Madrid art.

For art lovers, Madrid must be a heaven. Its galleries have been receiving raving reviews year after year. International art collectors flock to the art galleries to see what is on display. Entrance fees are affordable (about 6 Euros per adult), so most people can get to enjoy the art. Art galleries include places such as Museo THYSSEN-BORNEMISZA, Museo PRADO, and Museo REINA SOFIA.

In the galleries, the works of many famous Spanish artists (such as Picasso) are featured. In fact, Madrid has the largest collection of Spanish artwork in the entire world! So if you are an art lover looking to examine Spanish art, then Madrid is the perfect venue.

Madrid theme parks.

If you are traveling with kids, it’s good to know that there are family friendly destinations that you can visit as well. Kids may not know how to appreciate Spanish art, but they sure know how to have a great time at one of the two gigantic theme parks in Madrid! The two theme parks are Parque Warner Bros and Parque de attracions. Parque Warner Bros is the more modern theme park. From the name of the theme park, you probably have guessed that many cartoon characters will be featured in the rides. You are right! There is a cartoon village, where children can learn about the history of Warner Bros famous cartoon characters. And then there is Hollywood Boulevard, where the fun rides are. Your children will thank you for bringing them to one of the theme parks!

Madrid monuments and landmarks.

If you are visiting Madrid for the first time, then it is a must that you take some time to visit some of the key monuments and landmarks in the city. But before you make the trip, make sure that you check out the opening hours of the monument. Usually, they are open from morning till evening (regular business hours). On Sundays and public holidays, they may be closed, or they may open for half a day. So be sure to check this out so that you don’t make a wasted trip.

Key attractions include the Royal Palace, the Almudena Cathedral, Puerta Alcala, Parque Retiro, Puerta de Toledo, Plaza Ciebeles, and more.

About the Author:

For more information on Madrid attractions, please visit our website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Interesting and Popular Madrid Attractions

The capital city of Spain is reservoir of many historic memories. The cultural heritage of the country is truly reflected in the museums and the art galleries. The locations in Madrid inside the city are full of life activity and energy. Visitors craving to modern trends will feel great. A tourist can get accommodation on hire to reside in long term or short term basis in the city. Walking down in the streets of Madrid bring out the wild of every visitor. Vacationers can sign to apartments for their stay in the busy locations of Madrid.

For people who enjoy life in the countryside or who want to discover their inner instinct in the lonely province will feel lucky to be in their tour to Spain. The locations in Madrid and its suburbs are full of scenic beauty where lurking the quixotic surroundings for the cupid struck visitors. Tourist to these places can find best accommodations to be tenants there for long or short period of time.

It has become easy to find an apartment in any location in Madrid with the presence of Chic Rentals. Chic Rentals offers the service of providing an apartment in rent in Madrid. A customer just needs contact by internet or phone. The apartment for the customer is selected on the basis of style and comfort. Whether in the city or in the suburb of it, Chic Rentals makes an apartment available for the tourist in any location of Madrid caring their choice.

Select the convenient way for getting a reservation for your holidays in Spain. Chic Rentals is the best solution to your dilemma of getting an apartment in any location of Madrid.

About the Author:

For more information regarding Locations in Madridplease visit http://www.chic-rentals.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Find yourself in the Enchanting Locations of Madrid

As a child I had the priviledge to spend the first years of my life in Madrid and study in an old traditional school run my nuns since the early 1900s. That school which five minutes walking distance to the Royal Palace in Madrid, right in the city center is still up and running pretty much in the same way from decades. During the lunch break, we used to tell each other ghost tales that made the 2-hour break much more bearable.

From all those stories, I remember in special a day when one of the teachers came and sat down with a group of roughly ten girls, telling us how the school used to be a hospital in war times and the used to hide from bomb attacks on secret tunnels right underneath the school. Apparently those tunnels served not only as refuge from air raids during the Spanish Civil War but also served as an enourmous gallery that connected key places within the Old Town, for instance, the Plaza Mayor, the Palace, the Town Hall, the Hospital, etc.

