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European Vacations -
Spain Vacation Packages &
Travel Information |
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Overview |
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As a tourist destination, Madrid is
filled with fascinating areas to
explore. There are the wide,
gracefully tree lined major avenues
and boulevards, the trendy and
cosmopolitan buildings, and, in
contrast, the old areas that twist
and wind with quaint streets and
cozy cafes. Together, these combine
to provide many days of discovery of
the treasured past and the exciting
present of Madrid.
Madrid is located in the center of
the Iberian Peninsula and has served
as the capital of Spain since 1562.
Its southern and elevated location
allows for warm, dry summers and
cool winters, providing excellent
traveling weather all year round.
One cannot help but notice a
prominent green expanse on the map
of Madrid. Parque Del Retiro is more
than a nature walk. In fact, many
visitors return several times during
their stay for the wide variety of
entertainment provided by street
performers, boaters, skaters, and
puppeteers.
The city offers many interesting
museums, with the world-famous Prado
National Museum leading the way.
Housed in an 18th-century building,
the Prado features the works of
Rubens, Goya, El Greco, Bosch,
Velazquez, Titian and many others.
Madrid's most famous contemporary
art museum is the Museo Nacional
Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Its
centerpiece is Picasso's enormous
antiwar masterpiece, Guernica. The
highly acclaimed works of the
Thyssen-Bornemisza collection are
displayed at the Villahermosa
Palace.
The historic quarters of Madrid are
filled with interesting sights and
structures. Columns, arches,
churches, fountains, even an
Egyptian Temple await the traveler.
The Madrid Card is a wise purchase,
as it combines a transportation pass
with free entry to various museums
and attractions, among other
discounts.
Madrid has hills and mountains in
abundance for the climber and hiker.
There are twenty local golf courses,
some of which welcome nonmembers.
Parque de Nieve is the amateur
athlete's dream. This is an indoor,
artificial slope that can be
configured with different terrains.
There are separate areas for skiing,
snowboarding and tubing, as well as
an ice wall for climbers. Bicycling
is also a popular sport, and bike
trails are available. Spain's
national sport is futbol (soccer),
and Madrid boasts three home teams.
The season runs from September to
June. A close second in the hearts
of Madrilenos and Spaniards is the
corrida (bullfight), for which the
season is from March to October.
Madrid has impressive venues and
well-regarded companies providing
ballet, contemporary dance,
orchestral concerts, opera, and
theatrical productions. Shopping in
Madrid is a delight. The shopping
area of Serrano, just east of Paseo
de la Castellana, is where shoppers
will discover boutiques,
home-decorating stores and stylish
shops, including Chanel and Armani.
Calle Ribera de Curtidores located
in the heart of the Rastro market,
has the largest concentration of
antique shops in Madrid. The streets
around Puerta del Sol form a more
traditional (less exclusive)
shopping area, where you can still
find shops that have been in
business since the 1800s.
Long lunches will be a necessity, as
the rich variety of sights and
sounds of this fabulous city require
time for assimilation and
reflection. Fortunately, to relax is
to be Spanish. People sleep late.
Shops seem to open and close of
their own accord. Hundreds of
restaurants, cafes and bars line the
streets, not for the purpose of
continuous eating and drinking, but
because sociability and enjoyment of
life as a community are cultural
necessities. Lunch is more than a
meal; in the right company, it can
become an all-day activity.
Madrid by day is a social city, but
the fun doesn't end with the sunset.
It is nearly impossible to describe
Madrid's unending list of evening
activities. Nightspots in Madrid
generally stay open until 4AM,
giving visitors plenty of time to
explore the excellent restaurants,
tapas bars, open-air cafes, jazz and
night clubs.
Most travelers arrive in Madrid with
plans to stay for a day or two
before striking out for other parts
of Spain. Many, however, stay longer
once they realize the infinite
possibilities Madrid offers for fine
cuisine, great sightseeing and
shopping, outstanding sports venues,
and a vacation to remember. |
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Facts |
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Country: The Kingdom of Spain
Capital: Madrid
Time:
Spain uses Central European Time (CET).
Hence, clocks are one hour ahead of
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six
hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time
(EST).
Currency:
Currency is the Euro (EUR). The
notes are in denominations of 500,
200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 euro.
The denominations of coins are 2
euro, 1 euro, 50 euro cent, 20 euro
cent, 10 euro cent, 5 euro cent, 2
euro cent, and 1 euro cent.
Weather: Spain has a temperate
climate. The interior has clear, hot
summers, while the coast is more
moderate and cloudy. The interior
generally has cloudy, cold winters,
versus partly cloudy and cool along
the coast.
Electricity:
Spain uses 220 volts AC and the
continental-style plug. If your
appliance has a 110/220-volt switch,
all you will need is a plug adapter.
