Historical Madrid

With its impressive façade and richly decorated interior, this is the largest royal palace in Western Europe and the official residence of the King of Spain, although the current monarchs do not live there.

Also known as the Palace of Oriente, because of its location in the Square of Oriente, and connected to the Almudena Cathedral, the palace stands out for its valuable historical-cultural heritage and is one of Madrid’s must-see attractions. Visitors are able to enjoy the palace’s important collections of Paintings, Tapestries and Sculptures by renowned artists, as well as the most valuable collection of antique instruments in Madrid, known as the Palatine Stradivarius, as long as there are no official events being held.

This major tourist attraction is built on an old square dating from the 16th century known as the Plaza del Arrabal, which was the main market at the time. A rectangular arcaded square, completely enclosed on all sides by three-storey residential buildings, it has 10 access points, the most famous being the Arco de Cuchilleros (Cutlers’ Arch). Inside the square is the statue of Philip III, a gift to the King of Spain from the Grand Duke of Florence, as well as a range of cafes, restaurants, and specialist shops selling collectible items, such as stamps, coins and more, that arouse great interest among the thousands of tourists who visit the square every year.

A spectacular 2,200-year-old building from ancient Egypt and one of Madrid’s most charming sites, especially at sunset. It stands on a small pond, paying homage to the river Nile that ran close to the original site of the temple, and has a number of chambers that can be visited. The temple was a gift from Egypt to Spain in gratitude for its help in saving the monuments of Nubia that were in danger of disappearing during the construction works of the Aswan dam.

 

A neoclassical Catholic church located in the historic centre of Madrid. Built in the 18th century, it is part of a Franciscan convent founded at the beginning of the 13th century. The church stands out for its imposing dome, the third largest in the Christian world, and its elegant interior décor of eclectic styles, as well as its valuable picture gallery which includes works by Zurbarán and Goya. 

Located in the Salamanca district and opened in 1934, this is one of the sites in Madrid that arouses most curiosity. Las Ventas is the largest bullring in Spain, with a capacity of almost 24,000, and is regarded as the most important arena in the world by bullfighting professionals and enthusiasts. The inside of the Ring, as well as the Bullfighting Museum housed there, is open to visits every day from 10 AM to 6 PM.