Puerta Del Sol and other Madrid, Spain Things to Do Tips

by Nathalie_B , 3 more photos

Puerta Del Sol is probably the most touristic place in Madrid, full of shops, street atrists, restaurants, and tourists' busses.
It is also known as the place where the New Years Eve is celebrated. The bells of Puetra Del Sol's clock will give you the sign so you know when to strat eating the 12 grapes, but.... The year 2006 will be remembered as the celebration with no grapes! There was no sign, there were no bells, only loud music, crowd, and bottles of wine and champagne.
When we realized that something's wrong we started eating the grapes very fast, but not the whole 12 were finished before we welcomed the new 2006.

Puetra Del Sol literally means "Sun Gate" and got it's name because it was the city wall's gate that was facing the rising sun, the East.

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Address: The "center" of Madrid

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Puerta del Sol: Kilometro Cero

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Written by Nathalie_B

on Jan 6, 2006

Kilometro Cero

If one day you decide to measure the length of all the roads in Spain you'll have to start at Puerta Del Sol, in front of the Old Post Office building. There you'll find the Kilometro Cero - Kilometer Zero.
There's still a question I keep asking myself: If Puerta Del Sol dates back to the 15th Century, does it mean that there were no roads before? Probably not. However until nowadays Kilometro Cero is known as the center of the Spanish roads network.

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Address: The "center" of Madrid
Directions: In front of the old Post Office Building

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Things To Do: Alcala facades

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Updated by Nathalie_B

on Jan 7, 2007

by Nathalie_B , 2 more photos

If you walk from Puerta del Sol towards the Retiro Park you�ll find yourself on one of the most beautiful streets of Madrid � Alcala. Every building on this street is a real architectural masterpiece and worth taking a picture. Pay attention to every detail: ornaments, statues, stone carvings, columns, windows, gates, spires... a whole architecture glossary wouldn�t be enough to describe all the beauty you�ll see walking along this astonishing street.

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Puerta de Alcala: Puerta De Alcala

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Written by Nathalie_B

on Jan 5, 2007

Built by the King Carlos III, the Alcala gate stands on the Independence square, in front of the biggest and most beautiful park of Madrid - Parque del Buen Retiro.
Many artists are responsible for the beauty of this gate. It contains of five arches and each of them is decorated with a lion, work of sculpture Roberto Michel. The statues on the top of the gate are sculpted by Francisco Gutti�rrez. If you walked towards the Alcala gate from Puerta del Sol, then you noticed another work by these two sculptors it�s the The Cibeles fountain in front of the Palace of Communications. Apparently, Michel was known for his lion sculptures. It took 9 years to complete this granite gate, since then it is one of the most known symbols of Madrid.
The easiest way to take a picture of this gate is to wait to green light while crossing the Alcala street, stand in the middle of the road and try to take your best shot without being pushed and cursed by the people that rush to cross the road :)

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Retiro Park: Retiro Park

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Written by Nathalie_B

on Jan 5, 2007

Alfonsp XII monument

by Nathalie_B , 2 more photos

This is the Royal Park of Madrid, at least this was the purpose when it was created. Many activites can be planned while visiting the park. First it�s a paradise to rollerblade and ride bikes. Second, it has some small terraces and it�s a great way to enjoy a sunny day in the park. As a cultural tourist you can continue to appreciate the architecture and even attend museums and exhibitions. And all this in one great park in the middle of the Spanish capital. And if it wasn�t enough why not rent a boat and enjoy the park slowly navigating through its lake.
Deep inside the park you�ll find the �Cristal Palace�. Originally, it was built to host exotic plants that were brought from Philippines. Today, it hosts exhibitions as pretty much every building in this park. Right across from the Palacio de Cristal there�s another �palace� called Palacio de Vel�zquez which was built as a mines museum and is used for various exhibitions nowadays.

