A Madrid Excursion Offers An Opportunity to Learn About the City's Past

Added: 01/09/2006

Recognized as the former capital of the Spanish Empire, Madrid has long been noted for its cultural offerings, its people, its climate and its scenic location. Today it is viewed as one of the most developed cities in the world, regarded as the political and financial center of Spain. Madrid's influence on Spanish living in particular and European culture in general can not be denied. Cultural life of the city is rich and varied, marked by numerous highlights. So what better way to learn about the city's illustrious past and exciting present than with a Madrid excursion?

The most important tourist attraction of Madrid is the Golden Triangle of Art, which comprises the prominent Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, the Gran Via, the Plaza Mayor, the Cason del Buen Retiro, the Palacio Real, the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, the Tempo de Debod, the Parque del Buen Retiro and the Puerta del Sol. Many Madrid museums are free, like the Naval Museum between the Prado and Cibeles.

A Madrid excursion to the Golden Museum Triangle can be summed up as both an educational and exciting experience for art lovers. If you haven't decided what the starting point of your Madrid excursion will be, start with the Museo del Prado. Regarded as one of the best art collections worldwide and the finest collection of classical art in the city of Madrid, the museum houses a number of Spanish, Dutch, Flemish, Italian and German paintings.

You'll spend your day in delightful wanderings among masterpieces of Goya, Velazquez, Rubens, van Dyck, Boticcelli, Albrecht Durer and Lucas Cranach. The connoisseurs of modern art should take advantage of Madrid excursion to Reina Sofia National Museum and Art Center, which houses the best collection of modern art. It houses masterpieces of Pablo Picasso, Kandinsky, Bacon, Dali and more.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum of Art holds a big art collection of masterpieces of Goya, Degas, Monet, Renoir, Picasso, and Bacon. The price of tickets is 6 EUR. One of the sights worth visiting is Atocha RENFE, a historic train station, prominent for its winter house jungle garden.

A Madrid excursion to the city's central park El Retiro is a great way to spend the rest of a sunny day, watching the statue of Alphonso XII, the
Forest of the Absent, and the magnificent Crystal Palace, made entirely of glass. One of the most magnificent buildings in Madrid, The Palacio Real features a collection of medieval armor and weapons. It occupies the area of 100,000 square meters with nearly 30 rooms and 45 stairways.

Those interested in the historic past of the city should visit the Museum of the City with its five floors, featuring models of several urban areas. Football fans are attracted by Real Madrid Museum, located at Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid's famous stadium. It displays the trophies of Spain?s most successful football club Real Madrid. Amusement parks have been always seen as a popular tourist destination, including Warner Bros. Park Madrid, Madrid Amusement Park, Zoo Madrid and Faunia, all of them located in the Casa de Campo. Madrid is known as the world fashion center and a shopping Mecca. Here you can find a variety of shops and boutiques, offering the best of world fashion.

Like many other tours, Madrid day trips have both advantages and disadvantages. While choosing among organized tours, you have the chance to learn more about the history of the city from professional guides. However, the majority of such tours stick to a strict schedule, so that you don't have an opportunity to stay in the area you like for a long time. For this reason it is advisable to find an ideal solution through a combination of free days spent in Madrid with organized tours and excursions.

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