Blog

Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

Brief On Tourist Circuits From Madrid

Madrid, as the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula, is a perfect start location to explore the diversity and centuries of history and culture. Whether traveling the roads of the south to Andalusia, the Strait of Gibraltar and Morocco, to the west, we find the land of the “conquistadores” in Extremadura and a little beyond, […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

Brief On Madrid Surroundings

This section covers the cities and sites around Madrid, that can be reached in an hour or two, and a radius of about 100 km. Some nearby cities like Toledo, was in the past, more important than Madrid itself, because it preceded Madrid as the capital of the Kingdom. These towns and cities, near Madrid, […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

Brief About Madrid

Madrid is an ideal place to learn and explore by walking its city streets. In a small radius from the center of the city, you can see centuries of history, which the visitor decides imposing his pace and preferences. In this site, we suggest five free Photo Tours with pictures, allowing you to take a […]

Read More
Maquina Vapor Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid

Madrid Railway Museum

The Madrid Railway Museum, occupies the former Delicias Station, very close to Atocha Rail Station.  This Museum is managed by the Spanish Railways Foundation, and it is sponsored by RENFE, ADIF, and the Community (Local Government) of Madrid. This museum, first opened in Fernan Nunez Palace, where currently, we have the the Spanish Railways Foundation […]

Read More
Puerta Románica Iglesia San Isidoro

Ruins of the Retiro Park, Medieval Church.

The ruins of the Retiro, also called Ruins of San Isidoro and San Pelayo, are the remains of a Romanesque church, which can be seen at the Retiro Park. This church of the eleventh century, was originally located in the outskirts of the city of Ávila. It consisted of a single nave with wooden frame, […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

2014 Christmas in the Plaza Mayor of Madrid

From the November 29, Plaza Mayor becomes the main Christmas market in Madrid. The 104 booths, offering all the traditional products for Christmas decoration for the Xmas tree, accessories for parties, such as wigs, masks, Santa Claus hats and of course can not miss the joke articles for 28th of December. This year 2014, a […]

Read More
Estatua del Rey Carlos III en Puerta del Sol

King Carlos III, the Best Mayor of Madrid

This equestrian statue of Carlos III, located in the Puerta del Sol, was inspired by a sculpture of Juan Pascual de Mena, sculpted in wood and plaster in the eighteenth century, and today can be seen at the Royal Academy of San Fernando. Miguel Angel Rodriquez and Eduardo Zancada, were based on this model of […]

Read More
Interior de la Basilica Pontificia San Miguel

St. Michael’s Basilica, Madrid

In the Hapsburg Madrid area, next to the Archbishop’s Palace, is St. Michael’s basilica entruste to Opus Dei since 1960. It is a very important piece of Spanish Baroque, which has been declared a National Historic Monument in 1984. In 1745 the construction of the present church was concluded. On this same site, there was […]

Read More
Anuncios antiguos en la estación de Chamberí

Chamberí Metro Station, the Ghost Station.

Also known as “Anden 0”, and ghost station of Madrid Metro, this station was closed down in 1966, since it couldn’t be extended of adapted to the new length of 90 meters, they needed for the 6 wagon trains. Until then, these trains comprised 4 cars, which only needed platforms of 60 meters. Metro Line […]

Read More
Estatua ecuestre de Epartero el Pacificador

Equestrian Statue of General Baldomero Espartero

The full name of this general from La Mancha, was Joaquín Fernández-Espartero Baldomero Alvarez de Toro (1793-1879).  He was Prince of Vergara, Count of Luchana and Duke de la Victoria, specially due to his achievements on the battlefields during the First Carlist War. The equestrian statue of General Baldomero Espartero, is a sculpture by the […]

Read More
La Mariblanca

Statue of Mariblanca in Puerta del Sol

The sculpture La Mariblanca is a copy of the original, located on the top of a column at the confluence of where  Arenal street meet with Puerta del Sol. La Mariblanca, has an unknown origin, nevertheless it is known that it was purchased in 1625, to decorate the now missing Fountain of Faith (Fuente de […]

Read More
Estatua de Felipe III en la Plaza Mayor

Sparrows Cemetery In The Plaza Mayor

This magnificent statue of King Philip III, located in Plaza Mayor of Madrid, was completed in Florence in 1616 by Giambologna and Pietro Taca. It had been placed at several sites, the first in the Palace of Vargas in Casa de Campo (the large park on the West side of the city), where it remained […]

Read More
Cuadriga en la antigua sede del Banco de Bilbao.

