What to do in Madrid, Hotel Reyes Católicos.

PLAZA MAYOR

Barely 5 minutes from Puerta del Sol, the real centre of Madrid, you will come across this emblematic place. Throughout its long history, the Plaza Mayor has witnessed shows, executions, markets and it was even used as a bullfighting ring

Currently, it is a sight to visit for tourists, a place to relax for the locals and a venue for celebrations.

On Sunday mornings there is a street market for stamp and coin collectors and it is also a regular place of work of artists, caricature painters and street performers.
In December the Christmas market and the city’s popular Nativity scene take over Plaza Mayor.

PUERTA DEL SOL

In Puerta del Sol you will find the Kilometro Cero the starting point of all the Spanish roads. Among its buildings the Clock Tower of the Post Office stands out. This building was built and donated in the 19th century by Jose Rodriguez de Losada. Every year this clock welcomes the New Year with its midnight chimes while the Spanish eat the traditional 12 grapes.

The other main monument in this square is the Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (Oso y Madroño), symbol of Madrid.

GRAN VÍA

It is the most famous street in Madrid and also the most photographed. The king Alfonso XIII ordered its construction in 1910 to link the east of the city with its west, it was a great and colossal undertaking that took many years to complete. From its beginnings it was known as the Madrilian Broadway because of its many cinemas and theatres.

PUERTA DE ALCALÁ

It is one of the symbols of Madrid, one of the images of Madrid that appears most often in its postcards, one of its hallmarks. The current Puerta de Alcala in Plaza de la Independencia was built as a triumphal arch to commemorate the arrival of Charles III to the capital. It was built on the site of a previous gate that had been the entrance to the city from Aragon’s road.

This gate was built between 1769 and 1778 and has five arches, three semicircular arches in the centre and two shorter lateral trabeated arches that were used in the past as pedestrian gates.

PUERTA DE TOLEDO

Situated in the square of Puerta de Toledo and with a height of 19m, this monument was started in 1812 under the direction of architect Antonio Lopez Aguado, following orders from Jose Bonaparte.

In 1813, after the French invaders left the country, the Council of Madrid decided to use it to welcome the king Ferdinand VII, as can be seen on the frieze under the main sculptures.

Inaugurated in 1827, it was the main entrance to the city from the Royal Road from Andalusia.

CIBELES

It is one of the internationally known symbols of the city of Madrid. In this beautiful fountain, that gives its name to the square, the goddess Cybele, symbol of the Earth, agriculture and fecundity, is sitting on a chariot pulled by lions.

The Spanish architect Ventura Rodriguez was in charge of this project between the years of 1777 and 1782. As an anecdote, this fountain was originally designed to be placed in the gardens of the San Ildefonso Farm in Segovia.

THE PRADO MUSEUM

It is one of the biggest and most magnificent art galleries in the world because of the importance of its collection. The Prado Museum has increased its collection to 8,600 paintings and over 700 sculptures, although it only exhibits one seventh of them.

Besides being one of the best museums for 16th and 17th century painting and having works by artists like El Bosco, Tiziano, El Greco, Murillo, Rubens, Goya or Velazquez, it also possesses many important drawings, decorative arts and embossing works, that although less known are still very valuable.

The museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday 9am-8pm (including public holidays). It closes every Monday, including public holidays.

The Ticket price is 8 Euros, and reduced tickets are sold for 4 Euros.

REINA SOFIA ART CENTRE

It is the Spanish national museum for 20th century and contemporary art. It is situated in Calle Santa Isabel 52 and it was designed by José de Hermosilla and Francesco Sabatini.

It is situated in the building that was formerly the General Hospital of Madrid, a spectacular 18th century neoclassical building in the area of Atocha. The museum opens 10am-9pm Monday to Saturday. Sundays it is open 10am-2.30pm. The museum remains closed on Tuesdays.

The ticket price is 6 Euros. Admission to temporal exhibitions is 3 Euros.

THYSSEN BORNEMISZA MUSEUM

It is situated in a historical building, the Villahermosa Palace and it contains more than one thousand works of art. Situated in the Paseo del Prado 8, near Reina Sofia Museum and Prado Museum is part of the internationally known Triangle of Art or Walk of Art.

It is home to the valuable private collection that the family Thyssen-Bornemisza put together during seventy years. This art collection contains the works of many foreign artists from Gothic to Pop Art and 80s, with works by prestigious artists like Durero, Rafael, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Manet, Van Gogh, Kandinsky o Lucian Freud, among others.

It is open from 10am till 7pm from Tuesday to Sunday. The gallery is closed on Mondays.

The ticket price is 8 Euros. Reduced ticket price is 5.50 Euros.

LA LATINA THEATRE

The theatre La Latina is situated very near HRC Hotel, in Plaza de la Cebada. This beautiful building dating back to the first years of the 20th century is the work of architect Pedro Muguruza.

During its life it has been alternatively used as a cinema and a theatre, and it has seen the most important national comedies and shows.

For years, comedians as famous as Lina Morgan and Moncho Borrajo performed in this theatre as well as singers like Isabel Pantoja.

SANTIAGO BERNABÉU

This stadium belongs to the Real Madrid Football Club. The football stadium, with its façade facing the Paseo de la Castellana, was the brain child of former president of the football club, Santiago Bernabeu.

It can hold about 85,454 spectators. The Museum of Real Madrid can be found inside. There are daily guided tours of the stadium.

EL VICENTE CALDERÓN

It is the home of the Atletico de Madrid Football Team. It stands in the Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, which is so close to the Manzanares River that the year of its inauguration, 1966, was named Estadio del Manzanares. Afterwards, the name changed to Vicente Calderon, the name of the former president of the club, who ordered its building.

Currently Vicente Calderon has 54,851 seats, of which 18,850 are covered. The Museum of Atletico de Madrid can be found inside. There are daily guided tours of the stadium.

WARNER BROS PARK MADRID

It is one of the most avant-garde themed parks in Europe, with entertainment for all ages. Situated in San Martin de la Vega, only 28km from Madrid, the facilities are divided in five wonderful themed areas.

Hollywood Boulevard, situated in the main avenue, has rides and shows full of the magic and glamour of Hollywood.

In Cartoon Village the little ones will feel for a day like a cartoon and will be able to visit the houses of Tweety Bird and Bugs Bunny, also Scooby-Doo will be waiting for them in a haunted house!