We invite you to discover Madrid with us, the capital of Spain, the largest and most populated city in the country, with more than three million citizens in its metropolitan area. If you have chosen GetMeAnApartment to spend some days in this city, you will encounter a warm and welcoming city, open, diverse, distinctive. It is said that it is easier to find a native of Madrid outside of the capital than within it, which gives one an idea of this city of magnitudes, proportions and rare variety. A city that contains so many different possibilities, that we have selected some of the unmissable locations for you, and we recommend that you visit them one at a time, taking your time.
Madrid has a great artistic offering that arises from the different styles across the centuries, with arab and medieval influences mixed in, until the arrival of the Catholic Kings, the Austrian empire or neoclasisicm.
Madrid’s artistic boom coincided with the new political dimension that was acquired at the time of Philip II. The arrival of the Austrians, in the XVI century, marked the beginning of the construction of monuments of great magnitude, with an emphasis on churches and convents.
The XVIII century also left its neoclassical wake in the form of palaces, churches and fountains, with splendid examples of this style. The most modern and avant-garde Madrid we will find in the areas of ensanche, between its two grand axes, the Gran Via and the Paseo de la Castellana.
Madrid, the historic city
- La Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol is one of the most famous places in the capital, where two of the most characteristic symbols of Madrid are located: the statue of the bear and the madroño tree, which serves as the heraldic shield of the city, made of bronze and erected in 1967; and the statue of king Charles III on horseback. Its construction dates back to the times of Charles I, who ordered the raising of a door that would serve as access to the city. This was situated between the calle Alcalá and the San Jerónimo way. As it is oriented to the east, a sun was placed to adorn the entrance, from which comes the name. It is also marked as kilometre zero for all the roads in Spain, marked as is the Central Post Office, with a sign to declare it.
- La Fuente de la Cibeles
This fountain is installed in one of the squares that, ultimately, constitutes one of the most beautiful places in the world, as much for its own composition as for its splendid surroundings. Raised in 1777 in the reign of Charles III, this colossal monument represents the image of Cibeles, goddess of fertility of the earth, seated atop a carriage drawn by two lions.
Sculpted from blue marble from the town of Montesclaros and from stone of Redueña, it had its original site on the Paseo de Recoletos beside the Buenavista Palace. It was placed in its present site at the end of the XIX century.
- The east palace
The Royal Palace or East Palace has always been the official residence of the kings of Spain from Charles III until Alfonso XIII, including also the presidents of the second Republic. It is the most important building that the art of the XVIII century has left us, which was conceived with the idea of serving as an example for the nation, of the reforms that were being made, and for other kings, as a symbol of the grandeur and power of the Spanish monarchy. It has a grand central square in the form of a quadrangle around which is organized the palace.
- Plaza Mayor
A short stroll from the East Palace, the Puerta del Sol or the Villa Square where the town hall is situated the Plaza Mayor is in the heart of the city. It was constructed between 1617 and 1619 over what was the “Arrabal Square”, being an arched square in rectangular form enclosed by three storey buildings with numerous balconies. Beneath the arches supported by granite pillars a good number of bars and restaurants are located, as well as philately, coin and souvenir shops. The most important entrance of the Square is the Cuchilleros Arch.
- Puerta de Alcalá
Beside the Retiro Park stands this monument, the Puerta de Alcalá one of the great symbols of Madrid, and owes its name to the route that was taken for Alcalá de Henares. Philip III ordered it to be built to receive into the city his bride, Margeret of Austria, but it was Charles III who made the modifications that compose its present appearance.
Composed of five openings, three with semicircular arches and two with lintels, it has in the highest central part a tombstone that makes reference to its year of construction and to king Charles III, crowned by a coat of arms supported by the figures of Fame and Genius.
