, St. Ignacio, St. Isidro et al.

The square can be accessed from nine adjacent streets - the entrances are decorated with arches.

The main and most beautiful building of the square is Casa de la Panaderia(Casa de la Panaderia, lit. . "bakery"), standing on the north side. The bakery itself was located on the ground floor, and from the second floor balcony, standing next to the colorful frescoes adorning the walls, members of the royal family usually watched the events that took place below.

On the opposite side of the square stands Casa de la Carniceria(Casa de la Carniceria, letters"butcher shop"), a former butcher shop, and now an administrative building.

Palacio de Santa Cruz

From the Plaza Mayor you can exit through the southeastern arcades onto Calle de Atocha (Atocha Street) and, after walking a few blocks, see Palace of Santa Cruz(Palacio de Santa Cruz, apx. X. Gomez de Mora, Baroque, 1620-1640s), now owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was built for judicial institutions and a prison for noble persons.

Catedral of San Isidro

After going around the palace, you can find yourself on Calle Concepcion Jeronima (Concepcion Jeronima street), which will lead to the former cathedral Cathedral of San Isidro(Catedral de San Isidro, Baroque, XVII). This huge building is not very interesting from an architectural point of view, but is very revered - an image of St. Isidro, patron saint of Madrid. The church is open until late in the evening and is always full of people.

To the west of the church, between Calle Toledo (Toledo Street), Calle Sacramento (Sacramento Street) and Calle Mayor (Mayor Street) there are ancient quarters in which several interesting buildings have been preserved.

Near Calle Segovia (Segovia street), in the former Arab quarter of Moreria, stands Church of San Pedro el Viejo(Iglesia de San Pedro el Viejo, XV), built on the site of a former mosque, and the bell tower was converted from a minaret.

There is an ancient square next door PlazadelaPaja(Pakha Square), which faces the façade Episcopal Chapel(Capilla del Obispo), the only Gothic building in Madrid.

Calle Sacramento

On Calle Sacramento stands basilicaSan- Miguel(Basilica de San Miguel, Baroque, XVIII), next to it, in Panecillo (trans. Panecillo) - archbishop's palace(Palacio del Arzobispo, baroque).

Walking from the palace to Calle Mayor, you will see one of the main Madrid markets in Plaza San Miguel, Mercado de San Miguel(Mercado de San Miguel) - it is located in a building of the 19th century. with forged openwork columns.

On the neighboring Plaza de la Villa (Villa Square) there is city hall(Casa de la Villa, apx. X. Gomez de Mora, 1640). Here on the square there are preserved Luhanes Palace(Palacio Lujanes, XV), built in Arabic style, and Renaissance Casa de Cisneros palace(Casa de Cisneros, XVI).

Calle Mayor

Continuing your walk along Calle Mayor, turn onto Calle San Nicolas (San Nicolas Street) - here stands the oldest Church of San Nicolas de los Servitas(Iglesia de San Nicolas de los Servitas, Tue-Sat 06.30-20.30, Mon closed), built in the 11th century. on the site of the mosque. Many details of the temple indicate Arab influence, including the horseshoe arches. The church hosts an exhibition dedicated to Islamic Madrid.

Calle Mayor ends in front of the main temple of modern Madrid - Nuestra CathedralSenora de la Almudena(Catedral de Nuestra Seriora de la Almudena). Its significance is evidenced by its proximity - the temple is located next to the royal palace. The construction of this huge classicist structure began in the 1880s, but was completed only a century later. On June 15, 1993, the temple was consecrated by Pope John Paul I. The initiator of the construction was King Alfonso XII - he wanted to bury his first wife Maria de la Mercedes there, who revered the Madonna Almudena. The cathedral houses a sculpture of the Madonna of Almudena (XVI).

A little south of the cathedral, in a small park, you can see sections of the fortress wall built by the Arabs in the 9th century. Royal Palace(Palacio Real, Calle de Bailen, m. Opera) stands on the top of a green hill; From its windows and terraces there is an amazing view of the lower part of the city, where the Manzanares River flows. In the 9th century. an Arab fortress (alcazar) was built on this site, later replaced by a castle. In 1734, the castle burned down, and King Philip V began the construction of a royal palace in the Italian Baroque style (the original design was developed by H.B. Sacchetti). Construction was completed only 30 years later, and Carlos III solemnly entered the palace. In 1931, after the abdication of Alfonso XIII, the royal family left the palace; now it is used for ceremonial state receptions, a museum is opened here, but the king himself lives outside the city, during Zarzuela Palace(Palacio de la Sarzuela).

