TourismMADRIDIn 1561 King Felipe II, owner of a great empire and one of the most powerful men of the time, chose this town to found in it the first permanent capital of the Spanish monarchy. Since then, Madrid has come a long way to become one of most interesting capitals of the world. WHAT TO SEE?HISTORY AND CULTURECatedral de la Almudena Is the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Madrid (Spain). It is a temple of 102 meters long and 73 high with a mixture of different styles: neoclassical abroad, and neogothic at home and neorromanico in the crypt. Madrid don't have cathedral until Pope Paul II consecrated the temple in 1993. Its construction took more than a century. This cathedral was chosen by the prince of Spain in 2004 to marry Letizia Ortiz.  Address: Bailén, 10 Phone: (+34) 91 542 22 00 Parque del Retiro These gardens have their origin between the years 1630 and 1640. In a city so densely populated, this park is an essential lung for Madrid, with 118 hectares. After depletion resulting cultural visits to museums across the Paseo del Prado, a pleasant stroll through the park is good for clearing the mind.  www.parquedelretiro.es Phone: (+34) 91 573 62 45 Puerta de Alcalá One of the main symbols of the city. La Puerta de Alcalá is a great triumphal arch built to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the reign of Carlos III. Near the palace of the Buen Retiro, this door was the entrance to Madrid to travelers from Barcelona and France.  Address: Plaza de la Independencia La Cibeles  Puerta del Sol  Estadio Santiago Bernabéu  Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas  La Plaza Mayor y Casco Antiguo  Palacio Real y jardines  Plaza Santa Ana y alrededores  Paseo del Prado  Calle Serrano  Plaza de España  Templo de Debod  Congreso de los Diputados  MUSEUMSMuseo Nacional del Prado (www.museodelprado.es) El Prado, with its stunning wealth of masterpieces, is one of the best art galleries in the world. Although it owes its fame to the paintings of Velazquez, Goya and other Spanish masters, it also has an exceptional collection of works by Italian and Flemish painters. Address: Calle Ruiz de Alarcón, 23 28014 Madrid Phone: (+34) 91 330 2800 Museo Reina Sofía (www.museoreinasofia.es) At the Museo Reina Sofia takes place on an ambitious process of enlargement to strengthen its position in the field of contemporary art. While its collection of Spanish art of the twentieth century are works of Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Jorge Oteiza and Antoni Tàpies, arguably, the most important piece of this picture gallery is the Guernica of Picasso, which attracts visitors from around the world. Address: Santa Isabel, 52 28012 Madrid Phone: (+34) 91 774 10 00 Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (www.museothyssen.org) The collection of this important museum displays the most select of European art of the past eight centuries. Begun in the 1920s by Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and consolidated by his son Hans Heinrich, is considered one of the best in the world. Since 2004, the museum hosts the Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, which specializes in landscape. Address: Paseo del Prado, 8 28014 Madrid Phone: (+34) 91 420 39 44 Museo Arqueológico Nacional (man.mcu.es) It is one of the most important museums of Spain with parts of archaeological excavations, religious sculpture, jewelry, ceramics and architectural elements. Although part of the collection belongs to the ancient civilizations, it also has other interesting pieces, with representative pieces of history and Spanish culture. Address: Serrano, 13 28001 Madrid Phone: (+34) 91 577 79 12 OTHER NICE PLACES TO VISIT AROUND MADRID- Toledo - Segovia - El Escorial - Ávila - Aranjuez | Sponsors   Media Sponsors   Supported by:        |
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