Travels with V

Madrid

Travels with V

Madrid

In Spain's beating heart

Madrid part one

It’s so easy to fall in love with Madrid. A city with the best of two worlds – it’s both modern and sort of small-town picturesque. Friendly, open and easy to find your way in. Much more relaxed than e.g. Barcelona, and with lots of must-see stuff within walking distance.

We had our minds first and foremost set on two things – art and food. And were richly rewarded with both. There is probably no other city in the world that has more restaurants per inhabitant than Madrid, at least none that we have been to. And the art, well it’s everywhere. Just around the corner from where we stay is the impressive fountain on Plaza de España with the statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and the author Cervantes watching them.

FONTÄN VID PLAZA DE ESPAÑA

By a street door in a corner of the Plaza, a sign tells us that another great artist lived here between 1960 and 1980. That was his most productive period. 

This part of the city, around Plaza de España is a perfect starting point for exploring the city. The big shopping street Gran Via starts here and leads you east to Plaza de Cibeles dominated by the white cream cake Palacio de Comunicaciones. 

Turn right at this point and walk down Paseo del Prado to get to the famous art museum. 

Prado is of course one of the most magnificent museums in Europe, with its collections old spanish, italian and dutch masters in painting and sculpture. Works of Goya and Velázquez are here, but also some of  Rembrandt.

GOYA: LOS FUSILAMIENTOS DE MONCLOA

Just a few blocks away you’ll find Prado’s sister museum Museo Reina Sofia, with more contemporary art. Naturally Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí are represented here, Picasso’s famous Guernica painting has its own room here. These museums are huge so plan at least a day for a  visit.

Wherever you go in Madrid you find spectacular houses. On Gran Via e.g. there’s a tall buildning with a remarkable tower on top. You can see it from everywhre in the central parts. It’s Telefónica, former offices for the state-owned telephone company, now a sort of culture center. This was the first “skyscraper” in Europe, the architect being inspired by a trip to New York. But it definitely has a Spanish touch.

Top five in Madrid:

  1. Accomodation: We tested two hotels. Mercure Madrid Plaza de Espagna in the back streets of the Plaza, a sort of bohem-chic place. Service was off and on, bar closed very early. And Dear Hotel right on the Plaza. perfect in every aspect. Great service, great location and a great restaurant on top!
  2. Best restaurant: La Candela Restò. Incomparable creations, a gastronomical roller-coaster ride (now sadly closed).  Mercado de San Miguel for the oysters!. 
  3. Best to-do: Stroll through the core of the city, check the magnificent buildings. 
  4. Muste-see: Prado and Reina Sofia, art museums with the works of the greatest european painters. 
  5. Coffee/Bar: Christ, there’s just too many of them, but we really enjoyed La Azotea rooftop terrace on the roof of Círculo De Belles Artes. Great atmosphere, erfect drinks and breathtaking views of the city.
Resebloggar finns det gott om men vi har en lite annan tanke med våra berättelser. Vi vill främst beskriva våra upplevelser av udda platser, människorna vi möter och miljöer som är rätt annorlunda mot vad vi möter hemma.

Därför hamnar vi ibland i avlägsna indianbyar i Guatemalas berg eller bland andetroende bybor på en ö i Indonesien. Men också på mer kända platser som Machu Picchu i Peru eller sandstränderna i Goa. Allt sett genom våra ögon och kameror.

Den som vill ha restips får också sitt - varje resmål har en avdelning med sånt vi kan rekommendera. Eller undvika. Vårt fokus är framför allt att sporra er läsare att göra som vi - resa rätt ut i den vida världen.