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Top Sights and Attractions in Madrid
The city life in Madrid is concentrated around Plaza Mayor – the most famous square in the centre of the city, where many events take place, among others, typical Spanish bull fights. In the middle of the square there is a statue of King Philip III. There you can really experience the atmosphere of the Spanish capital with the locals spontaneously joining in on all the celebrations that happen to be held. Another landmark is the Royal Palace – the king's residence, but also the Royal Botanical Garden, where you can learn about various plants at the same time enjoying some peace, quiet and shade, which especially in the hot summer might be just what you need. Retiro Park is of a slightly different character; it often gets crowded on the weekends and is often full of musicians, performers and painters.
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Puente de Toledo
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Address: Glorieta de Marquess de Vadillo
Phone: 34 91 588 29 00
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Puente De Toledo, or the Bridge of Toledo, is one of Madrid's genuine Baroque gems. Made of granite , its turrets give it the appearance of a solid, unconquerable fortress. Closed for traffic, it constitutes a lovely spot for afternoon strolls.
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Puerta de Alcala
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Address: Plaza de la Independencia
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Puerta de Alcala, the Gate of Alcala, is among the images immediately associated around the world with the Spanish capital. Built in the 18th Century upon the order of king Carlos III, it was one of the most impressive gates in the city's fortifications.
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Casa y Torre de Los Lujanes
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Address: Plaza de Villa
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Casa y Torre de Los Lujanes is one of the oldest architectural complexes of the city. It consists of an early 15th-Century tower and a house dating from the later part of the same century. Both were constructed in the Mudejar style. The complex was commissioned by the family of Alvaro de Lujan in 1494, after whom the residence eventually took its name.
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The Tower of Madrid (Torre de Madrid)
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Address: Plaza de España
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Torre de Madrid is one of the highest buildings of the Spanish capital. Constructed in 1957 by brothers Julian and Jose Maria Otamendi Machimbarrena, it determines the contemporary stylistics of Plaza de España.
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Plaza Puerta del Sol
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Address: Plaza Puerta del Sol
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The Puerta del Sol is one of the most important squares in Madrid. Nowadays it lies in the heart of the city, but back in the 15th Century it used to be one of the city entrance gates in the eastern part of Madrid (that's why it's called Puerta del Sol, 'The Gate of Sun'). In the middle of the square there is a monument of Karol III and a statue of the Bear of Madrono Tree, the heraldic symbol of Madrid. The most important building located on the square is the old Post Office, today the seat of government of the Madrid Community. Puerta del Sol is the main spot for demonstrations, but it is also the location for a New Years Party. Directly north of the Post Office there is the Kilómetro Cero, a point representing centre of Madrid and Spain.
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The Prado National Museum
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Address: Paseo del Prado s/n
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Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09 -20
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Ranked among the foremost art galleries in the world, a paradise for art lovers and an absolute must-see for any visitor to Madrid, the Prado Museum sits magnificently on a large leafy Paseo del Prado running through one of the city's most alluring districts. Commissioned by Charles III in the late 18th Century, it was established during the rule of Fernando VII on 19 November 1819 and was then known as the Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture. After the monarchy in Spain had been dissolved, it became national property and was renamed the Prado National Museum.
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Teatro Real
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Address: Plaza Isabel II s/n
Phone: +34 902 244 848
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Price: 4 - 251 EUR
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Website: http://www.teatro-real.es/
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The Teatro Real, or the Royal Theatre in Madrid, is one of the most grand operatic venues in the world. Inaugurated in 1850 with Donizetti’s ‘La Favorite’, and under the aegis of Queen Isabella II, the Theatre overlooks the Palacio Real, the official residence of His Royalty the King of Spain. The Royal Theatre is associated with the famous work of Verdi ‘La Forza del Destino’, which was presented on its stage for the first time. After remaining idle for a long period, the site reopened as a concert hall in the 1960s, and a few decades later in the 1990s, it was refurbished to become an opera house. In 1997, the site was restored to its original 19th-century splendour and was chosen as the permanent home of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid.
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Arab City Walls
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Address: Cuesta de la Vega
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According to Arab chroniclers, in 852 the Emir of Cordoba, Mohamed I, encouraged by the excellent climate and fertile land, ordered a fortress to be built on the left bank of the Manzanares River. The first city limits of Madrid were lines of elaborate Arab fortifications.
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