Madrid, Take A Tour Of A City That Rocks

1 thing is for certain,"Madrileños" certainly know how to enjoy life to the full, and you should too whilst in Madrid, for the capital of Spain is a magical town, rich in culture and, at night it really rocks!

For shopoholics, its bustling Gran Via provides some of the best stores in Europe.

For the kids, there is a lot to keep them entertained with the Zoo-Aquarium, the Faunia Theme Park, the Wax Museum, the Amusement Park, Warner Bros-Madrid Theme Park...

And the town comes alive at night for everybody. Cinemas, theaters, clubs, restaurants, floorshows, ballet, opera... the choice is yours!

Throughout the day, there are those magnificent sights to see, many of which may be considered from an open-top tour bus if you´re feeling too lazy to walk!

The Palacio Real or Royal Palace has been the residence of the Spanish Royal Monarchy in Madrid since 1764. Around its courtyard is the Royal Armoury and, close by, are the beautiful Sabatini Gardens and Cathedral of the Almudena, where Prince Felipe recently married his true love.

The Plaza Mayor is a massive square of 3-storey buildings built in 1617 with a statue of Felipe III on horeseback in its centre.

The Puerta de Alcalá, situated in the middle of the Plaza de la Independencia, is on the calle de Alcalá, where you'll also find the Fine Arts Museum and the Casino.

At the opposite end of the road is the Puerta del Sol.

Moving along into the Plaza Colón, you'll find monuments dedicated to Colombus and his travels. In the middle of the square are the Gardens of Discovery, towered over by huge blocks of stone, inscribed with details of Colombus´ travels.

Madrid is known for its museums and a significant attraction is the Prado Museum, housing the world´s biggest collection of Spanish paintings.

Two other museums well worth a visit are the Museo Thyseen-Bornemisza from the Palacio de Villahermosa, and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

Madrid also has many pleasant gardens and parks, the most important one being the huge, 12-hectare Parque del Buen Retiro using both palaces and central lake.

Madrid is also noted for its beautiful fountains, by way of instance, la Cibeles in the central Plaza de la Cibeles, and the Fountain of Neptune, near the Prado Museum.