Royal Madrid
Description:
Spain is a constitutional monarchy, maintaining much of its royal ceremonial traditions while functioning as a democracy. The kings have lived in palaces and have been buried with regalia. Nowadays the ordinary folk know how to live it up too. Whether you stay at the top hotel and eat at a couple of the finest restaurants, or simply visit the following sites, in four days you can live and breath royal past and present in Madrid and the surrounding area.
Author: Jennifer
Day 1 - Madrid, San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Begin this royal tour with a day trip to San Lorenzo El Escorial, a small town only about an hour and a half away from Madrid. The art and architecture of the monastery and imposing stone palace are impressive, but the pantheon of the kings is a true history lesson. It is the burial place of almost all of the kings and queen mothers since Carlos I. The next chapter of your lesson is a short trip to Valle de los Caídos, where the equally imposing Basílica houses Franco's tomb. Take a study break, and return to Madrid to the luxury of the Westin Palace Hotel, fine dining at the Terraza del Casino, and a night of dancing at the Palacio Gaviria. Some people say there are more people in the streets in Madrid at 3 a.m. than 3 p.m when shops are closed, and people are having lunch or a siesta!
1
Westin Palace Hotel
Location:
view in google mapsPlaza de las Cortes, 7
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
800/325-3535 in the US2
Monasterio de El Escorial
Location:
view in google mapsPaseo de Juan de Borbón y Battenberg
28200 San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 890 59023
Basílica del Valle de los Caídos
Location:
view in google mapsCarretera de Guadarrama
(Valle de Cuelgamuros)
28280 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 890 56114
La Terraza del Casino
Location:
view in google mapsAlcalá 15
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
91-521-87-005
Palacio Gaviria
Location:
view in google mapsCalle del Arenal 9
28013 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
34 91 526 6069Day 2 - Madrid
Sleep in, and ease into the morning, then stretch out those legs you danced off last night. Start your circuit by passing the Congreso de los Diputados across the street from the hotel, (visiting hours are limited). This was the setting for the failed coup d'état of February 23, 1981, an interesting historical note. Continue down to the Paseo del Prado passing the Neptune and Cibeles fountains, the Palacio de Communicaciones (the town hall that looks like a palace), and the Palacio de Linares (an ex-palace with a ghost story, now a cultural and art center). Head up Calle Alcalá through the Puerta de Alcalá to the once exclusively royal Parque de Retiro to wander or to visit the exhibit halls: Palacio de Veláquez or Palacio de Cristal. After a couple of naps or a coffee in a park cafe, visit the Real Fábrica de Tapices. Not many make it out here, but it's truly a unique experience to see an active workshop that has a royal history. Imagine tapestries keeping the palaces you're seeing beautifully warm before central heating. From here you can visit the Panteón de Hombres Ilustres and the Basílica de Atocha. The Virgin of Atocha was proclaimed the Spanish royal family's protector in 1643 by Felipe IV. Pay homage to her and learn a bit more about history before preparing your palate for dinner at Viridiana.
1
Congreso de los Diputados
Location:
view in google mapsCarrera de San Jerónimo
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 390 62962
Fuente de Neptuno
Location:
view in google mapsPlaza de Cánovas del Castillo
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 588 2906(Tourist Information)3
Cibeles (La)
Location:
view in google mapsPlaza de Cibeles
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 588 1636(Tourist Information)4
Palacio de Comunicaciones / Museo Postal y Telegráfico
Location:
view in google mapsCalle de Montalbán
Plaza de Cibeles
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 521 4260 / +34 91 522 20465
Palacio de Linares (El)- Casa de América
Location:
view in google mapsPaseo de Recoletos, 2
28001 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 595 48006
Puerta de Alcalá
Location:
view in google mapsPlaza de la Independencia
28001 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 588 1636(Tourist Information)7
Parque del Retiro
Location:
view in google mapsPlaza de la Independencia, s/n
Calle de Alfonso XII
28001 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 58887908
Palacio de Velázquez
Location:
view in google mapsPaseo de Venezuela
Parque del Retiro
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 573 62459
Palacio de Cristal
Location:
view in google mapsPaseo Duque de Julio Romero de Torres
Parque del Retiro
28012 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 574 661410
Real Fábrica de Tapices (Royal Tapestry Factory)
Location:
view in google mapsFuenterrabía 2
Near Atocha
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 434 055011
Panteón de Hombres Ilustres
Location:
view in google mapsCalle Julian Gayarre, 3
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 454 880012
Viridiana
Location:
view in google mapsJuan de Mena 14
28014 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
91-531-52-22Day 3 - Madrid
Get close to the residence of the current royal family, and take an excursion out to the green spaces surrounding the El Pardo Palace. Inside the Pardo Palace you'll see several tapestries woven at the Real Fábrica de Tapices you visited yesterday. Francisco de Goya painted the designs for many of them. On your way back into Madrid you'll come in through the Moncloa neighborhood where you could go up the Faro de Moncloa, the space needlesque viewpoint. Tonight you'll tapa-hop around La Latina. Try La Percha, El Viajero, or Taberna Bilbao, but don't be afraid to branch out, and certainly don't stay in the same bar all night!
1
Reales Sitios de El Pardo
Location:
view in google mapsCalle de Manuel Alonso s/n
28048 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 376 11362
Faro de Moncloa
Location:
view in google mapsAvenida Reyes Catolicos
Av. de los Reyes Católicos
28040 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 588 2900 (Tourism Office)3
Taberna la Percha
Location:
view in google mapsToledo, 28
28005 Madrid,
Phone:
34 91 366 40004
Taberna Bilbao
Location:
view in google mapsCostanilla de San Andrés 8
28005 Madrid,
Phone:
34 91 365 61255
El Viajero
Location:
view in google mapsPlaza de la Cebada 11
28005 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
91-366-90-64Day 4 - Madrid
Your final blue blood day will be spent in the Palacio Real de Madrid in awe of the endless porcelain, silk, crystal chandeliers, and a table still used today to seat up to 150 for gala events. (Who irons that tablecloth?!) Pause in the Cafe de Oriente or grab a bite to eat in the Taberna de Oriente before visiting the Opera house either on a guided tour, or if you've planned ahead, experiencing a performance.
1
Palacio Real (Royal Palace)
Location:
view in google mapsCalle de Bailén
Plaza de Oriente
28013 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 547 53502
Plaza de Oriente
Location:
view in google mapsOpposite the Royal Palace (Palacio Real)
across from the Palacio Real
28013 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
+34 91 588 2900 (Tourism Office)3
Café de Oriente
Location:
view in google mapsPlaza de Oriente, 2
28013 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
34 91 541 3974 / 34 91 547 15644
Taberna Real
Location:
view in google mapsPlaza de Isabel II, 2
28013 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
34 91 559 69225
Teatro Real
Location:
view in google mapsPlaza de Oriente s/n
28013 Madrid, Spain
Phone:
34 91 516 0660