Gran Via and popular spots in Madrid
As the capital of Spain, Madrid boasts of a rich cultural and artistic heritage. This is perhaps most evident in the Prado museum, the most prestigious of the three museums that form the so-called Golden Museum Triangle, as follows:
Museo del Prado
Located at Paseo de Prado in Salamanca, the Prado is considered one of the world’s most important art galleries. It was built in 1785 as a museum of natural history and was converted into a repository of Spain’s royal art collections in 1819. The Prado now has over 7,000 works, including fantastic collections of Spanish painting from the 17th and 18th century. These include outstanding paintings from renowned Spanish artists, including Velasquez’s famous La Meninas; Goya’s so-called Black Paintings and The Third of May 1808, Caravaggio’s David with the Head of Goliath and many others. Many art lovers visit Madrid specifically to view these paintings. It’s best to visit the Prado over several days as its magnificent collection of artworks can be overwhelming.
Reina Sofía National Museum and Art Center
The second museum in the Golden Museum Triangle, the Reina Sofia contains the city’s best collection of modern art from the 20th century, including the 1980s. Its masterpieces include the works of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Vassily Kandinsky and Salvador Dali. The museum’s most famous piece is the Guernica by Picasso. Reina Sofía is located at Plaza Santa Isabel 52, Atocha
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum of Art
Located at Paseo del Prado 8, Las Letras, the Thyssen-Bornemisza is a popular art gallery among foreign tourists. It has one of the best private collections of European art in the world, including works from all the heavyweights, including Bacon, Degas, Goya, Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh, and others. The art collections span three floors. The second floors has the oldest paintings from the private collection of Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Aside from the Golden Museum Triangle, Madrid hosts other great museums such as the National Archeology Museum, Museo de Lazaro Galdiano, Real Academia de Bella Artes de San Fernando, and Museo de América.
Some of the other popular places of interest in Madrid include the following.
Palacio Real
The Royal Palace is huge and one of the most symbolic and elegant buildings in Madrid, with outstanding architecture and a wealth of artistic treasures within. Contrary to popular belief, the royal family does not live here, although the palace is certainly fit for a king with 30 rooms, 44 stairways, 240 balconies, 870 windows and a huge courtyard on its 100,000 square meters. Palacio Real also encompasses the Royal Armory, two floors of medieval armor and weapons.
Plaza Mayor
This is Madrid’s most popular plaza and a must-see sight of any tourist’s visit. Over the years, it has been a venue for symphonies, tournaments, bullfights and even executions. One of the most impressive sights on the premises is the statue of Felipe III fronting the elegant Casa de la Panadería.
Puerta del Sol
Considered as the heart of the city, this plaza is one of Madrid’s busiest areas and host of one of Madrid’s familiar symbols: a statue of a bear climbing a madrono tree. Puerta del Sol is also the location of Kilometer Zero, the starting point for measuring the length of national highways. During every New Year, the celebration at Puerta del Sol is aired on television throughout Madrid.
Gran Vía
This is Madrid’s main street and one of the busiest avenues in the capital. Gran Via actually means “Broadway” but the street more closely resembles Times Square in New York. There’s a lot to see on the street but it is sometimes overshadowed by traffic jams. It’s not unusual to see a traffic jam here at 3 or 4 a.m. Gran Vía also hosts the city’s main cinema district.
Cantabrico Hotel
