| Madrid may have been full of life by 1200
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| | intricacies of contemporary Spanish art,
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| A.D. but it was not until 1979 that the
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| | the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina
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| capital city of Spain held its first free
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| | Sofia is a crucial visit. Once you have
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| and democratic elections. The tumultuous
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| | managed to overcome the awe of Picasso's
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| tribulations of the 20th century have
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| | Guernica, make sure to explore the
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| left a distinct flavor about the art,
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| | fascinating world of Spanish photography,
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| attitude and culture in Madrid. Visitors
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| | sculpture and film along with an
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| will find a thriving and exuberant local
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| | incredible collection of Kandinsky, Miró
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| population proud and eager to share its
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| | and Dalí. Finally, take a journey
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| resilient, if not neglected, history with
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| | through royal Madrid at the Palacio Real.
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| the world.
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| | The 2800-room palace is no longer
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| The modern heart and soul of Spain is
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| | inhabited by the royal family, but the
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| central to the entire Iberian Peninsula,
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| | walls are lined with elaborate frescos
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| making Madrid the ideal place to initiate
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| | and original artwork by the likes of El
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| your Spanish adventure. Madrid is also
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| | Greco and Goya. Stop by the two beautiful
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| rich with Moorish heritage as it was a
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| | gardens and get your fix of ancient
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| contentious battleground between the
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| | apothecary remedies in the Farmacia Real.
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| Islamic and Christian Empires for much of
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| | Madrid in Present Tense
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| the modern era. A stroll through Barrio
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| | In Madrid it is easy to leave history
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| de la Morería (Moorish Quarter) invokes
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| | behind and become immersed in the
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| an essence of Medieval Madrid through
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| | boisterous blooming lifestyle that fills
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| ornate Islamic architecture and hidden
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| | the streets. The pulse of Madrid's
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| plazas. The art and architecture of
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| | beating heart can be found in the Plaza
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| Madrid also speaks of the temporary but
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| | Mayor, the town square built in 1619 by
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| influential Habsburg and Bourbon Rules.
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| | Juan Gómez de Mora. Although it's
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| Museum Hop 'Til You Drop
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| | unlikely you'll be able to throw stones
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| Madrid is the internationally celebrated
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| | at heretics here anymore, console
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| home of Spain's most prominent art
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| | yourself with an alfresco drink and
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| collections. The Museo del Prado houses
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| | pastry at one of the many cafes. For the
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| the world's largest and most prized
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| | resilient shopper, do not miss the Sunday
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| collection featuring over 8,600 master
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| | Rastro flea market along the Calle de la
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| works by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco,
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| | Ribera de Curtidos, where bargain hunters
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| Ribera, Raphael, Botticelli, Fra
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| | and pack-rats alike will be in seventh
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| Angélico, and Rembrandt, to name a few.
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| | heaven.
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| Since 1819, the collection has been moved
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| | Travel to Madrid for the perfect
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| twice - during the Spanish Civil War and
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| | beginning to your Spanish vacation. Many
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| WWII - and has sustained immaculate
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| | captivating destinations lie just beyond
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| condition. The Prado is also a work of
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| | the city, including the world heritage
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| art in its own right, designed by famed
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| | town of Alcala de Henares, the royal
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| 18th century architect Juan de
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| | Aranjuez and the picturesque mountain
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| Villanueva. For the grandeur and curious
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| | town of Manzanares El Real.
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