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Madrid: Where the Past Meets the Future in Today's Spain!

Madrid, Spain is a city caught in multiple time periods. The architectural history reminds visitors of a storied past that has included Roman, Muslim and Napoleonic rule. It is also a city of the 21st century, a hustling, bustling, megalopolis of a town reveling in its role as Spain's capital city. Vacationers will appreciate the many museums, art galleries, gardens, palaces, and historical buildings. Intimate and sprawling plazas, surrounded by cafes, await visitors who want to sit and watch the Madrid day pass by. So, grab your camera and dive in!

A good way to acquaint yourself with the city is by visiting the Hapsburg Madrid area. This is the city's centre, and was created by the immediate Hapsburg successors to Felipe I. The Puerta del Sol (sun gate) was once the site of a massive city gate. Today a statue of Carlos III (the nose is unmistakable!) adorns the square, along with a statue of a bear nuzzling a madraño (strawberry) tree, so named because the fruit on the tree resembles large strawberries. The bear serves as the symbol of Madrid, and the square it adorns is a popular local meeting spot. Just west of the Puerta del Sol is Plaza Mayor, the heartbeat of the city. The cafes and restaurants that line the plaza hum with excitement, as tourists and locals alike seek out the best people watching spot. The action is non-stop, as the plaza is just as lively at 2:00 am as it is in the early evening.

Art lovers will certainly want to visit Museo Del Prado, one of the art world's holy grails. Housed in the Palacio de Villanueva, the museum has been a fine art gallery since 1819. Originally, the building was used as a natural history museum, but also served as a barracks during the Napoleonic occupation. The museum pays particular attention to the work of three Spanish artists: Velazquez (Cristo Crucifado, La Rendicion de Breda), Goya (La Maja Vestida, La Maja Desnuda), and El Greco (La Crucifixion, San Andres y San Francisco). The works listed above are but a few of the extensive collection dedicated to these artists. There is also an impressive collection of Flemish and Italian works.

Another can't-miss site is the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. This is one of the most wide-ranging private collections of mostly European art in the world. The pieces have been acquired over generations by the Thyssen-Bornemiszans, a family of German-Hungarian magnates. Spain won the right to display the prestigious collection when it agreed to renovate the magnificent Palacio de Villahermosa specifically to house it. Touring the museum is a time traveling experience through the history of art. You work your way from religious art dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, right up to modern pop art. Some of the artists represented include Caravaggio, Titian, Monet, Manet, Renoir, James Whistler, Van Gogh, and Marc Chagall.

After a day of museum hopping and sight seeing, a leisurely stroll through Parque del Buen Retiro may be just the way to end your day. This is Madrid's loveliest public garden, but was once a preserve serving kings, queens, and their intimates. The artificial lake is guarded by the massive structure of Alfonso XII's mausoleum. The lake has boat rentals if you want to take a relaxing rowing excursion. On the weekends, the gardens fill with street performers and food vendors. While in the gardens, visit the Palacio de Exposiciones, a metal and glass building originally designed to house winter flowers.

When the Alcázar palace burned down, Felipe V took it upon himself to create a palace that would surpass any in Europe. The result of Felipe's vision was Palacio Real, a massive 2800 room monument to opulence. The palace was designed in the Italianate baroque style, and today serves mainly as a place for state ceremonies of pomp and circumstance. Inside you can see some of the apartments that housed royalty, as well as the Armería Real, the Royal Armory, which houses a shining collection of weapons and armor, most dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.

In addition to all the impressive museums and palaces, Madrid also has a vibrant nightlife where visitors can dance till dawn, catch a play, concert, concerto, or even a sporting event. Madrid is a full-service vacation destination, serving high octane fun!