From Madrid airport, you can take a day to the city center on the metro or by bus. It is also convenient to use a taxi, especially since the price of travel from the airport to any Central District of Madrid fixed. Calculate a convenient route for moving around the city. You can with free Google Cards app.
Maps will become a guide during shopping. For example, in Madrid, we wanted to find the nearest supermarket to buy the Spanish strawberries. "Okay, Google", supermarket nearby "is all that you need to say a smartphone. In response, you will receive a map of the nearest stores on which it is indicated how many minutes to go to them and what time they are open.
Do not miss! Route on the sights of Madrid and the surrounding area
In any new city, turn on Google Now app, it quite successfully offers interesting places and institutions that you should visit. Thus, you can easily watch the sights of Madrid yourself. A walk in Madrid, for example, you can start with the famous Plaza Major Square, where everything breathes the story, because there are no wonder for many hundreds of years in a row, the bulls, coronation and, alas, our past, public executions.
Then go towards the majestic Royal Palace to look inside and walk in beautiful gardens. The next point of the Madrid route is Puerta del Sol Square, the real heart of Spain, where life has a key around the clock and where you can feel the entire atmosphere of this bright country. On Puerta del Sol, you will get the opportunity to make a desire, putting on a zero kilometer, and also see many living statues and other colorful characters. After go towards the Gran-Via street, here you can find anything, buy exclusive Spanish shoes and bags, souvenirs and handmade decorations, have dinner and just lay across the sides. Thanks to modern mobile applications, you do not even have to buy a Madrid card with sights - everything can be found in the phone.
By the way, if during walks you will find an unusual building or an unfamiliar sculpture, download the Google Goggles application and hover the camera to the desired object. After a few seconds you will know about it all the truth. With such an excursion in Madrid, you can find everything yourself, and you will not need a guide!
For lovers of art, Madrid is a real treasury. Here you can admire the works of Rubens, Bosch and Caravaggio (Prado Museum), Tintoretto and Titian (Tissen-Bornese Museum), as well as Picasso and other modern artists (Queen Sophia's Arts Center). No wonder these three museums are called the "Golden Triangle".
When the legs begin to buzz from walking, go to the Ben-Retiro Park. Entertainment there is enough for children and adults. You can ride a boat, eat ice cream, play on the playground, admire the flower beds or just lie under the tree.
Pay attention to the excursion to the electric bikes. To twist the pedals on them very easily (can be said, the bike is lucky you yourself), and in just a couple of hours you can visit many points in the Madrid map. A cycling guide will make a fascinating description of Madrid's attractions.
For completeness, impressions are worth going somewhere from Madrid for one day. For example, in 35 minutes you will reach the bus in the medieval Toledo, and in 1.5 hours - to the fairy-tale segovia, where the same castle Alcazar is located, which inspired Walt Disney.
Where to eat in Madrid
What to try and where to eat in Madrid
Stayed in Madrid the hungry will not work. Cute cafes, taverns and restaurants here can be found on every corner. Start the day with breakfast in the classic coffee shop, which serves churros. To taste, they look like crispy fried patties. They will be served a mug of hot chocolate - perhaps such a tasty, as in Madrid, no longer find anywhere! Lunch look into the tavern, using a profitable offer of the day (Menu Del Dia).
If you want to taste something unusual, go to the San Miguel market. There you will find many traditional Spanish snacks, seafood (for example, oysters and baked sea hero), appetizing sweets, satisfying Palela, refreshing Sangria and, of course, the best in the city of Hamon. By the way, Hamon, as well as olive oil will become excellent souvenirs for friends and colleagues.
Evening in Madrid should be completed in the Tapas Bar, where you will be offered a huge number of snacks (in Spanish, Tapasov). Small sandwich, olives and peppers often bring free - just order a drink.
