El Capricho Park and other Madrid, Spain Off The Beaten Path Tips

Not many people knows about the existence of El Capricho, a small park placed on the north east of Madrid, full of charm.

To get there, you could stop at the Campo de Las Naciones Metro Station (Line 9), and walk through the Juan Carlos I park, until you reach a road. On the opposite side of the road, there's a Camping. If you follow the path of the camping, you'll find el Capricho right there. It's placed on the Alameda de Osuna Street. Opens from 9 to 6,30 on the cold season during weekends.

Please, check my travelogue for more pictures of this unique place.

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El Rastro. The famous Madrid flea market. The real “off the beaten path” experience is to not shopping at all and expend the Sunday evening tasting tapas in the countless bars of the neighborhood. The perfect activity for a sunny Sunday afternoon!

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Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923) captured inside his paintings all the light of the Mediterranean Sea as no other artist after or before him. While contemplating his coastal scenes, is impossible not to feel lost inside its radiant turquoise blues.

During his latter days, this Valencia born painter moved to Madrid, where he built the beautiful house that nowadays holds the mayor collection of his artistic works. Apart from the excellent paintings, the whole house has a clear Mediterranean charm. Admission cost 2,4 €.

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Phone: 91-310 15 84
Website: http://www.mcu.es/nmuseos/sorolla/

It's almost impossible for me to keep my eyes away of this church while walking along Alcala Street. It's simply so out of place, its Byzantine style is so different to the surrounding Salamanca district...

And its luminous interior has a fabulous decoration made of mosaics. It seems unfair that this beautiful church doesn't receive the promotion that it deserves...

One more thing: If you feel curious and want to check the church's web site, you better shut down your computer speaker... you'd been adviced! :-p

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Website: http://www.jeaf.com/samasabe/
Other Contact: Calle Alcala, 83. Metro Retiro

I was just walking along La Latina district, looking for fresh pictures for my photography class, when I found the place that I was not looking for; a place that I wanted to be shown, rather than discover it by mere chance.

In any case, I recognize the good taste and "fine nose" of the person who pointed to me first about this oasis of serenity in the heart of Madrid most vibrant district. Again, is because these hidden treasures why I love this city so much. :-)

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Other Contact: Plaza de La Paja. Metro Latina

I can't think of a better example of what Madrid exactly is than the avoided by the tourist district of Malasaña. By day, its little streets didn't bring to your mind the idea of a bustling metropolis, but the placid tranquility of a small village where everybody knows your name. The small and old shops, the animated chats of lifetime neighbors in the middle of the streets, the "feeling" that nothing really important happen outside the limits of the district.

But during the weekends, when the night falls and the neighbors go to bed, the streets suddenly becomes the kingdom of hordes of teens or post-teens (depending of the hour), in the constant pursuit of squeezing out Madrid night life. One could expend years in Madrid touristy areas and never learn anything about the city. A single night in Malasaña is usually much more illustrative ;-)

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Between La Almudena Cathedral and San Francisco el Grande Church, lays the beautiful and surprisingly underrated park of Las Vistillas, a name that could be translated as something like "small views", though the things that could be seen from there had little of small. Indeed, I personally found the perspective of La Almudena much more imposing from this point that from the feet of the building... all of them in a relatively quiet environment with little traffic and plenty of green areas. Definitely not a bad place to be in :-)

Not to be missed is the simply spectacular summer terrace that could be find on the top of the park; enjoying a drink while witnessing a sunset over the Cathedral could be accounted, imho, among Madrid’s finest attractions.

The park could be found between Calle Bailen and Calle Segovia, in La Latina district. Metro La Latina or Opera.

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This tip is not from San Francisco El Grande church; that's something that your guide book has already recommend you, therefore it will not lay exactly under the "off the beaten path" category, isn't it? No, the tip is actually about the little, absolutely gorgeous and completely overlooked chapel that is placed to the right of the big church. Access to the chapel is only allowed from 11AM to 1PM during Saturdays mornings, and pictures of the interior are not allowed, though I personally consider that none of this restrictions deprive the chapel from its considerable charm. :-)

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Other Contact: Calle Bailen

For me, getting lost while driving in Madrid is something as natural as breathing. However, my unorthodox driving stile sometimes (please, forgive the redundancy) drives me to interesting and unexpected places. That was exactly the case with the Pantheon of Illustrious men, a mausoleum dedicated to the memory of distinguished figures of the Spanish political life of the XIX century. Well, actually the country also honored this people by naming many of the Salamanca district streets with their names: Ríos Rosas, Cánovas, Canalejas, etc. Walking that hall was like reading a city map... something that, by the way, someone suggested me yesterday I should bring with me in my car. :-p

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Website: http://www.patrimonionacional.es/patronat/bdatocha.htm
Other Contact: C. Julián Gayarre. Atocha Metro

I love the typically British style that this little alley has. Located in the very heart of the shopping area of Madrid, it shapes immediately resembles that of the London Chelsea’s mews. The alley holds some of the most exclusive shops and restaurants of Madrid... meaning that not only in style, but also in prices, the place resembles London a lot ;-)

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