In the 18th century, Carlos III decided to expand Madrid to give it a
layout worthy of a capital city. Once the wide avenue, the Paseo del Prado
was built it soon became the meeting place for the high society of the
day. This avenue was extended in the 19th century into the Paseo de la
Castellana. These paseos lined with shady paths and embellished with gardens,
monumental fountains and grand squares have remained prestigious places.
The remains of the Buen Retiro, the old royal palace, are now house museums.
Iglesia de San Jeronimo el Real
This church was originally built in the 16th century as part of a monastery,
the ruins of which can still be seen beside it. It was the symbolic setting
for the marriage of King Alfonso XIII and for the coronation of Juan
Carlos I after the death of Franco. It was given a neo-Gothic makeover
in the 19th century, and is now considered one of the finest churches
in Madrid.
Calle Moreto, 4
91 420 35 78
Daily 9am-1pm, 5-8.30pm
Museo del Prado
This museum, housing true masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th
century, is a real must. Besides the Spanish school, there are Flemish
and Italian works of outstanding interest. The extraordinary collection
of works by Velazquez is quite remarkable for its portraits, as well
as the mythological and religious subjects. The paintingd by El Greco
are also very impressive. Italy is represtented by Tintoretto, Veronese
and Titian, while the Flemish school is identified by the frenzied compositions
of Bosch. The Cason del Buen Retiro museum, an annexe of the Prado, houses
a collection of historical works.
Paseo del Prado
91 330 28 00
Tue.-Sat., 9am-7pm
Sun. and hols., 9am-2pm
Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas
This museum is home to an array of beautiful objets d’art and furniture,
including a Sevres porcelain vase that was a gift from Napoleon III to
Isabel II, a Murano glass crib, a collection of doll’s houses and
a suberb example of an 18th century Valencian kitchen.
Calle Montalban, 12
91 532 64 99
Tue.-Fri, 9.30am-3pm
Sat.-Sun., 10am-2pm
El Pabellon Goya
Theses rooms, first opened in 1999, house a collection of 18th century
Spanish paintings centred on the works of Goya. Don’t miss the
famous El Tres de Mayo in which Ggoya depicts his vision of a land torn
apart by war. The condemned man’s gesture of defiance is very moving.
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