Not all Spanish waiters speak English (and even more so in Russian). In these cases, the Google Application applies. In a cafe, a store or pharmacy, you can make a camera on the menu or label and receive a translation from Spanish to English even without connecting to the Internet (to transfer from Spanish to Russian before traveling Download the dictionary). Somehow in Madrid we needed to buy a cough medicine (when traveling with children, such moments are especially important to consider). Just came to the pharmacy, turned on the application translator and said in Russian: "I need a cure for cough." The smartphone immediately translated the text to Spanish for the pharmacy. So, thanks to new technologies, and the language barrier disappears!
Useful links for self-traveling in Madrid
- Search for competitive and convenient airline tickets: www.Onetwotip.ru; www.momondo.ru.
- Search for hotels, as well as rental apartments and rooms around the world: www.booking.com; www.airbnb.ru.
An independent trip to Spain allowed me to explore the sights of Madrid, Church and Museums, relax in Madrid Parks, try Spanish dishes; Want to know more - read the story about the independent trip in Spain
After the first trip in Spain, I was very pleased with Madrid and promised myself that I would certainly visit the Spanish capital again. So it happened, and soon ... And then it happened again ... And once again ... Moreover, setting up a base in the heart of Castile, I was also able to see the town around Madrid - Toledo, Avila, Segovia, Escorial, Aranhues and others. The consolidated text about the committed by me independent travel Spain now is offered to the attention of the most respectable public. The first number will go a story about the sights of Madrid, and there and the rest of the "Castillas" will catch up ...
Unlike the first trip, when I was brought to Madrid from Saragoza, all other visits began to fly from Prague, Amsterdam, and Nobody flies directly from St. Petersburg to Madrid, and no other flights from Russia Looking interesting because of the high price. For some reason " Czech Airlines. "Regularly gives prices in the area of \u200b\u200b8,000 rubles for flights of Petersburg-Madrid with a transfer to Prague, while Aeroflot, many called" National "from the" National Carrier ", no such customers indispensable. So you have to fly with transplants, although personally they do not confuse me: I immediately go to the business lodge and there is a good time between flights.
Do not confuse me and transplants necessary to get from Barajas airport to the center of Madrid: until the time before the best option to do this path was the subway, because the line 8 for a quarter of an hour brings the former air passenger to the station "Nuevos Ministerios", and this is a large hub where There are several branches of the subway and suburban electricians also make stopping. A ticket cost only 2.5 euros for a very long time, one coin itself for travel and another one and a half served as a surcharge for a trip to the airport. However, since 2012, the authorities of the Spanish capital have increased extra charge, and now the subway fare costs 4.5 euros. With such a situation, all the former Dotoles were pronounced inconvenience of transplant: underground transitions Stations "Nuevos Ministerios" require 8-10 minutes walk to change the branch from the airport to another.
What is interesting, surcharge is required only for airport stations, while residents located between them the town of Barajas pay for travel through the standard urban tariff. In other words, driving the stop "Aeropuerto T 1-T 2-T 3", you can not reach "Aeropuerto T 4" to go out and then go on foot - Economic Travel lovers will be able to hike their expenses. Also available option for walking from Terminal Group 1-3 to Alameda De Osuna Metro Station Lines 5; There go somewhere twenty minutes. Such a campaign will allow you to get to the center of Madrid for 1.50 euros, the cost of the usual ticket for transport.
Why walk on foot, get from Barajas airport to Madrid for the same year and a half euro can be a city bus, which delivers passengers directly to the Avenida De America bus station - there, by the way, there are automatic storage cameras, which is convenient when a person in Madrid transit And wish to walk around the city until the evening. Travel by bus route 200 costs a half euros, the trip will take about forty minutes or a little more, depending on the setting on the highway, where the line turns out immediately after parting with Barahas.
Also mention also about the station of long-distance buses directly at the airport, and go to other cities in Spain from Barahas to them because it's easier than a simple ...