Chariots at the Top of Calle Alcala Buildings

I have always believed that Madrid has great appeal when you look up, on top of buildings. At the beginning of Alcalá Street, close to Metro de Sevilla station, and to Puerta del Sol, there is this building, former headquarters of BBVA Bank, which is crowned by the sculptures of two chariots pulled by four […]

Read More
Casa y Torre de los Lujanes y Casa de Cisneros

House and Tower of the Lujanes in the Plaza de la Villa

The Lujanes house in the Plaza de la Villa, was the residence of one of the most ancient lineages of Madrid, although in reality the Luján family came from Aragon. They settled in this place, at that time, in the early fifteenth century, when it was called Plaza de San Salvador. This square was considered […]

Read More
Plaza Cruz Verde

Green Cross Square, and the Inquisition

In the Habsburgs area of medieval Madrid, we find the Plaza de la Cruz Verde (Green Cross Square), surrounded by stairs, and by the unevenness of Segovia St., which runs from the Plaza Puerta Cerrada, near the Plaza Mayor, to the Manzanares River. This square is located in a widening of Segovia St., near the […]

Read More
Fachada de la Casa de las Siete Chimeneas

Legend of the House of Seven Chimneys

There is a well known legend by the residents of Madrid, which tells about a medieval mystery from the court of King Philip II, of beautiful young Elena, that according to rumors, received nightly visits from a person related to the court. Soon, Elena was married to a captain of the royal troops called Zapata, […]

Read More
Escultura Angel Cayendo

Fountain of the Fallen Angel, Retiro Park

This is one of the few statues in the world, of the “angel falling”, name that some residents of Madrid, prefer to name, as not wanting to give a tribute with a sculpture to the angel expelled from Paradise, as in the Bible. They say, “How would I honor the devil?”. The main sculpture of […]

Read More
Puente de Segovia

Segovia Bridge, The Oldest Bridge in Madrid

The construction of Segovia Bridge, was ordered by King Phillip II to his favorite architect Juan de Herrera, between 1582 and 1584, who followed the classical solution used in the Roman bridges. The Bridge over the Manzanares River, is made out of granite with 9 arched padded spans, and on the parapet of the bridge, […]

Read More
Madrid Sunset

From Madrid to Heaven! (De Madrid al Cielo)

It is widely used proverb to refer to Madrid, as a lively and charming city, where you can have a great time. The complete expression says: “From Madrid to Heaven, and once there, a hole to glimpse at it”. It is not known exactly where the saying came from, but we have found some versions […]

Read More
Teatro Español en Plaza Santa Ana

Teatro Español (Español Theatre) in Plaza Santa Ana

At mid-sixteenth century, this location was the Corral de la Pacheca, a local comedy place that the guilds hired to collect money to fund hospitals, and to do their maintenance. It was inaugurated on September 21, 1583, as Corral del Principe and from 1631, with the founding of the Authors Guild, it lived its peak […]

Read More
Plaza de San Javier

Plaza San Javier, Smallest Plaza of Madrid.

San Javier Square, is considered the smallest of Madrid plaza. It is located across the Conde St., which is also very narrow. Both are located in the Madrid de los Austrias or Habsburgs Madrid, near the Plaza Mayor. It seems that the legendary Luis Candelas (1804-1837), frequented this square for his misdeeds, and they also […]

Read More
Placa Calderon de la Barca en Calle Mayor, 61.

The narrow house where Calderon de la Barca lived.

In 61 of the Calle Mayor of Madrid, there is a very narrow building, which in turn is the house where Pedro Calderon de la Barca lived for eighteen years, until his death on the 25th May 1681. In those days, it only he had two floors and was called “the narrow house” because of […]

Read More
Calle Rompelanzas tomada de Preciados a Calle del Carmen.

The Shortest Street in Madrid

Calle Rompelanzas (shaft breaking street), is one of the three streets that cross the well-known, and the busiest shopping street, Preciados. These are pedestrian streets, and in the case of calle Rompelanzas, it is less than 20 meters long, making it, the shortest street of Madrid. In the sixteenth century, when El Carmen Church was […]

Read More
La Casa de la Panadería, Plaza Mayor de Madrid

Video of the Plaza Mayor, Madrid

Known as the Plaza del Arrabal, from the sixteenth century, it was the main market place of the town. The first building in Plaza Mayor, was the Bakery House, and in 1617 the architect Juan Gómez de Mora, gave the uniformity in height of all the buildings that surround it, as it is today.

