Ivan

Welcome to Madrid!!!
Welcome to Madrid, the capital of Spain. The city is famous for its Museums, for its classical architecture and for its night life.

The best Museums in Madrid are the "Museo del Prado", with Spanish and foreign masterpieces from 1400 to 1700; the "Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia", with a vast a collection of 20th century works; and the "MuseoThyssen-Bornemizsa", with 18th to 20th centuries masterpieces from the Thyssen private collection.

But Madrid has many other interesting things to offer. If you come with me, I will take you on a Photographic Tour of this wonderful city. By the way on the right you can see the "Puerta de Alcala", where we will start the tour.

Madrid, "La Cibeles"
The Cybele Fountain, dedicated to the Greek Goddess, is oneof the symbols of Madrid.
Madrid is easily accessed by plane, train or road. Its airport, with its recently inaugurated fourth terminal, is one of the biggest in Europe, with flights to America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Most South american cities have direct flights to Madrid. To get to the city from its airport, you can take the metro (very convenient), the bus, or a taxi.
The city has alsovery good connections by road and train with all Spanish cities. Fast trains (AVE) connect Madrid with Seville, Barcelona, and many other Spanish cities.
We will now take a look at the "Museo del Prado" ...


Madrid, El Prado Museum
The Prado Museum is Spain's finest Museum, and one of the best in Europe. Inside this Neoclassical building you can find over 3,000 paintings.

The PradoMuseum has a formidable collection of Italian masterpieces, with works by Titian, Raphael, Tintoretto and Botticelli. A great collection of Flemish masterpieces, with works by Van Dyck, Albrecht Dürer, van der Weyden, Peter Breughel the Elder and Rubens. But the best part of the museum is the Velazquez and Goya sections.

By the way, on Sunday mornings museums are free in Madrid.

Madrid,Neptune Fountain
In this picture you can see the Neptune Fountain in the "Plaza Canovas", in front of the Museo Thyssen Bornemizsa.
Although there are some tourist buses, I think Madrid is a city you have to visit on foot. If you want to go to one of the attractions far from the city center, you can take the metro. There are 12 lines, and metro stops next to most places. The metro runs till late atnight.

Madrid, Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor was completed in 1620. The Felipe III statue also dates from the 17th century.
In this square you'll find a Tourist Information Center. Not far from here sits the 'Plaza de la Vila', with the Town Hall building. The 'Ayuntamiento' (=Town Hall) used to be the Mayor's home and the city's jail --I wonder why these two institutions were so close!Madrid, Plaza de Oriente
This is a picture of the statue in the Plaza de Oriente, the square in front of the Royal Palace.
Madrid has a good offer of accommodation. Most tourist hotels are in old Madrid (downtown). If you want to get a good deal, look for a hotel in the outskirts of the city.

Madrid, Plaza de España
In the picture you can see the statue of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza in Plazade España (Spain Square). This square is less than five minutes from Plaza de Oriente on foot.
Spain has a long history. The Romans ruled for nine centuries, leaving their irrigation's techniques, their architecture, their language --Spanish Castillian, Galizian and Catalan come from Latin; nobody knows where the Basque language comes from.
The Muslims invaded Spain in 711, and stayed in someparts for almost eight centuries. During that time, Spain was a religion tolerant territory, and the classical Greek science and eastern artistic traditions were cultivated.

Madrid, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Real Madrid is one of the best Football clubs of all times (it was elected best club of the 20th century). It is the club that has won the Champions League (Europe Cup) more times....