Madrid is one of the most visited Spanish cities, along with Valencia and Barcelona, and has a welcoming aura to it. Its natural heritage and monumental history are exceptional, giving tourists a true Spanish experience. Located in the center of Spain, Madrid is known as the capital of culture that brims with the finest fortress palaces and museums packed with artistic and cultural artifacts.
Madrid is a city that welcomes tourists with open arms, but first-time tourists have a challenging time finding the best places to visit. Having said that, Madrid promises a wonderful trip as it’s packed with museums, palaces, monasteries, and more, so let’s explore!
10 Best Things to Do in Madrid
1. The Royal Palace
Known as the largest in Western Europe and one of the biggest in the world, the Royal Palace of Madrid spans over 135,000 square meters. The Royal Palace has witnessed multiple centuries and is now owned by the Spanish state while Patrimonio Nacional administers the daily operations. It is located on Bailén Street and in the east of Manzanares River.
The Royal Palace of Madrid is located on the site of a Muslim-era fortress, which was constructed in the 9th century by Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba. It has been through significant expansion during the 16th century, and Alcazar remained on this site until it was burned down in 1734.
However, a new palace was constructed on the same site, and the Bourbon dynasty supported the construction work. The restoration construction was completed between 1738 and 1755, and the palace was designed in Berniniesque aesthetic, and it was the brainchild of Giovanni Battista Sacchetti and Filippo Juvarra.
The interior has paintings from Caravaggio, Francisco de Goya, Anton Raphael Mengs, and Juan de Flandes, along with frescoes of Corrado Giaquinto and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. The majority of paintings are a part of the Spanish Royal Collection, but the exhibitions are temporary as this palace is the official residence of the King of Spain.
2. Prado Museum
Officially known as the Museo Nacional del Prado, this is the main national art museum of Spain and is situated in central Madrid. It has a European art collection dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century, and is named as the best Spanish art collection. It was founded for sculptures and paintings in 1819 but there are other collections as well.
Prado Museum has artwork from Francisco Goya, who is the most popular artist from the Spanish empire, along with the works of Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, and El Greco. According to the guides, Velázquez was responsible for curating the fine arts collection, including the Spanish and Italian art. Currently, this collection has 8200 drawings, 1000 sculptures, 7600 paintings, and 4800 prints, along with a never-ending collection of historic and art documents.
The museum building was designed by Juan de Villanueva in 1785, and Charles III ordered the palace design and construction. The final function was decided when Queen María Isabel de Braganza started using the Prado Museum as the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures, accrediting to the encouragement of Ferdinand VII.
It was first opened to the public in 1819 with the aim to show the Spanish Crown’s art collection and to show that Spanish art was in line with other European art. The museum also witnessed multiple renovations during the 19th and 20th centuries as the art collection was expanding.
3. Alcázar of Toledo
Known as the only stone fortification located on Toledo’s highest point, this quadrangular building is framed by four huge towers, each of them 60m high. All these towers are enhanced with the Madrid spire, and the majority of this building was reconstructed between 1939 and 1957 because of destruction caused by the siege of the Alcázar.
It used to be a Roman palace during the 3rd century, but Charles I restored it, along with Philip II of Spain during the 1540s. Later, in 1521, Charles I received Hernán Cortés at the Alcázar after the conquest of the Aztecs.
During the Spanish Civil War, Colonel Jose Moscardo held this building against the republican forces, which has become an important part of the Spanish Nationalist lore. The lore also highlights the story of Luis, the son of Moscardo, as he was held hostage and demanded the murder or surrendering of Alcazar. However, Moscardo didn’t surrender, and his son was executed.
Given such events at this building during the Spanish Civil War, it has become a symbol of Spanish Nationalism. However, when the siege finally ended, the building was damaged, but it was rebuilt and now has the Museo del Ejército and Biblioteca Autonómica.
4. Templo de Debod
Located in Madrid, this ancient Egyptian building is placed on a hill where the Montaña barracks used to be. Templo de Debod was a gift from Egypt in 1968, and it was gifted as compensation for Spanish aid that helped save Nubia’s temples, especially Abu Simbel, as it was at the edge of extinction caused by the Aswan Dam’s construction.
For this reason, Egypt donated four monuments, and Debod was one of them. The excavation work was completed by the Egyptian Antiquities Service and the Polish Archaeological Mission. In addition, Philippe Derchain and François Daumas were commissioned by UNESCO to copy the temple’s inscriptions. The sketch and plan were provided by the Egyptian Antiquities Service to put together the monument, along with some pictures, but they lacked the references.
There were 2300 pieces that had to be fitted together, but the blocks lost the numbering, and many marks didn’t even correspond to the construction plan. However, the temple’s reconstruction was an anastylosis, so the hypostyle façade was re-erected, and the east side witnessed the closure of mammisi. Then the temple was finally opened to the public in 1972, and ever since then, it has been a location for film screenings, music gigs, and theatre performances.
The monument is 2200 years old, and the oldest core was created under the reign of Pharaoh Ptolemy IV Philopator, but Adijalamani of Meroe was responsible for commanding the decoration. It has been dedicated to the Amun of Debod and Isis. However, there is a discrepancy in facts because the majority of researchers believe that Adijalamani was responsible for the erection of the oldest core while Ptolemy IV intervened.
5. National Archaeological Museum
Located right beside Columbus Square, the National Archaeological Museum shares the building with the National Library. The museum was founded by the Royal Decree of Isabella II back in 1867 because they wanted a repository for ethnographical, numismatic, and archaeological collections. In addition, it has many decorative art collections which were put together by the Spanish monarch.
Later, in 1895, the collections were moved to the current venue, which is a neoclassical building designed by Francisco Jareño. The building was constructed between 1866 and 1892, while the renovations started in 1968, and the extension work helped increase the base area of the museum.