Read More
Plaza del Callao en un evento publicitario.

Video of Plaza Callao, Madrid

Plaza Callao is another important meeting point in Madrid’s center, located in the surroundings of Sol, and on the Gran Via, separating the second and third stretches of it. The area of Callao and Sol, are closed to traffic. Calle Preciados connects both squares. This together with the second stretch of Gran Via, make it […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

Video of La Gran Vía, Madrid

Madrid’s Gran Vía, is one of the main streets in Madrid. It begins in Plaza España and ends at Calle Alcalá, near Cibeles. This video takes us through the first part of la Gran Vía, to Plaza de Callao, known as Madrid’s Broadway where many theaters and cinemas are. From Callao, the we go East […]

Read More
Plaza Puerta del Sol de Madrid

Video of Puerta del Sol, Madrid

Video of the Puerta del Sol, which is the geographical center of Spain, where people have as a meeting point. The KM0 plate on the sidewalk in front of the clock tower, marks the point where all Spanish roads, streets and highway sistems begin.

Read More
Mercado San Miguel Madrid

San Miguel Market Video

The San Miguel Market, is an innovative gastronomic space, declared of cultural interest of the city of Madrid.

Read More
Obras Derribo Antiguo Parking Plaza Santo Domingo

Works of Plaza Santo Domingo. Photos before and after.

Where today is the Plaza de Santo Domingo in Madrid, way back in 1218, there was a Dominican convent, founded by Domingo de Guzman. This was demolished in the time of Joseph I Bonaparte, where they placed an outdoor flower market, in this same area. Joseph I, was known as “King Squares”, since he opened […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

Lions Of Congress of Deputies

The building of the Congress of Deputies, is guarded by two lions, of which are mentioned in an anecdote, when in late 1985 were taken down from their pedestals for them to be restored. Therefore, temporarily they were placed inside the building. Parliamentarians were surprised to see that one of them had missing its male […]

Read More
Bandera de Madrid despues de 1983.

Seven Stars and Crimson Red Flag Madrid

The crimson red flag as the banner of Castile, and that Madrid was part of the kingdom until 1833. The flag consists of seven white five-pointed stars and adopts it officially on December 23, 1983. There are different versions of why the seven stars. Some say that it represents the constellation Ursa Minor, while other […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

Gate of Europe Buildings, in Plaza Castilla Madrid

The Puerta de Europa (Gate of Europe), which make these two buildings, formerly called Kio Towers, because they were initially owned by the Kuwait Investments Office. They are the first leaning skyscrapers built in the world, designed and constructed by the two American architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee They are in Plaza Castilla, on […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

The Oldest Tavern in Madrid

The great bullfighting tradition in Madrid, sends us back to remember as if it were the 1830s, which was when the picador, “Colita” (short tail), founded the Taberna de Antonio Sanchez. In 1884, the father of bullfighter Antonio Sanchez, bought the tavern and therefore maintains this name until today. In 1929, after suffering more than […]

Read More
La Casa de la Panadería, Plaza Mayor de Madrid

Mutiny of the Cats (Motín de los Gatos)

On April 28th, 1699 , at seven o’clock , Madrid exploded with a great popular protest due to food shortages, specially the lack of bread . While the authorities were distributing bread, the legend reveals that a woman that was indignantly protesting to one of the inspectors, asking “How can she feed her six children […]

Read More
Plaza Mayor al atardecer.

Legends of Madrid’s Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor, has a history dating back from 1494, and has been the centre of many anecdotes and legends, since it has been the location for the main market of town, as well as the place for public executions up to 1815. You can still see the “Casa de la Panadería” (Bakery House) , on […]

Read More
Edificio de la antigua sede del Ministerio del Aire

La Moncloa, and the Air Force Headquarters

La Moncloa is an important area of the city of Madrid , as a node for the public transport, being so close to the Complutense University of Madrid, as one of the main entrances to the city, from the Northwest by highway La Coruña, and also since it is close to the Parque del Oeste […]

Read More
Monumento a Concepción Arenal, Parque del Oeste

Parque del Oeste (West Side Park) in Madrid

Parque del Oeste (West Side Park), is located close to the Moncloa area, and to the southwest, almost reaching Plaza España, along the Paseo del Pintor Rosales, street. Before 1893 , part of the area where this park is today, was the main landfill of Madrid. Early last century, around 1906, the Mayor Alberto Aguilera, […]

Read More
Capillas Laterales de la Colegiata de San Isidro

Church of San Isidro el Real – Interim Cathedral of Madrid

The Empress Maria of Austria, left her entire fortune to build this church, which started construction during the reign of Felipe IV (Philip IV) . At that time, this church was called Iglesia de San Francisco Javier (St. Francis Xavier). It went on to be a “Colegiata” in 1767 , when Carlos III , expelled […]

Read More
Plaza Puerta Cerrada, toma hacia el Oeste

Plaza Puerta Cerrada (Closed Door Square).

