The best places to visit in Madrid, Spain -> Destinations

  Plaza Mayor, a large square in downtown Madrid is very popular among tourists and locals alike. Rectangular market has a uniform architecture, very similar to market Vosges in Paris.      In the Middle Ages it was just a market place of consumer goods outside the city walls. In 1560 King Philip II asked Juan de Herrera, architect of the Escorial to transform the church fair in a real small square. Only in the year 1617, during the reign of...

  Plaza Puerta del Sol is the perfect starting point to explore the city of Madrid. This bustling market, is centrally located one of the most lively places in town.     Puerta del Sol is now the historic heart of Madrid, but last place was at the eastern edge of town. Market name comes from the east gate of the city that existed here in the 15th century. Gate was probably named after the sun painted on it - Puerta del Sol or the Sun Gate. Presen...

  In the middle plaza called Plaza de la Independencia is located one of the most popular tourist attractions in Madrid: Puerta de Alcala - Alcala Gate.     In 1764 King Charles III, to pay the Italian architect Sabatini to build a large gate to replace the old baroque 16th century built by King Philip III. King believed that bears the mark of the eastern border town was too small for important link to Aragon.    ...

  The most beautiful of the many market squares in Madrid is the Plaza de Cibeles. Crowded market is surrounded by majestic buildings. The center is located at Fuente de Cibeles. This fountain named after CIBE (or Ceres), goddess of the Romanian nature, is one of the most important symbols of Madrid. Represent the goddess Cibeles fountain in a chariot drawn by two lions. It was built between 1777 and 1782 by Ventura Rodriguez. Every time Real Madrid team win a trophy, fans gather ar...

  Palace Santa Cruz is one of the best examples of architecture in Madrid Habsburg. Building with two towers of red brick is located in the Plaza de la Province, near the Plaza Mayor, Madrid city center during the Habsburg rule.     Habsburg rule began in 1516 when Carlos I (also known as Charles V outside of Spain) came to the throne. His successor Philip II moved the Spanish capital Madrid in the year 1561. This domination of the Habsburg dynas...

  Parque del Retiro Buena is the most popular park in Madrid. Can be very crowded especially on weekends when families come to Madrid for a ride through the park and musicians, painters, astrologers, jugglers and street artists animates crowd.      Retiro Park was created to be a royal park, the palace belonged to the Real Sitio del Retiro Buena. In 1632, the palace was built by King Philip IV as an oasis of relaxation for the royal family. ...

  Plaza de Espana is one of the largest and most important markets in Madrid. One sunny day of summer is filled with vendors, tourists and locals.      Market is located at the end of superb Gran Via, one of the busiest streets in Madrid. Green Square is surrounded by streets and yet is still a very relaxing place during daytime. A large fountain and a beautiful statue which honors him by the Spanish writer Cervantes adorn the small square.&...