Located in the heart of Spain, Madrid is impressive for its size. Its area without satellite cities exceeds 600 square kilometers. It will take a miracle to see the whole of Madrid in 1 day, but getting to know its main attractions is real even in such a short time.
The heart of the capital
Every Spanish city has a main square, or Plaza Mayor. Madrid began to be built at the beginning of the 17th century under King Philip III. The facades of 136 houses go out into the very heart of the capital, on which you can count 437 balconies! All buildings are designed in the same architectural style of the Madrid Baroque, and therefore the Plaza Mayor looks like a harmonious ensemble.
Puerta del Sol risked challenging the Plaza Mayor to be the main one. This square is located in the geographic center of the country and the city, and therefore the zero count of road distances begins from here. In the 15th century, the city gate was located here, and today the main attraction of Puerta del Sol is the post office, erected in the 1760s. A clock is installed on its tower, announcing the beginning of the New Year on the night of January 1. The symbol of Madrid, the Bear and Strawberry Tree monument in this square, is a particularly popular subject for photography.
Cathedrals and palaces
The main temple in Madrid is its Cathedral. It is located in the Armory Square next to the Royal Palace. The construction of the temple began in 1884, when the then King of Spain, Alfonso XII, lost his beloved wife. The queen died of tuberculosis immediately after the wedding, and the cathedral dedicated to the Mother of God Almudena became the tomb of Mary of Orleans. The temple was built for almost a hundred years, and only in 1993 it was consecrated by the Head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Among the many luxurious palaces in Madrid, the royal stands out. It is not only about its status, but also about the architectural features of the building. The construction of the Royal Palace in its modern version was started in 1738 on the site of the former Alcazar of the Habsburgs, who died in a terrible fire. The palace is built on a hill on the banks of the river and is surrounded by the luxurious Campo del Moro park. Graceful fountains lurk among the greenery of its alleys, the most famous of which are the "Shell" and "Triton". In the park, you can visit the Museum of Carriages, and once you are in Madrid for one day, it is quite possible to see the exit from the gate of the southern facade of the royal couple in an old carriage.
Updated: 2020.02.