In the heart of the historic center of Madrid, we have Plaza Puerta Cerrada (Closed Door Square), which takes its name from one of the gates of the former Christian wall, located here during the Middle Ages. The entrance to Madrid through this gate, taking the traveler to the Plaza de Arrabal (now the well-known […]

Read More
Cruz de Puerta Cerrada Madrid

Cross at the Plaza de Puerta Cerrada, Madrid Historical Center

During the Middle Ages, Madrid had crosses on many of its streets, especially in Calle Calvario, where the Via Crucis passed, starting from San Francisco el Grande church. These crosses were used as milestones that were placed at entrances to cities and towns, as well as ancient road intersections. Between 1805 and 1808, the Mayor […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

St. Andrew, Churches of Madrid (Iglesia de San Andrés)

The Church of St. Andrew (Iglesia de San Andrés), is one of the most primitive of Madrid parishes. It exists since the twelfth century, and seems to have been built on the site where once there was another church on times of the Islamic Madrid. This area was known as the neighborhood of The Moorish […]

Read More
Parroquia San Jerónimo el Real y el Cubo de Moneo ampliación del Museo del Prado

San Jerónimo el Real (St. Jerome Royal Church) , Madrid

The Parish of San Jerónimo el Real, part of the old monastery of the same name, was one of the most important in Madrid, very closely linked to life on the Court and to the Spanish monarchy. It was built during the years 1503 to 1505 in late Gothic style with Renaissance influences. The cloister, […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

La Almudena, Cathedral of Madrid

The Almudena Cathedral is located in the historic center of the city, adjoining the Royal Palace, where Bailen Street intersects with Calle Mayor. The exterior of the Cathedral, is neoclassical and the interior is neo-Gothic. View from La Almudena from Bailen and Mayor streets. The frescoes and stained glass in the photo above, were made […]

Read More
Río Manzanares desde el Puente de Segovia

Before and After of the M-30 ring road works on the Manzanares River

The photo above shows the Manzanares River taken from the Segovia Bridge in January 2011, after finishing the works of the M-30 underground ring road, which passes just below this river. This is part of the western sector of the M-30, which follows the course of the Manzanares River from the South Node of Madrid, […]

Read More
Teleferico de Madrid desde la terraza en Casa de Campo.

Madrid Views From The Cable Car In Casa de Campo

A nice walk to from the city center to the northwest, a few steps from the Plaza España, we have the Temple of Debod, Parque del Oeste (West Park), and a little further away, comes the cable car, where on their way to Casa de Campo, you can see great views of the city that […]

Read More
Plaza de La Cibeles, vista hacia el Oeste, hacia calle Alcalá y Gran Vía.

La Cibeles Fountain – Cybele Fountain

The Cibeles fountain is a monument worked in marble of Toledo, of the goddess Cybele, on a chariot drawn by lions. It is located in the plaza of the same name where Alcala Street, Paseo del Prado, and Recoletos meet. In this square, there are four important buildings, which are landmarks of Madrid; the Palacio […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

The Viaduct of Segovia, Madrid

The Bailen Street Viaduct, also called Viaduct of Segovia, is only about 100 meters from the Almudena Cathedral, and walking distance from the old part of town, as you can see on the background of the picture above. This structure, has replaced since 1930, the original construction made out of iron and wood, that started […]

Read More
Tours Madrid, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

The Crypt of the Almudena Cathedral

In the photo below these lines, it’s a view from South to North, where we have the Almudena Cathedral, and the Crypt.   Below this, is what remains of the old Muslim Wall. Just below the Almudena Cathedral, with the three neo protogothic semicircular doors on the picture, is the crypt.  Its construction begun on April 4, […]

Read More
Cuesta de los Ciegos

Legend of The Hill of the Blind

The Hill of the Blind, today is a steep stairway that goes from Calle de Segovia, up to the viewpoint of Las Vistillas. It hides a beautiful legend that goes back to the thirteenth-century, and is characterized by Saint Francis of Assisi. The Legend has it that St. Francis, while heading for the Camino de […]

Read More