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Plaza Mayor: Plaza Mayor

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Written by Nathalie_B

on Jan 5, 2007

Some time ago bull fights used to take place in this square, today it is home to Christmas and stamp markets. I happened to visit Madrid�s famous square during the Christmas/New Year�s market and had real difficulty taking pictures without getting some street stand on the way.
It was a simple market place, outside the city walls, before the King Phillip the Second decided to turn it into a more notable, central place. More than 40 years later, his successor, Philip III made this plan turn into reality. Wooden houses used to surround the plaza, but they got destroyed by fire several times. Later the present look for given to Plaza Mayor and in the middle of 17th century statue of Phillip III was added.
Plaza Mayor is probably the most scenic and colorful square of the Spanish capital and is favored by both tourists and locals.
Take a look at Plaza Mayor�s webcam

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Address: Main square of Madrid
Directions: Metro Sol & Opera

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Plaza Mayor: Casa de la Panaderia

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Updated by Nathalie_B

on Apr 19, 2007

by Nathalie_B , 1 more photos

Casa de la Panaderia is the most renowned building of Plaza Mayor. Would be difficult to miss it with its painting-like facade and two towers in a typical Flemish style. I bet it�s the most photographed building too.
Translating its name from Spanish as �Bakery� this architectural masterpiece was the seat of the bakers� guild and stood on the market square long before it became Plaza Mayor. It did burn down and was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century. The murals were added only 15 years ago by painted Carlos Franco.
Today, Casa de la Panaderia is used for exhibitions.

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Address: Main square of Madrid
Directions: Metro Sol & Opera

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Royal Palace: Palacio Real

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Written by Nathalie_B

on Jan 6, 2007

by Nathalie_B , 2 more photos

Once there was a fortress called �Mayrit�, but this was long long time ago, in about 10th century. It was used my many rulers until it became official residence of Philip the second, in the end of 16th century. The castle was made of wood and succumbed to fire in mid 18 century. In order to prevent such a tragedy in the future, King Philip the fifth ordered to build a new palace, this time of granite and stone.
Since then it is known as the official King�s residence, although the current monarch lives in smaller palace on the outskirts of Madrid, Palacio Real is still used for official ceremonies.
It�s covering a very big area and consists of the main building, a square, and surrounding gardens. Some 40 of its many rooms are open to public (unless the palace is in use for some official ceremony) and it includes Armory museum. The rooms are decorated in different styles and include some really unique paintings by Goya, Caravaggio, and Velazquez. Famous works of Stradivari are found inside the Palace, as well.
Since the Palace is situated on a hill, a breathtaking view is available from the garden side. Besides the pretty landscape the garden offers many statues of previous Kings (the queens are standing at the Plaza Oriente)
The square in front of the palace is always full of people, and it is also favored by street artists. Usually it is full of people, unless the weather does not invite to get out and enjoy the beauty of the Spanish capital.

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Address: Former King's Residence

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Puerta del Sol: The symbol of Madrid

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Written by Nathalie_B

on Jan 6, 2007

While wandering around Puerta del Sol at some point you�ll come across this bear statue. It is simply impossible to miss this 20 ton symbol of Madrid. The statue shows a bear eating Madro�o fruits. Its original name is El Oso y El Madro�o, and although Madro�o sounds like the name of the capital, Madrid didn�t get its name from the three (or at least this is what I was told). Madrid got its name from �Matrice�, the first village that was established on the Manzanares river, it was later changed to �Mayrit� and eventually evolved into it�s current one � Madrid.
As for Madro�o, it�s a tree with tiny, red fruits that look pretty much like wild strawberries. If you happen to find a real Madro�o tree, don�t try its fruits, they have a very bitter taste.
How the bear got into the city�s symbol? Bears were very common in the forests that surrounded the city and at some point it even had the name Ursa � which is bear in Latin.

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Address: The "center" of Madrid

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Cibeles Square: Plaza de Cibeles

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Written by Nathalie_B

on Jan 7, 2007

Palacio de Comunicaciones