Palacio Real and other Madrid, Spain Things to Do Tips

This palace was built to impress, it took 26 years to construct. It was used as a royal palace until 1931, when King Alfons XIII did abdicate.
The King of today, Juan Carlos I, lives in the Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid, but the old palace is used from time to time for official occasions.
If you after your visit in the Royal Palace, go down to the Sabatini gardens (Jardines Sabatini), you will get this view.

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Address: Former King's Residence

A stair of marble leeds you to the first floor. The staty is Carlos III as a roman emperor.
The allegorial paintings in the ceiling were painted by Giaquinto.

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Address: Former King's Residence

Beside the religious themes the construction of the Cathedral is impressing. The building of the cathedral was started in 1879 but was terminated more than a century later.
See also t-log.

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The crucifixion scene in natural size placed in the center of the nave is very cleverly done. I don't think you have to be religious to be moved by the thoughts of a man hanging from a cross in the center of a huge empty space.

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This Augustin monastary was founded in 1611. It has the same architect as the Plaza Mayor. The monastery is still used by nunnes.
The church was rebuilt after a fire 1767. It contains paintings by Francisco Bayeu and fresques by the brothers González Velázquez.
On the picture you see the beautiful vault constructions in the church.

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Phone: 91 454 88 00
Address: Plaza de la Encarnación 1
Directions: The block north-east of Royal Palace

The collections in this museum shows the fauna mediterrainian, specially from the Iberic penisula.
The animals have been collected and studied for more than 200 years. In the museum there are more than six millions examples.
I will specially rekommend the mounting of wild animals, mostly in very natural and lively poses.
In the museum there is also a special exposition of the Iberic lobo, and the fight for its existens on location.
With your ticket you will also get access to the paleontological museum (on the right side of the museum) with exposition of dinosaurie (copies) and one important finding of a skeleton of a "Megatherium Americanum", found in Argentina in 1788.
See separate tip!

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Phone: 914 111 328
Address: José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2
Directions: Near Paseo de la Castellana and Gregorio Marañon.
Open time: Tuesday-Friday 10 AM-6 PM. Saturdays 10 AM - 8 PM.
Entry: 3 euros.
Website: www.mncn.csic.es

In the museum there is an interresting exposition about the existence of great calamares in the deep sea. There is also a one hour long film to be seen about investigations so far, for those that have special interest in this mythical animal.

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Phone: 914 111 328
Address: José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2
Directions: Near Paseo de la Castellana and Gregorio Marañon.
Open time: Tuesday-Friday 10 AM-6 PM. Saturdays 10 AM - 8 PM.
Entry: 3 euros.
Website: www.mncn.csic.es

With your ticket you will also get access to the paleontological museum (on the right side of the museum) with exposition of dinosaurie (copies) and one important finding of a skeleton of a "Megatherium Americanum", found in Argentina in 1788. It was brought to Madrid and mounted as the first mammal fósil. It was also the first fósilized extincted animal that was classified in the Linnean sexual system. The animal was a leaf eater and its height was 6 meters.
This huge animal skeleton is the most valuable in the museum and one of the most important in the world!!

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Phone: 914 111 328
Address: Jos? Guti?rrez Abascal, 2
Directions: Near Paseo de la Castellana and Gregorio Mara?on.
Open time: Tuesday-Friday 10 AM-6 PM. Saturdays 10 AM - 8 PM.
Entry: 3 euros.
Website: www.mncn.csic.es

The marble cube has the inscription "El pueblo de Madrid", "A la constitucion de 1978".
I have to complete more info about this artistic creation when I find some.

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Address: Jos? Guti?rrez Abascal, 2

This beautiful arena was erected in 1929. It is used for bullfighting (corridas) during the period May - October.
In September and October the arena is used for rock-concerts.
When flags are waving in the flaggstaff there is bullfighting that day.
Beside there is the Museo Taurino with exposition of memories of great toreadores and bulls.
I have put some pictures from a bullfighting in the t-logs (part1 and part2) with short explaination of the steps.

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Address: Calle de Alkalá 237
Directions: Look for Puente de las Ventas, a big white arche.