Recently, the question of how to get from Barajas Airport to Madrid, another answer appeared: on suburban train Systems "C Ercanias". They launched this project a couple of years ago, and now with the help of trains you can quickly get to the buildings "Atocha" and "Chamartin" without transplantation, plus it is also worth remembering about bus station "Mendez Alavro" - the C1 line passes through all these stations. This way to get from Barajas airport is good for its speed - a trip to the center of Madrid will take no more than 15 minutes, and the price is 2.40 euros against 5 euros, which is required recently per subway. It is also worth remembering that ticket holders for high-speed trains railways Spain is permitted free travel by train "C Ercanias" from the airport to Togo Madrid Station, where they are planned to transplant. In the minuses of trains, as a means to get to the center of Madrid, it is necessary to record an uncomfortable schedule, only 2 flights per hour, at 28 and 58 minutes, and the fact that the shipment is carried out only from the terminal 4, will spoil the case even more. It, of course, the terminals of Barajas Airport are connected by a free bus, but the move will also take time, dragging things, etc.
Observing ways to get from Barajas airport to Madrid, I will say that we need to consider options in relation to your goal: in one area it is more convenient to go to another stage. Personally, I most often used the subway, as my favorite hotel "Gran Atlanta" at Calle Comandante Zorita stands in a pair of steps from the Nuevos Ministerios station transitions, so arriving from the airport, I just throw things there and go to walk around the city. However, in the last visit, I was literally scandalized by the terms of placement: the village snoring in the neighborhood turned out to be heard with all rules and overflows. So in the next warrant I resumed an acquaintance with the hotel "Avant Torrejon", which is in the suburbs of Madrid. I somehow happened there to stop there when I arrived late, I expected to spend the night and in the morning to go bus in Cordo. For special offers, the hotel costs 43 euros for two, and this is a room with air conditioning and a rich breakfast is included in the price. The hotel is 10 minutes walk from Torrejon de Ardos station, and although the road to the center of Madrid takes a total of almost an hour, low price Accommodation smoothes this flaw. Again, "Avant Torrejon" provides a free shuttle service from Barahas and back, but it is especially convenient to stop there by traveling by car: there is free parking, and the departure to the speed highway.
Yes, of course, if you wish for about the same money, you can settle in the center of Madrid, at least near Puerto Del Sol, here only available options will be definitely hostals, which means the building of the old building, shower and toilet on the floor, air conditioning, no, sound insulation No crowd of violent youth, the usual contingent of this kind of places. In addition, there may be a nightclub with guilyans and loaf music until the morning, I'm not talking about the cost of parking in the center of Madrid. In a word, we need to consider living questions in the complex, and do not discount the nearest suburbs of the Spanish capital. For example, according to my estimates, good hotel somewhere in the townships of Parliament or Lehnes will cost 40-50 euros, against 70-80 for hotels of the central regions; It is also worth keeping the quarters near the "Chamartin" railway station, where the transport connection is good, and the prices for accommodation are low. In my opinion, it is better to spend more time on the road to the center of Madrid, than to suffer because of noisy neighbors or the lack of air conditioning ...
To finish with practical issues and start a walk along the capital of Spain, I will say a few words about Madrid Card. Museum card Madrid substantially facilitates the lives of travelers, but its high cost does not allow it to clearly recommend its use: a few years ago I gladly used Madrid Card, now it would not likely take it. In the end, I have already seen the main sights of Madrid, and for walking around the city and departures beyond its limits, the card is not needed.
If the Madrid card is needed, you can buy "Madrid Card" in tourist offices, for example, in the head office on Plaza Mayor. There is free internet, 15 minutes per person, but still have, they write down on all kinds of excursions, they help to find accommodation, there finally launched an interactive dating system with the city. There, by the way, we will now go to start inspecting the sights of Madrid. Let the main square believed Puerta del Sol, and there is a Madrid symbol, a bear, a sprinkling strawberry, but personally for me the Spanish capital personifies the plaza Major. Its extension architecture is not better demonstrated by Madrid's morals, arrogant and proud. And all because until the end of the XI century, our era about it, one can say, nobody and layers heard: The future center of Spain has formed around the Arab Fortress of Majyri, and then, at the very beginning, reconquists, was a tiny settlement, reducing in all articles Nearby Toledo. Even after the Christians in 1083 heaveted part of Castile, there was little little in the fate of Madrid, since the capital moved eternally with the royal palace, and he dangled in Valladolid, then in Burgos. The officially metropolitan functions gave the city of Spanish King Philip II, and this event happened in 1561.