Then, in 2008 and 2009, the National Archaeological Museum was remodeled to show only the collection highlights that were available to the public. Now, the collection includes pieces from Prehistory and Early-Modern age, particularly the ones molded by the Iberian Peninsula.
6. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Named after Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, this art museum is situated near the Prado Museum and has become one of the main boulevards of the city. It is also known as the Golden Triangle of Art, which includes the Reina Sofía and Prado national galleries. For instance, the Prado section has Italian works from German, Dutch, and English schools. On the contrary, Reina Sofía has American, European, Impressionist, and Expressionist paintings from the 20th century.
Back in the day, it had 1600 paintings and was considered the 2nd biggest private collection after the British Royal Collection. In the past few years, the museum has been under international notoriety because it refused to share the masterwork of Francisco Pizarro, which was stolen during the holocaust (the theft was committed by the Nazis). According to the research, the artwork is worth millions of dollars, and the museum administration isn’t returning it despite legal actions and formal requests.
In addition to the master work of Francisco, there is an extensive North American paintings collection from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as the work of John Singer Sargent, Copley, and Winslow Homer.
7. Reina Sofía Museum
The Reina Sofía Museum is a famous art museum located in Madrid, Spain. The museum’s building itself is a work of art as it’s designed by architects Richard Rogers and Norman Foster. It houses one of the world’s most impressive collections of 20th-century art, including masterpieces by some of the most influential artists of the era. For instance, it has Guernica, which is Pablo Picasso’s anti-war painting and takes the center of the museum.
In addition, it has the Surrealism collection, which includes the work of Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Joan Miró. Reina Sofía Museum has an abundant collection of paintings by Abstract Expressionists, which includes the work of Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. In addition to its permanent collection, the Reina Sofía Museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions which have artworks by both established and emerging artists.
8. Escorial Monastery
Officially known as the Escorial Monastery, this is a historical residence of the King of Spain and was built between 1563 and 1584. The construction orders were given by King Phillip II, and it has become the biggest Renaissance building in the world. Now, it is known as one of the best Spanish royal sites and operates as a royal palace, basilica, monastery, university, museum, library, and pantheon.
There are two architectural complexes with cultural and historical significance and they have a dual nature as well. That’s because, during the 16th and 17th centuries, the Roman Catholic religion and Spanish monarchy agreed upon this one architectural manifestation. While it’s been a Spanish royal as well as a monastery, it’s important to mention that Philip II is the only monarch who lived in the main building.
In addition, it was set up with the Hieronymite monks’ community, making it the Order of St. Augustine monastery. Philip II appointed Juan Bautista de Toledo to be the royal architect in 155, who designed this monastery as the epitome of Spain’s role in nurturing Christian communities.
9. San Jerónimo Monastery
Also known as the Saint Jerome the Royal, this is a Roman Catholic church that has been around since the early 16th century. It is a Hieronymite monastery which has witnessed multiple restorations and remodeling works. Saint Jerome the Royal was the place where King Juan Carlos I’s investiture was celebrated.
The original monastery was built around the Monte de El Pardo and Manzanares River’s banks. However, the site had excessive marshiness, which led to sickness in monks. For this reason, Isabella I allowed the monks to construct a new style, and it was constructed in the Isabelline Gothic style. However, during the Napoleonic French occupation, the majority part was destroyed and monks were expelled in 1808. Instead, the French troops were residing in the monastery, which caused extensive damage.
For this reason, Isabella II of Spain ordered the first restoration, and Narciso Pascual Colomer handled the architecture, and he also added the towers. The second restoration was designed by Enrique María Repullés during 1879 and 1883, and it led to the current architecture of this church. Now, the interior has sculptures of Benlliure and Juan Pascual de Mena, as well as paintings by José Méndez and Vincenzo Carducci.
10. Casa de Cervantes
Casa de Cervantes is a historic house museum located in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. The charming building is believed to be the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the renowned author of Don Quixote, which is one of the most influential works of literature in history.
Casa de Cervantes offers visitors a peek into the life and times of Cervantes. The museum is filled with exhibits and artifacts related to the author, including the first editions of his works, personal belongings, and historical documents. The visitors can also visit the rooms where Cervantes lived as a child and learn about his family and upbringing.
The museum also pays tribute to Cervantes’ most famous creation, Don Quixote. That’s because the visitors can see illustrations and adaptations of the novel, along with the interactive exhibits that show different themes and characters of this timeless masterpiece.
Conclusion
A cosmopolitan and vibrant city in Spain, Madrid has an abundance of historical sites, churches, museums, galleries, and palaces to visit. Having said that, Madrid is a must-visit city for history buffs and art lovers who want to experience the rich cultural and centuries-spanning history.
FAQs
Are 2 Days Enough for Madrid?
Yes, 2 days are enough for Madrid because it’s enough to visit the must-see places, ranging from the Royal Palace to the Prado Museum.
What Is Madrid Best Known for?
Madrid is the culture capital of Spain, which means it’s a haven of culture. It has world-famous museums, including the Reina Sofía Museum and Prado Museum.
Is Madrid or Barcelona Better?
Madrid is a better choice because it has the classic Spanish charm, an impressive range of museums, and vibrant neighborhoods.
Is Madrid an Expensive Holiday Destination?
No, it is not an expensive holiday destination as the prices are quite reasonable for accommodation and food. Also, public transport is cheap yet reliable.
How Much Is a Train From Madrid to Barcelona?
A train ride from Madrid to Barcelona costs around $73 if you purchase it on the spot. However, if you book in advance, the prices fall down to $58 as well.
Does Madrid Have a Beach?
Yes, there is the Madrid Beach, which is located in the Madrid Rio Park. It has an ice-skating rink, and you can also swim.
