Madrid: the city that has it all!

This weekend was my first opportunity to explore the Spanish capital, Madrid, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed by what I found. This city simply has everything: stunning plazas, great museums, beautiful parks, busy shopping streets and exciting nightlife!

The first thing to do was get to know the streets a little and get a feel for the place and its people. Despite the rain and grey skies it was an exciting journey, with impressive buildings and monuments appearing everywhere I looked. The Plaza Mayor is particularly stunning and even though it has to be the largest town square I’ve ever seen, it was still packed with people, a mixture of locals going about their daily business and groups of tourists taking in the sights.

Next was a view of the Almudena Cathedral, a dominating building that has a more modern style than many of the other cathedrals I’ve seen in this area of Spain, followed a snack from a local pasteleria (pastry shop). It has to be said that Madrid’s cuisine, which incorporates dishes from all over the country, was a pleasure to experience in the many tapas bars that line the streets.

We then went on to visit the Palacio Real, the former residence of the Spanish royal family. Although the king and queen no longer live there, instead opting for a quieter residence on the outskirts of the city, the grandeur of the palace certainly makes it fit for a king! Inside are examples of art and architecture from many different periods and styles, and the beautiful enclosed courtyard boasts views of the snow capped Sierra de Madrid.

Madrid is well known for its museums, and a stay in the city wouldn’t be complete without a visit to at least one. In need of a break from the rain, I visited the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, which comprised a permanent collection of modern works, including famous masterpieces by the likes of Picasso and Kandinsky, plus a temporary collection by a contrasting, more classical artist.

It was also great to see the bustling city life of the Gran Vía in action, with its busy shops and theatres, and to experience Madrid’s nightlife, which in typical Spanish style, barely begins until 3am! However my highlight would have to be our visit to the Parque del Retiro. It is a large public park in the heart of Madrid, boasting an impressive monument overlooking its artificial lake, where you can hire rowing boats. I definitely would have done so to make the most of the little bit of sun that shone through on Sunday, if it weren’t for the very long queue of people who obviously had the same idea!

The weekend was jam-packed and I was completely exhausted, but there is still so much I haven’t seen. The list of monuments to see, good restaurants to eat at and museums to visit in Madrid is endless, so I’ll definitely be making a second trip!