On one of Madrid's squares
Some of the oldest structures in Madrid are churches. You can admire the Franciscan Monastery of Descalzas Reales (16th century) and Torre de San Nicolás (14th century). These temples are located near the main attraction of Madrid – the Royal Palace, built in 1737-1764. This residence of Spanish monarchs is rightfully called one of the most beautiful royal palaces in Europe. The palace has over 200 halls and chambers, on the walls you can see Spanish and Flemish tapestries and paintings by such masters as Goya, Bosch, Velázquez, El Greco. Just to see these paintings, you can buy plane tickets to Madrid.
The Royal Museum of Prado is open, where you can see priceless masterpieces of painting – canvases by Rubens, whose work is represented by 80 paintings, Rembrandt ('Artemisia'), Bosch ('The Garden of Earthly Delights'), Titian ('Emperor Charles V at Mühlberg'), Dürer, and many other Spanish and foreign masters.
The Queen Sofia Museum of Modern Art was opened in 1986 and is dedicated to Spanish art of the 20th century. It exhibits paintings by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and other modern artists. The most famous painting in the museum is Picasso's 'Guernica'.
You must not miss visiting the famous Puerta del Sol square, whose name can be translated as 'Gate of the Sun'. This square is the heart of Madrid, as it is located in its very center. It is from here that road distances in Spain are measured. In this square you can see the monument 'Bear and Strawberry Tree', which is a cult landmark and symbol of the city's culture. Also located here is one of the first stations of the Madrid metro.
There is another place worth visiting in Madrid – the Eastern Square (Plaza de Oriente). In its center stands a statue of King Philip IV on horseback. Interestingly, the horse on which Philip IV sits rests only on its hind legs. It was Galileo Galilei who helped resolve the difficulties associated with erecting the monument – he calculated the center of gravity of this original statue.
Everyone who is young at heart and soul can visit the Amusement Park, created in 1969. Especially children will love the numerous carousels, walks through a transparent maze, rides on cars disguised as animals, pony rides and much more. There are also attractions for adults. So if you don't yet know where you will spend your next vacation, you won't go wrong by ordering airplane tickets to Spain.
One can also note the beautiful park ensembles of Madrid, especially the Retiro Park with its elegant Crystal Palace and the Campo del Moro garden, which is laid out in front of the Royal Palace.
In Madrid there is a huge number of hotels and hostels, so everyone can find something depending on their wishes and financial capabilities. If you want to stay in a 5-star hotel, you can choose Villa Real, located near Puerta del Sol square. The building is decorated with paintings and marble floors. On Paseo del Prado, near the Thyssen, Prado and Queen Sofia museums, is the Paseo del Prado hotel. The building of this hotel was built in the 19th century, and the windows offer views of the square's fountains.
If you want something simpler, you can stay at the San Lorenzo hostel, located in the city center. In this hostel you can rent a car or bicycle to make exploring the city even more convenient.
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