Almudena Cathedral and other Madrid, Spain Things to Do Tips

Almudena Cathedral

This is one of the largest churches in Madrid, and it is in an excellent location. You can find it opposite the Royal Palace. As I arrived into the city in the morning during winter, I could see the first light of day coming up against the cathedral. It was fairly quiet inside. No visit to Spain should be complete without a visit to one of the churches. This one was very impressive on the inside and out.

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Retiro Park: Retiro Park

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Written by sswagner

on Jan 13, 2005

Palacio de Cristal

In my opinion, this is one of the best city parks that I have found in Europe. It is large, and is full of foliage and monuments. Retiro is everything that a capital city park should be. I was fortunate to get a good weather day as the winter sun warmed the city enough to enjoy the Madrid outdoors. My favorite part was the Palacio de Cristal. It is one of several interesting structures in the park and as the name suggests, is mostly built of glass.

There are plenty of places to people watch, and even on winter, you can find a place nearby to get a cool drink in the warm sun. The park is very close to the city center, so walking to it from other sites should be an option. The subway also has a stop near the park.

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Royal Palace: Palacio Real

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Written by sswagner

on Jan 13, 2005

Palacio Real

Similar to most European capitals, there is a royal palace to be found here. It is very nice, and I do recommend a tour of it if you are in the area. The rooms are well appointed with decor that you would expect to find at any royal palace. Don't miss the throne room, the chapel, and the statues of Ferdinand and Isabella. There is also an armory worth exploring that is on the palace grounds. There, you will find items such as suits of armor and those famous conquistador helmets. The palace grounds are also nice for walking. The morning I was there, a lot of people were out walking. Some people were out walking their dogs.

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Address: Former King's Residence

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Plaza Mayor: Plaza Mayor

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Written by sswagner

on Jan 13, 2005

Plaza Mayor

Here is the historic heart of old Madrid. It's main claim to fame is that it was involved in the Spanish Inquisition. Today, it is a nice place to relax. As you might guess, there are a lot of shops and restaurants nearby. The architecture is interesting, and entering the square through one of the many archways is memorable. It was not crowded at all during my winter visit.

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

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Puerta del Sol: Puerta del Sol

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Written by sswagner

on Jan 13, 2005

Puerta del Sol