The worships, let's say, from Catalonia or the same deprived Burgos, would certainly say something like "from dirt in the prince", and would, in general, right. Here and Plaza Mayor came out "in the prince", starting his "career" by the market, and even behind the line historic CenterOutside the city wall. Only then it was raised in status as a place of celebration of holidays such as holidays, corrida and executions; The restructuring of the entire ensemble was fulfilled by the orders of King Philip III. Your pathetic view area has found many years later after almost half XIX The centuries were transformed by combining all the houses with a single style and creating the correct rectangle from the same type of buildings. Now Plaza Major makes a strong impression on tourists and, moreover, serves as a popular meeting place at local residentsSo you can kill two birds at once with one shot - and on the architecture of Madrid lay, and on the Madryleno ...
From the square goes immediately nine streets, one of them can be released to the square Puerto Del Sol, where to photograph a monument with a bear and strawberries; This kind of photo session is almost a mandatory point in the program of each respective tourist. Another thing is that in Puerta del Sol systematically hosts all kinds of protest rallies and manifestations, so photographing may be serious difficult.
From Square, Calle de Arenal is withdrawn to another significant attractions of Madrid, the Royal Palace. Its built in the XVIII century, the ensemble is not used for the residence of the Spanish monarch, but still bears the status of the official residence, and therefore the entrance for tourists is periodically closed at the time of the ceremonies. Meanwhile, it is necessary to get acquainted with the palace interiors, because the ordinary traveler rarely falls a chance to visit the real, the current Palace of the Real King.
And if outside the Royal Palace of Madrid looks pretty strictly and leaves the impression of a bright construction in memory, then the baptism of jewelry inside completely compensates for their absence from the outside. And what is amazing, if such outstanding masters, like Goya and Velasquez, and in general, the King's citizen tried to participate in work on the design.
Almost close to the palace is impressive Cathedral Almudena, It is also richly decorated inside, and adding to this luxury interior also a luxurious appearance. Taissure cathedral The inhabitants of Madrid wanted for a long time, such plans are leaving in the XVI century, and prevented them from the absence of their own diocese - Bishops Toledo did not burn bishops to limit their powers. Only in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, Madrid was granted his own Episcopal Department, and the construction finally started. But the illustrations of the saying about "slowly harnessed, but quickly drive" did not come out: the work was dragged and required for almost a hundred years before the Cathedral of Almudena received the final appearance. It is noteworthy that they plunged him with neo-neutic, and built in the style of neoclassicism, to become a palace.
On the side of these two buildings there is a pleasant area of \u200b\u200bthe most noble view. In the center of Plaza de Oriente, as this corner of Madrid is called the equestrian monument to Philip IV, and there are figures around it the most famous kings of Spain, for the most part in Knight's journey.
On the other hand, the Sabatini gardens are adjacent to the palace ensemble, a great place to relax after an excursion by the Royal Palace. In the territory of two and a half hectares used to be stables, the need for whom was dropped after the start of the motorism era. The liberated space was given to specialists in garden art, and the resulting park justified all expectations. His shady alley with fountains, sculptures and trimmed bushes are extremely pleased with the eyes.
Coming out of the gardens of Sabatini from the distance from the Palace of the gate, you get to the Square of Spain, the main decoration of which, a monument to Cervantes, is always closed by tourists; For some reason, the Japanese are especially trying. Before the writer, squeezing on the top of the monument, they can not get there, but Don Quixote and Sancho Pansa are usually risen as Asian bodies - how many times I saw this picture so many times.