The palace is huge. Its total area, including basements and underground premises, is 100 thousand m2. About 50 rooms are open to visitors. The most interesting are: the throne room with two gilded thrones, the “porcelain” room, the ceiling and walls of which are decorated with porcelain, the dining gallery with beautiful trellises, the royal armory, where a collection of medieval weapons is displayed, and the pharmacy with antique dishes and books of royal recipes.

Campo del Moro

Behind the palace, on the slopes of the hill, in the 19th century. by order of Queen Maria Cristina, gardens were laid out Campo del Moro(Campo del Mogo). Their unusual name “field of the Moor” is due to the fact that at the beginning of the 12th century. Emir Ali bin Yusuf's camp was located here. The gardens are decorated with flower beds and fountains.

On the opposite side of the palace, at the main eastern entrance, in 1811 there appeared PlazadeOriente(Oriente square). By order of Joseph Bonaparte, the space around the palace was cleared, and residential buildings, monasteries and churches approaching the building itself were demolished. In their place, statues of the kings of Spain were erected - initially they were planned to be installed on the roof of the palace, but the figures turned out to be too heavy.

In the center of the Plaza de Oriente there is a statue of Philip IV.

Opposite the palace is Royal Theater(Teatro Real, 1850), built under Isabella II. In 1997, the theater reopened after a lengthy restoration and is now given over to the Madrid Opera.

Monasterio de la Encarnacion

North of the theater, on the Plaza de la Encarnacion, there is an active Augustinian Encarnacion Monastery(Monasterio de la Encarnacion, apx. J. Gomez de la Mora, Wed-Sat 10.30-12.30, 16.00-17.30, Sun 11.00-13.30, Mon, Tue closed), founded by the wife of Philip III Margaret in 1611. Facade of the monastery, imitating the Church of San José in Avila, served as a model for many Madrid churches. The temple houses a collection of religious paintings and sculpture from the 16th-18th centuries. and a very revered vessel with the dried blood of St. Panteleimon; According to legend, every year, on July 27, the day of the saint's death, the blood becomes liquid - and if this does not happen one day, terrible troubles will fall on Madrid.

Walking another block north, you will find yourself at Plaza Marina Espanola, where there are two interesting buildings - Palace of the Senate(Palacio del Senado, XVI), which belonged to the Augustinian monks, and is now transferred to the Senate of Spain. Opposite it is located Grimaldi Palace(Palacio Grimaldi, apx. Sabatini, Baroque, 1776), owned by the Marquis Grimaldi.

Not far from the palace, on Calle Torija (Torija street), there is Reparadoras Monastery(Monasterio de Reparadoras, apx. V. Rodriguez, XVIII), created for the Supreme Court of the Inquisition.

Plaza de Espana

In the XVIII-XIX centuries. here stood the barracks of the soldiers guarding the royal palace. The square, the most important transport hub of the city, acquired its current appearance in the middle of the 20th century: on its northern side a multi-storey building of the Spanish government appeared, and on the southern side - a concrete tower madrid(Torre de Madrid). Installed on the square monument to Cervantes- the same symbol of Madrid as the bear from Puerta del Sol. The monument is a huge obelisk on the shore of a reservoir; at the foot of the obelisk there is a figure of the writer, and below are Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales

If you still have time and energy, we recommend walking along Gran Via, one of the main streets in Madrid, towards Puerta del Sol. At Plaza San Martin (San Martin Square) there is an interesting Monastery of Descalzas Reales(Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, 10.30-12.45, 16.00-17.45, Fri 10.30-12.45, Sun 11.00-13.30, closed Mon). It was founded by Juana of Austria, daughter of Charles V. for aristocratic women who wanted monastic privacy. In 1556, the ancient Gutierrez Palace was converted into a monastery; later it was rebuilt several times. Nowadays there is a museum here, where the richest collections of paintings, icons, and carpets, donated to the monastery by the queens and princesses who lived there, are exhibited. The founder of the monastery, Dona Juana, is buried in the temple.

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What to visit in Madrid during the day. Self-guided route through the main attractions of Madrid. El Retiro Park