- The Almudena Cathedral
The Cathedral of Royal Santa María of the Almudena is a spectacultar building with a mixture of various architectural styles, such as the neoclassical of its exterior, and the neogothic of its interior, and the neo-romanic style of the crypt. The cathedral has the privilege of being the first Spanish cathedral consecrated by a pope and the first which Pope Juan Pablo II consecrated outside of Rome. The act took place on the 15th of June 1993, on the fourth journey of Juan Pablo II to Spain.
- The Crystal Palace
On occassion of the Philippine Islands Exhibition to raise awareness of the diversity of the flora of the islands in the Spanish capital, this greenhouse was created to house the plants properly. Thus, in 1887, the Crystal Palace was constructed in the Buen Retiro Park beside the lake. Its walls, as the name suggests, are of glass and are supported by iron columns in ionic style. From the exterior, its Greek style doorway stands out, facing the lake. In the lake can be found various examples of Swamp Cypress. It is the most distinctive building of the gardens of the Retiro Park and, for many years has housed art exhibitions.
- Metrópolis Building
This modernist building is located on the corner of Alcalá street and Gran Via, in the financial and commercial centre of Madrid. It was necessary to demolish up to seven houses that were located on the plot that is now occupied by the Metropolis Building. Its architecture is elegant, eclectic and of exceptional proportions, notably its black slate dome, with weaved golden adornment, and it’s crowning with a marvelous winged figure of victory. In its second floor a beautiful ring of Corinthian paired columns was constructed. These robust columns sustain a third floor decorated with statues that represent business, agriculture, mining and industry.
- Las Ventas Bullring
The art of bullfighting finds in Madrid one of its most historic and well established venues, the Monumental Bullring of Las Ventas, with capacity for almost 25,000 spectators. In neo-Mudejar style with revealed brick, it is decorated with a ceramic tile base. Amongst its ornamental motifs, the coats of arms of all the Spanish provinces are of special note. If you are interested in attending a bullfight, you should know that the bullfighting season starts in March and ends in October, and the events take place on Sundays and public holidays.
The surroundings of the capital
Madrid does not end with the space defined by the city itself. We invite you to visit some of the most beautiful and distinctive locations that you could find in your visit to the city, whether the motive of your visit is pleasure or business. The whole province of Madrid is a unique monumental union of great natural beauty, in which you will find a great heritage enveloped in beautiful natural spaces, formed by castles, churches, palaces and monasteries well worth visiting.
- Saint Lorenzo of El Escorial Monastery
Situated in the location from which it takes its name, this monastery is a great complex (palace, monastery, museum and library) that was ordered to be built by King Philip II, to commemorate the victory of San Quintín. Begun by Juan Bautista of Toledo, he was replaced after his death by Juan de Herrera, who imposed a more severe style. The church is notable for its Greek Cross distribution over which rises a great dome. In the interior a majestic altar upon an elevated presbytery can be admired.
- Royal Site of Aranjuez
Aranjuez is a town to the south of Madrid washed by the waters of the rivers Tajo and Jarama, and which was the place of relaxation of the Kings in the XVII century, and since then the spring residence of all the spanish kings. During the middle ages a mansion was built to be used as a hospital, for the convalescence of knights wounded during the Reconquest. Later on, the Catholic Kings converted this hospital into a palace and the whole complex into a Royal site. The Royal Palace, the House of the Labourer, or the fountains are the symbols of a quiet town, that comes to life in the summer with a great number of visitors that come to enjoy its wonders, its cuisine and the hospitality of its people.
- Chinchón Square
Chinchón, a city located to the southeast of the province, shelters this curious Plaza Mayor that deserves to be enjoyed in your visit to Madrid. Of classic style from the Middle Ages, its form is irregular, of great simplicity and with a clear and orderly arrangement. In the XV century the first houses with porches and balconies were constructed, although it would not be fully completed until the XVII century. The buildings are of three storeys, with lintelled galleries and two hundred and thirty four wooden balconies, supported by right angled footings. In this square activities as diverse as executions, bullfights, comedies, royal fiestas, theatrical representations and film shoots have taken place.