Destination Overview
Madrid may be lacking in architectural beauty compared with
other major Spanish cities, but it makes up for this with its
boundless energy, blue skies, art, culture and some of the most
exhilarating and exhausting nightlife in Europe. The city is
compact and easy to navigate on foot - most of the sights of
interest are found in the downtown area between the Royal Palace
and Parque del Retiro.The capital of Spain since 1562, Madrid sits in the geographic
centre of the Iberian Peninsula and has long been an important stop
on any art tour through Europe. The famous Museo del Prado on the
city's 'Museum Mile' houses important works by Spanish and European
masters from the Renaissance onwards, while the Museo
Thyssen-Bornemiza houses one of the most extensive private
collections in the world. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina
Sofia is devoted to 20th century Spanish art, with works by Miro,
Dali and Picasso.Visitors wishing to take a break from all that art may want to
see the Plaza de Toros, Spain's largest bullring, where regular
bullfights are still held. Sports fanatics who like something a
little less bloodthirsty can watch Real Madrid, or Atletico de
Madrid, Spain's most famous football teams kick off.The city sits atop a plateau and is the highest capital in
Europe, making its climate somewhat extreme with steaming hot
summers and bitterly cold winters. Spring is the best time to visit
and explore the squares and alleyways in the heart of this crowded
city.