Otherwise a current converter is
required. Pay attention to sockets
in bathrooms and on trains marked
"Shavers Only!" While these put out
110 volts, they will burn out with a
more powerful appliance.
Tipping:
Europe doesn't have the same tipping
customs as in the United States. Pay
attention to menus and bills in
restaurants; gratuity may already be
included. If not, then a safe bet in
Spain is 10% in restaurants. Porters
should be tipped in smarter hotels.
Getting Around:
The Spanish rail company, RENFE, has
a complicated listing of its three
color-coded varieties of train
services. On top of that, there are
a growing number of private super
high-speed lines. A good way to
avoid lines and figure out the
schedules is to buy tickets at
travel offices. Spain accepts both
InterRail and Eurail passes, but
supplements are required for
reserved seating and on the fastest
trains.
Buses are reliable and comfortable;
often they are the only way to reach
small villages. Prices are steady at
1000 ptas per 100k (60 mi.). Bus
service is drastically cut on
Sundays and holidays.
Spaniards drive on the right. Major
roads are good and traffic is calm
(except for cities) overall. Speed
limits are 60k/h (36mph) in built-up
areas, 90-100 (54-60 mph) on other
roads, and 120k/h (72mph) on
highways.
Public transportation in cities is
cheap and efficient. Routes change
periodically, so get a free map at
any station, as well as tickets.
Help desks are open in some places;
trust these before any handout. The
buses and metros generally run from
6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Night buses are
available, but taxis are faster and
safer, as well as surprisingly
cheap. |
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Attractions |
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Royal Palace
Plaza de Oriente
248-7404
This massive 2,000 room Renaissance
building is a fine example of
classic Italian baroque style. While
Charles III completed the palace in
1714, the square itself was designed
by Joseph Bonaparte after his
brother Napoleon conquered Spain.
However, Napoleon's final defeat cut
short the French plan for a street
inspired by the Champs Elysées.
Madrid's impressive opera house,
completed in 1818 by Cuatodio
Moreno, also makes for an
interesting visit. The palace is
open everyday, and tours are
available to guide tourists though
50 rooms of art.
Museo del Prado
Paseo del Prado
420-3662
Built in 1785, the National Museum
stands as one of the most beautiful
neoclassic buildings in Madrid.
Charles III commissioned Juan de
Villanueva to begin construction on
a museum of natural history in 1785.
After the building served a stint as
an arsenal during the wars against
Napoleon, Ferdinand VII inaugurated
it in 1819 as Madrid's Museum of
Art, consisting entirely of Spanish
paintings. The Museum is now one of
the elite art museums in the world
with its collections of Goya, El
Greco, Velázquez, Rubens, Titian,
Tinoretto, Van Dyck, Hieronymus,
Dürer, Veronese, Brueghel, Ribera,
and Bosch. The museum is closed on
Mondays.
Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza
Paseo del Prado, 8
420-3944
Inaugurated in 1993, this museum
houses over 700 masterpieces of a
private collection in the
Villahermosa Palace. Open 10AM to
7PM, but closed on Mondays.
Centro de Arte Reina Sofia: National
Museum Reina Sofía of Modern Art
Santa Isabel, 52.
67-5062
This contemporary building completes
the "Arts Triangle of Prado" by
focusing on modern masters including
Joan Miro, Picasso, and Dali. The
Museum is open 10AM to 9PM, but
closed on Tuesdays.
Plaza Mayor
Many travelers miss this square.
Don't be one of them! This is
perhaps the most architecturally and
historically significant spot in
Madrid. Philip III built this
perfectly preserved arcaded square
between 1617 and 1619 as the public
meeting place of his new capital and
to increase the prestige of his
country. A statue of the king stands
in the center. Renaissance styling
dominates the surrounding buildings.
Here kings were crowned, the
Inquisition worked is terrors, men
fought bulls, guilds held meetings,
celebrants held festivals, and
protestors held demonstrations. The
square still serves the public
today. It fills with stages for
theater and music are set up during
the summer and serves as a bazaar in
preparation for the winter holiday
season.
Parque del Retiro
Madrid's biggest and most famous
park was founded in 1631. Visitors
often find themselves returning here
for the fountains, statues, and
great paths through 330 acres of
trees and gardens. Rental rowboats
are available on the picturesque
lake. Street theater is an
ever-changing attraction. The park
is also home of the Palacio de
Cristal (Crystal Palace), a
beautiful metal and glass building
built in 1887 to shelter exotic
plants from the winter weather.
Soccer
Sports fans can catch a match at the
Estadio Bernabeu, the stadium in the
North section of the city. Real
Madrid and the national Spanish team
play here. |
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