Madrid Things to Do Tips by Carmela71

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia Reina Sofia Museum Review

Here you can find a permanent collection of Spanish contemporary art, also lots of temporal exhibitions

My favourite here is the Guernica, whenever i go, I can not stop discovering details.

I am not much a paint lover, I prefer architecture (love buildings), but some art pics here, deserve a visit.

You can visit for free on Sundays till 14.00

Also you can pass to the patio and stay there for free, Nice place to seat and read, having a bocata, while doing time for the train as Atocha is in front.

Address: Santa Isabel, 52. Metro: Atocha

Directions:

Lets go back our steps until the corner with a McDonals and at our left we will find the Parlament and the way back to Puerta del Sol

Phone: Tel: 91 467 50 62

Puerta del Sol Puerta del Sol Review

This is one of the busiest places in Madrid

You can find revindications, manifestations or just people doing some tourist, people going to shops.... Always Always crowded...

The photo is the building called Casa de Correos and now the head quarters of the Community of Madrid's Autonomous Government

See the carillon on the top? here is where you have to be for New Year eve, even if you may not hear it as well as on TV lol

Also visit around the important monuments on the square, km 0, the oso y madro?o, the statue of Carlos III and ops I never remember the name of the other one lol

I am trying to get all the tips in an itinerary logic order, but always the route are up to the person.

From here head to the next tip:

PLAZA MAYOR

Spanish Parliament

El Palacio del Congreso, coming from Plaza del Sol in direction to Gran Via to visit the Thysen Musseum or the Prado one, dont be surprise if you see all blocked by police, just in front the Palace hotel, is not Beckam seriously, is only all the ministers and politicians going to do their work (even if I have my serious opinions of what they do or better to say what they do not do lol)

The most emblematic part is the lions, that I could not get in the photo, next time I promise

Directions:

We have finished our tour, now we are close to the starting point Puerta del Sol

Thyssen Bornemisza Museum Thyssen Bornemisza Museum Review

At the Palacio Villahermosa, inside this 18th century palace there is one of the best ever art collections world-wide

You will find the "Museo Thyssen" on the corner of Paseo del Prado

Address: Paseo del Prado, 8.

Directions:

Now the last one, Reina Sofia modern one

Phone: Tel.: (34)914203944. Fax: (34)91

Website: http://www.museothyssen.org

Velazquez Memorial Prado Museum Review

Just at the front of the Museo del Prado, at the middle entrance you can find this statue from Velazquez.

Normally I enter through the side entrances, but I remeber being younger and entering from this one, not sure if you can do it right now.

This front of the Museum is one of the most beautiful of the building

Directions:

Cross the road and infront we have the Thysem Museum

Museo del Prado Prado Museum Review

Here we began the Museums route in Madrid, the 3 more important, Prado, Sofia and Thysem

It is considered one of the most important galleries in the world.

Some painters here are:

Vel?zquez, Goya, El Greco, Zurbar?n, Ribera, raphael, Botticelli, Fra Ang?lico, Rubens, Bosch, Rembrandt and more.

Are you in Museums mood? We have another two to visit....

Address: Closed: Monday.

Directions: Tube stations: Banco de España & Atocha

Phone: + 34 91 3302800

Parque del Retiro Retiro Park Review

ok, If you are here, is because you have not realise that Calle Serrano with all the shops are at your left side going up from Cibeles to see the Puerta de alcala! lol ... Lets leave the shopping for another ocasion, (OMG I never thought I would say that lol)

Visit the Retiro during summer, full of new experiences, people dancing, walking, jogging. Everyday something different.

My favourite entrance is through the Puerta de Alcala, also here is the underground station Retiro (line 2 the red one)

This is the lake, and here you can also rent boats. I also love the Rose garden

We are talking of 120 hectares of park in the middle of the city ......

Enjoy it!!!

Directions:

After all the walking now we deserve a break or maybe you wanna join me in the visit to el PRADO MUSEUM

Puerta de Alcala Puerta de Alcala Review

From Plaza Cibeles, head up to Calle Alcala, till we see this Gate, Also this is my favourite entrance to the Retiro park.

Now is the moment to sing..

Mirala mirala... la puerta de Alcala ....

Well as I am not Ana Belen or Victor Manuel I should shut up before it rains lol

Acompa?o mi sombra por la avenida,
mis pasos se pierden entre tanta gente.
Busco una puerta, una salida
donde convivan pasado y presente....
De pronto me paro, alguien me observa,
levanto la vista y me encuentro con ella.
Y ah? est?, ah? esta, ah? est? ,
ah? est? viendo pasar el tiempo.
La Puerta de Alcal? .

Una ma?ana fr?a lleg?, Carlos III
con aire insigne se quit? el sombrero
muy lentamente baj? de su caballo
con voz profunda le dijo a su lacayo:
- Ah? est? la Puerta de Alcal? .
Ah? est?, ah? est? viendo pasar el tiempo.
La Puerta de Alcal?.

Lanceros con casaca, monarcas de otras tierras,
fanfarrones que llegan inventando la guerra,
milicias que resisten bajo el no pasar?n!
y el sue?o eterno como viene se va.

Y ah? est?, ah? est?, la Puerta de Alcal?.
Ah? est?, ah? est? viendo pasar el tiempo.
La Puerta de Alcal?.

Todos los tiranos se abrazan como hermanos,
exhibiendo a las gentes sus calvas indecentes.
Manadas de mangates, doscientos estudiantes
inician la revuelta, son los a?os sesenta.

Un travest? perdido, un guardia pendenciero,
pelos colorados, chinchetas en los cueros,
rockeros insurgentes, modernos complacientes,
poetas y colgados; aires de libertad.

La miro de frente, me pierdo en sus ojos,
sus arcos me vigilan, su sombra me acompa?a,
no intento esconderme, nadie la enga?a,
toda la vida pasa por su mirada.

Miral?, miral?, miral?, miral?. La Puerta de Alcal? .....

Directions:

Now lets go to the Retiro Park

Banco de España Cibeles Square Review

At Plaza Cibeles in front of the Post Office is the banco de Espa?a.

This building was built by Adaro y Sainz de la Lastra from 1842 to 1891.

It is sometimes dificult to do any photo of any of the buildings around due to the amount of traffic, but we tried our best, lol ...

Now head up to Puerta de Alcala and Parque del Retiro, throw Calle Alcala

Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado

Palacio Comunicaciones Cibeles Square Review

At Plaza Cibeles, one of the incredible buildings that is around this fountain.

This neo-classical building holds the Post office, We went on our first VT meeting to buy the stamps and send the postcards to our VT friends.

Sorry in the last meeting I forgot all my list of people to write. Next time ?.

We still continue at Cibeles Square

Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado