Madrid Things to Do Tips by LysDor

The PRADO Museum Prado Museum Review

The Prado Museum is Spain's finest Museum, and one of the best in Europe. Inside this neoclassical building you can find over 3,000 paintings.

It has a formidable collection of Italian masterpieces, with works of Titian, Raphael, Tintoretto and Botticelli.

A great collection of Flemish masterpieces - my main interest - with works of Van Dyck, van der Weyden, Peter Breughel the Elder and Rubens.

But the best part of the museum is the Velazquez and Goya section.

We took a whole morning to visit our planned flemish & belgian painters and some of the most famous spanish ones as it is not possible to do the museum at once.
So, plan in advance which sections you want to see and remember here too "less is more", lol!

Be prepared to be x-rayed at the entrance and leave all your belongins. You are allowed to take pictures but without flash.

Some of my pictures can be found in my travelogue.

BULLFIGHTS Bullfighting Review

This is certainly NOT for the light-hearted as all bulls are killed but it didn't do anything to me. I even enjoyed all the colorfull bullfighters costumes and how gracefully they did their moves - almost like a ballet!
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Bullfighting terms

Muleta A small red cloth stretched over a stick (Palo)
Capote The red cape
Paseillo The parade of fighters at the beginning
Corrida A Bullfighting show
Espada The matador's sword also called the ESTOQUE
Matador The top bullfighter
Novilladas Beginners fights
Rejoneadores Horse-mounted fighters
Toril Enclosure for the bulls
Picador Fighter to weaken the bull
Banderillas Barbed darts on coloured shafts placed into the bull's shoulders
Puntilla A dagger that is stabbed into the base of the bull's skull
Puerta grande The main door to the arena
Gradas Highest seats at the back of the ring (cheapest seats)
Barreras Front seats
Sol/Sombra Sun/Shade - the choice as to where you sit
Plaza de Toros Bullring

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PLAZA DE TOROS DE LAS VENTAS Bullfighting Review

This is the entrance to the bullfight-arena.

==> Find more pictures of the corridas in my travelogue - I think there were at least 8 different ones.

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NOTICE: This doesn't mean I fully support bullfights as I know how much bulls suffers beforehands (I wont go into that here but several articles can be found on the cruelty done to these animals on the internet) but one has to keep in mind that this is part of Spanish heritage and has to be considered as such! Beside, the bull is killed fairly quickly when entering the arena.

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Website: http://www.las-ventas.com

The ROYAL PALACE Royal Palace Review

We didn't go inside, we just strolled in the colorful gardens

Address: Former King's Residence

La ALMUDENA Cathedral Almudena Cathedral Review

The works did not start till 1883, though. Finally in 1993, the cathedral of Madrid was consecrated!

It's dedicated to the Virgin of la Almudena.

Neptune Fountain Fuente de Neptuno Review

This spectacular white fontain can be seen at "Plaza Canovas" just in front of the Museum thyssen.

The legend says that Neptune - also known as Poseidon - son of Cronos and God of the sea - had to compete against Minerva to rule over Athena.
Jupiter said that the one who will create the most usefull object will rule. So Neptune created horses and thought he'd won as everyone could imagine which usefull object would Minerva be able to create after the horses - symbol of war. But she did, she created an olive tree - symbol of peace - and won!

Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor Review

More facts:

Juan Gómez de Mora gave it its rectangular form, and after it had suffered three fires Juan de Villanova completed the work in 1853 by joining the four sides.

The square has been called Plaza Mayor since the 15th century, but was built on the site of the old Plaza del Arrabal and served as a market square until the late19th century.

Address: Main square of Madrid

Directions: Metro Sol & Opera

Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor Review

Some facts:

This majestic square was originally planned by Felipe II and his architect Juan de Herrera, but was inaugurated in1620 during Felipe III's reign, whose statue sits proud in the very centre of the square.

Address: Main square of Madrid

Directions: Metro Sol & Opera

Plaza Mayor Plaza Mayor Review

In my opinion, this square is the most beautiful as it is small, full of cafés & terraces in summer.

A great place to start the day with a nice cup of coffee or pop-in a tapas bar in the evening.

Address: Main square of Madrid

Directions: Metro Sol & Opera