The idea of \u200b\u200bperpetuating the work of Cervantes was born more than a hundred years ago, but implemented it only in the early 1930s, at about the same time when the final appearance received the famous Prospect Via, one of the lively arteries of Madrid. Translated from the Spanish, its name means "big way", and the path is really big - without a small one and a half kilometer. Gasket Gran Via began in the middle of the XIX century, along the restructuring of the historic center. To unload his narrow streets, cardinal measures were required, and a wide prospectus became their main embodiment. The final appearance of the Grand Via has gained in the 20th century, with the advent of multi-storey buildings; these highlights during Civil War Frankists who fired upon the capital were used for aiming, and the nickname "Gobichnaya Alley", given by sharp to Madrilenio, the bitter humor emphasizes this sad fact.
Now the Grand Via is a rather peaceful place where people come to have fun and have a snack, the benefit of restaurants, cafes, cinemas fill the Pöstroy Crowd Avenue, interlaced with hotels, office buildings, shops and clubs. The prefabricated architecture of the buildings forms a unique ensemble, and walking along the Grand Program is pleasant in all senses: if you really didn't drink and walk here, then you need to have a dream.
The eastern tip of the avenue rests on Kibel's Square, decorated with an impressive monument to this goddess. Why, suddenly, the inhabitants of Madrid walked with love for a representative of the Panitary Pantheon, it was unclear even historians, but the townspeople are celebrating the victories of the Madrid "Real" - and this means much. At the beginning of the XXI century, the reasons for the celebration were even debugging, and the figure of the goddess, asking the chariot in the middle of the fountain in the harmful lions, began to gradually collapse - according to the tradition, players climb on a monument, welcoming fans from there. As a result, now only the captain of the team has the right to climb the chariot; However, in the 2012-2013 season, climbing the "creamy" chariot never happened, and it is not surprising with such a coach and such a guide ...
From the buildings around the plaza de la cibeles, the huge Palace of Communication is highlighted, looking at the Moscow Tag of Stalin's Times. But the conjugal arc seen in the distance is rather reminiscent of the construction of ancient Rome. This design decorates Puerto de Alcala, one of the most remarkable areas of the Spanish capital. They have equipped it on the occasion of the solemn entry of King Charles III in Madrid, the monarch has chosen the project of the architect Francesco Sabatini. In those days, in the yard was, by the way, 1778, the Gate de Alcala was indeed a gateway to the city, and the wide overwhelms of the neoclassical arch built out of stone and granite were intended for travel and passage of people. Only a century later, when the space of the square was redefined, the transport streams went bypass, and the construction was in itself. Now she, like a monument to bears with strawberries, is considered for the symbol of Madrid.
Photographing the arch is best from afar, say, with Paseo de l Prado - After the photo shoot, you can go to watch the sights of Madrid, listened to this boulevard. First of all, we are talking about the famous Prado Museum, although the assembly of works of art in the museum Tissen-Bornemis also deserves visits.
It should be noted that the appearance of the Prado Museum does not promise acquaintances with masterpieces, it is pretty ordinary building; In my opinion, since the building was built specifically for the placement of the royal collection of painting, could be erected something more presentable. Anyway, and the Prado Palace opened in 1819, after all, the masterpieces accumulated by Spanish kings, immediately becoming a star of the first magnitude in the museum world. Indeed, only one list of the most famous artists whose canvases are stored in the Prado Museum, amusing, after all, in him and Rubens, Dürer, and Rembrandt, and Poussin, and Botticelli, and, of course, Goya. Pictures of Flemish, Dutch, Italian painters make the visitor amazedly to fuck and fill literally in every room: although most paintings were created in the XV-XVII centuries, the canvas did not lose their brightness and saturation, not to mention the skill of their creators.
It is difficult to recommend some specific pictures, because all the tastes are different, and yet some masterpieces cannot be missed. Prado Museum is first of all "Maha dressed" and "Mach Nude" works by Francisco Goya, "Tits" Titian, "Three Graces" of Rubens. I am also remembered by the work of Durera, but his canvases are definitely not like everyone. In general, it is convenient to go to the site of the Prado Museum and make an approximate plan of the walk. It is better to even make plans for a few walks, because there are a lot of paintings, and for one sitting not to master everything. It is reasonable to come to the Prado Museum several times, especially since in the evenings, from 18 to 20 hours the entrance is free for everyone, and on weekends it is still not to pay for tickets from 17 o'clock - you just come to the cashier and take the convicts, thereby saving 12 Euro.