The network of interconnected landmarks allowed some priviledge people with knowledge of its existence to move freely without the fear of being caught, and more importantly, move people and goods undetected. Obviously, I did cuestion many times the veracity of this tale, as it seemed to my quite rare that this story was in fact not of public domain, but merely a rare comment from a nun that usually never walked out of the boundaries of the school-convent building.

To my surprise, this story came out to be absolutely true. Madrid was named after the arabic word ‘Madjrit’ which means ‘place where there are tunnels’. Therefore the secret tunnels that interconnect the whole city centre of Madrid were real and existed before the muslim occupation, around the 11th century. The islamic legacy was specially rich in terms of knowledge of water distribution and supply. It is thougt that the tunnels were in fact designed to keep a permanent reservoir of water, saving it away from the sun and therefore eluding evaporation.

As the arab ocupation where forced out of Madrid and ultimately out of Spain, their systems where left in disuse and many people just forgot about its existence, until diffult times, in particular the Civil War stroke the city. The citizens of Madrid refer to their city as a Gruyere cheese, because of its many wholes underneath the surface, and seems like there could be more than initially thought.

When the city is hosted high profile meetings and events such as official visits from foreing prime ministers, security is obviously high not only on the visible city but also in Madrid underground tunnels. But there are many other cities with the same secret tunnels, for instance Lyon, Paris, Seville or Rome, just to name a few. Some places have organized visits to the hidden tunnels such as the Vatican, other will never be seen by the public, others will only be visited if you talk with the locals and do some research. Staying at privately owned apartments is a good way to interact with locals, whether you want to find apartments in Madrid, rentals in Paris, houses in Seville there will be a hidden tunnel underneath waiting for you to discover.

About the Author:

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Hidden Tunnels in Madrid, the Secret Underground World

1. Puerta Del Sol
Start your trip to Madrid here. The Puerta Del Sol is the center of it all. This is where all of the radial highways begin. In the central area of Puerta Del Sol you will find the famous statue of a bear standing against a tree which is based on Madrid’s coat of arms.

2. Bullfights
You cannot go to Spain without seeing a bullfight. Madrid is the home of bullfighting so if you have never seen a bullfight and want to, this is the place to see it. Some of the best Spanish bullfights are in Madrid. The bullfighting season usually goes from March to October.

3. Palacio Real
The Royal Palace is a beautiful and a very important place in Madrid. Unless there is official business taking place, the Royal Palace is open to the public. You will have to pay an entrance fee, but it is well worth it. Make sure to visit the beautiful formal gardens while you’re there.

4. Prado Museum
The Prado Museum is one of the most important museums in the world and without a doubt the pride of Madrid. In this museum you will find the world’s greatest collection of Spanish paintings. If you are interested in art this is a must to see.

5. Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is a marvelous historical site to see. In the center of the square stands the statue of Philip III on horseback. Access to the square is through one of nine arches and only foot traffic is allowed in the square.

6. Parque Del Buen Retiro
This massive park has a central lake, statues, many fountains, and pleasant walkways. It is a relaxing place to get away from the city during the week and meditate or relax for a while. Go to the lake and hire yourself a boat and float on the lake or enjoy some of the street entertainers that frequent the park.

7. The Gran Via
A must see street if you love architecture. Many different styles of buildings are seen on this street and are very well preserved.

8. Puerta De Alcala
This is the most important and longest street in Madrid. It is found in the center of the Plaza de la Independencia on Calle de Alcala.

9. Estacion De Atocha
One of two main railways in Madrid, the Estacion de Atocha has beautiful tropical garden that grace the main hall. You will come here to catch all of the national, high-speed trains.

10. Plaza Colon
Several monuments of Columbus and his men dating back to 1885 are found here. In the center of the square are The Gardens of Discovery. Underneath the square is the Cultural Center. In the center is a theater, concert hall and exhibition rooms. The center is hidden from view by a wall of water.

There are many other wonderful things to see in Madrid, but these are some of my favorites.

Have a Great Trip!

About the Author:

Jim Ada has been working in the language industry for over 15 years and has had years of international business experience. Impress the locals by learning some Spanish before traveling to Spain. Find the language course that is right for you at www.SpeakALanguage.com. Visit our website to hear a free Pimsleur lesson.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Top 10 Things to See in Madrid, Spain