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Madrid (Lonely Planet City Guides S.)

By Linda Plummer

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

For shopoholics, its bustling Gran Via offers some of the finest stores in Europe.

For the children, there is plenty to keep them amused with the Zoo-Aquarium, the Faunia Theme Park, the Wax Museum, the Amusement Park, Warner Bros-Madrid Theme Park ...

And the city comes alive at night for everyone. Cinemas, theaters, nightclubs, restaurants, floorshows, ballet, opera ... the choice is yours!

During the day, there are all those sensational sights to see, many of which can be viewed 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. Across 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 huge square of 3-storey buildings constructed in 1617 with a statue of Felipe III on horeseback in its center.

The Puerta de Alcalá, located in the center of the Plaza de la Independencia, is on the calle de Alcalá, where you will also find the Fine Arts Museum and the Casino.

At the other end of the street is the Puerta del Sol.

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

Madrid is famous for its museums and a major attraction is the Prado Museum, housing the world´s greatest collection of Spanish paintings.

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

Madrid also has many pleasant parks and gardens, the main one being the huge, 12-hectare Parque del Buen Retiro with its two palaces and central lake.

Madrid is also noted for its beautiful fountains, for example, la Cibeles in the central Plaza de la Cibeles, and the Fountain of Neptune, close to the Prado Museum.

So ... make your way to Madrid. You´ll love it!

Linda Plummer is webmistress of Top Tour of Spain providing information on Spain for travel, food, language and living.