In the second most important art museum of Madrid, Thyssen -Bornemisza Museum, you can also go through free, that's just this opportunity is not every day: only on Monday, and only from 12 to 16 hours - in any case, the site of the museum says about such an opportunity. So the ticket costs 9 euros, or even 15 euros if the visitor wishes in addition to the main exhibition to see also temporary exhibitions. Take a look there is that even without further suitable views - the private collection of Baron Tissren-Borneis, which became the main museum, covers European painting of the XIII-XX centuries and includes the canvas of such masters like Gauguin, Pissarro, Van Gogh.
More modern works can be seen in Centro De Arte Reina Sofia at Calle de Santa Isabel, at the very end of Paseo del Prado, close to Atomk Station. There's the so-called "art" of the avant-garde beats through the edge, and some comes from it to delight. Personally, I liked the glass elevator most of all, which looks at the city as it is lifted, and the pokatushki on it turned out to be much more interesting than most exhibits - do not be these Panorars of Madrid in the evening, the city center of the Queen Sofia remained in my memory just lost in vain in vain. Well, at least I did not have to pay for the entrance 8 euros, because I had at that time "Madrid Card" ...
In continuation of the excursion in Madrid, it is now appropriate to relax in nature; Therefore, we are a straight path to the royal botanical Gardenthat exists more than two and a centuries. During this time, the flora collection has expanded from the initial 2000 plants to 30,000 current ones. From 1755 to 1781, the Royal Botanical Garden was in another place, the current territory in 8 hectares he took on the order of King Carlos III. The garden square is busy many trees and colors from all the continents, walking there is nice.
No less pleasant to walk and in the park Retiro - he and older, and more. The terrain east of the center of Madrid began to be equipped in the second half of the XVI century, to transform the territory in the pearl of garden-park art, the Spaniards were invited from Italy Bernardo Buontalenti, who made their name in the Florentine Gardens of Pitti. For a long time, the entrance to the park was allowed exclusively an approximate king, but over time the restrictions weakened, and now the retiro alleys are a favorite place of resting citizens, and tourists attracted by beautiful landscapes, with pleasure spent here free time. Monument, fountains, rosary, lake, in which you can ride a rented boat - these are the joy of life are waiting for the guests of the park ... especially the crystal palace, the original construction of glass and metal: it is on the shore of the lake and in calm weather in front of amazeled people appear as There would be two palaces ... Only, this is no palace, but just a greenhouse, built in the last quarter of the XIX century to accommodate exotic plants.
The main sights of Madrid we looked, it's time to take the secondary. But for order it is necessary to say a couple of words about the tourist bus, riding around the city - there is excursion support in Russian, and for many, it seems to me, such trips can be interesting. A ticket for 1 day costs 21 euros, for 2 days 25 euros, the driving system allows you to go to numerous stops and sit down in the next bus; Cutters pass every 15-20 minutes. Through tourist buses Really see all the most interesting objects of the Spanish capital without any effort. Well, that is, on the first day after the arrival, ride, and then start the sights of Madrid's sights.
You can start, for example, with a slightly south Park Retiro Basilica Nourera Senior de Atkoma. The life of this monumental building gave the Dominican monastery founded in the XVI century. He was patronized by the king himself, and therefore the monks were able to find funds to improve the temple - it was rebuilt according to the project of the architect Francisco de Mora and the interiors were liftedly. Unfortunately, cultural values \u200b\u200baccumulated by monasteries disappeared during Napoleonic Wars, the Basilica itself was also very affected, and the colossal efforts of restorers were required to bring it into the proper form.
This building is located south from Retiro Park, whereas if you move to the north, then another temple will certainly come to the eyes, no less large and no less well-known. The Church of San Ieronimo also once belonged to the monastery, it was built 39 years after its foundation, in 1503. The similarity of two basil also can also be traced in their fate: French troops occupied by Spain, plundered San Jeronimo, the monks drove out and is generally great at home. Again, it took years of restoration, which was left for more than two decades, before the church gained her beauty peculiar to her - by the way, they chose to coronation Juan Carlos in 1975.
From Atoche Station towards the center there is a long Calle Atocha, with its snacks and shops. We should also move out a little south, on the parallel Calle de Santa Isabel, where there is a Church of Santa Isabel, finished in 1655, after 16 years of work. She was intended for the Augustinian monastery, only the prayers of the monks did not help at all the building: they built it for so long, and everything burned at the moment at the moment, and from the beginning of the XVIII century began to reach the next stage of Volokat, now with recovery. Only by the middle of the century of impressive dimensions, the church has finally acquired, the divine appearance.
On the Santa Cruz Church itself, the Santa Cruz Church is standing, who also has a victim of fire at one time. The temple, erected at the beginning of the XVII century, stood as long as fifty years before disappearing on fire. The second incarnation came out more successful, the church stood the whole century, after which it was devoured by the flame. There is nothing to say that the third version of the building fire could not be able to defend themselves, and although the townspeople collected money on a subscription to the fourth, the currently existing option would definitely simply have a short time. As they say, "Born to be hanged will not drown," and, it seems, the fate of the Church of Santa Cruz is predetermined, the question is only with the time of the beginning of the next fire ...
From the facade of the temple you need to go a little forward in the direction of the Major Square, but it does not go to its territory and immediately roll left. Then the romance of the San Isidorero church, built by the architect Pedro Sanchez, built by the architect Pedro Sanchez for the needs of the Jesuit Order. The case was in the first quarter of the XVII century, Baroque style was just in fashion, and the new construction was shocked by many. Jesuits, however, I liked the new style of architecture, especially inspired their pomp - outside the San Isidoro looks very bright, but where his interior decoration looks brighter. And this is just part of that magnificence that it was before: during the civil war, the church partially burned down, and the former interiors managed to restore only in places.
Having passed from San Isidoro further to the south and filmed to the left, walking around Madrid will be at Calle de Embajadores, which will lead to the Church of San Caetano, another victim of the impact of the rebellion of General Franco. A whole century since 1669, the builders were abandoned, embodied the project Marcos Lopez, and the whole luxury of the design of the baroque temple went into oblivion for a negligible lapse of time. The restorers of the 1960s had to try to restore San Caetano literally from the aspilate, as during the siege by Frankists Madrid the building burned almost entirely.
Now the path of excursions in Madrid lies a little back, to Plaza de La Cebada and then to the West on Carrera De San Francisco - she will be accustomed to the Church of St. Francis. It is believed that the initial version of this shrine in 1217 was laid by Francis Assisi. The current version of the temple was built in 543, at King Carlos III. Then the church did not discharge much popularity, in contrast to the current times: they found a patron of themselves, agreed to invest in the design of interiors. For his appeal, many outstanding personality responded, including the Great Francisco Goyuy. The result of the joint creativity of artists and sculptors was to the highest degree of uncommon decoration, and now the Church of San Francisco is one of the few in Madrid of the temples, for the inspection of which fee is charged. Moreover, actually the temple performs the role national Pantheon., serving the burial site of prominent figures of Spanish politics and culture.
Making the second, expanded campaign in the city center and examining the sights of Madrid, it's time to think about food. In such large cityOf course, full of full dots of the catering, that's just approaching the selection of institutions. It is best to find where to eat in Madrid cheap, at Calle Atocha and Gran Via - there are options for every taste and wallet. I can recommend a couple of places from myself; For example, in the house 118 in Atome there is a snack bar "Atocha", and there are 9 euros for a set of salad, paelle and drink, quite in Bobby. Also inexpensive to eat in Madrid allows the cafe "Don Galo", it is home 16 on the same streets; For the lunch of three dishes you need to give about 12 euros, just above the average prices, but in almost the very center of the city.
The Grand Via has its secrets, and knowing them inexpensively to eat so that it is hardly not yet burying: the establishment of "All u Can Eat" in the house 45 organizes a buffet of meat from different varieties, salads, pizza - who paid 9.95 euros Warm food from tables only. It is a pity only drinks must be paid separately, but it would be very grace.
And literally near, with the house of 43 in Gran Via there is a cafe "Vips" - they offer to eat completely behind the pennies, because the finished sandwiches with ham are worth a one and a half euros, and large compositions from Hamon and all sorts of vegetables go for 4 euros.
In general, food prices in the Spanish capital are highly dependent on the class of institution. Patos restaurants in the center of Druit from the client-go as, but small, often family cafes are ready to offer tolerable conditions. Those who wish to eat in Madrid should count on such prices: tapas snacks are 3.50 euros, coffee about one and a half euros for a cup, baguettes are not from the store, and 70 euro sceners cost from private bakery, for freshly baked bread usually ask about euro. Supermarkets sell all bakery products significantly cheaper, that's just a friendly atmosphere of small bakeries there is no completely completely, well, the baguettes do not breathe heat, not to mention the crunch of the crust ...
On the contrary, juice type products or ready-made salads I advise you to buy precisely in supermarkets, since small shops are always traded with an extra charge; They are often held by the people from Asia, so that pleasant communication A la traditional "Panaderi A" will not work. Of course, food shops are found in the center of Madrid much more often than large stores, but who is looking for, he cares; For example, we found an excellent "lidl" Akrai on the rear of the Retiro Park, at Calle Narciso Serra 13 - found and took advantage of them. In fact, when an excellent Spanish cheese costs a little more than 2 euros per pack, and a bottle of young wine goes 1.19 euros, sin not to buy all this and not to arrange a picnic ...
The question where to buy souvenirs in Madrid is also relevant. Personally, I most liked the office on Calle Arenal de Madrid - there are not enough of the fact that the prices are low, so also discounts for the wholesale. For example, while the beautiful spoon is worth 3 euros, 6 pieces can be bought for 15 coins. Similarly, postcards with kinds of Madrid stand separately 20 euro scenes, but the set of 4 postcards will cost half the euro. These are figures, according to the results of the visit to the Madrid Gifts shop, in the house of 95 - Veser, housekeeping houses, plates with sights, magnets and other souvenir products, which are usually brought from traveling as a gift to relatives and acquaintances are presented on his shelves More than abundant. In fact, one goal is and the question where to buy souvenirs in Madrid is completely closed.
Lovers of all uncomplicated should also be sung in local markets, for example, look at the San Miguel market, which is near the Royal Palace. This is the traditional place of trading, where they sell products mainly and, of course, traded the famous Hamon. So this good in Madrid is completely full, I have repeatedly stumbled upon the tempting signs "Museo de Jamon" - they turned out to be just hamona stores, however, with a wide range representing a variety from different parts of Spain. After all, the kitchen and culinary traditions on the Iberian Peninsula are seriously different from the region to the region, and sometimes it seems from one city to another, it seems to be close to others, come across other dishes, other architecture, other pronunciation. Even in Castile, where this feature of Spain is very leveled, the features of different locality are still evident, in what I was convinced by visiting the town around Madrid. The first swallow became a couple of Guadalajara - Alcala de Enares. About her and will go further story ...
I was in Madrid a total of four days, no more. However, I looked at almost everything you need to see a decent tourist, and now, in the next arrival, I plan to do "Lurence" and immersion in the everyday weekdays of the Spanish capital. That's what I recommend to see to achieve the same tourist Zen when traveling to Madrid. To see Madrid for 1 day, it is possible and, I guess, the impression of the city will have. But if you have more time, then you will see Madrid in 2 days will be better than 1.
With such short raids on tourist cities like Madrid, it is very helpful to save the budget tourist cards. In Madrid there is so-called City Pass allowing and without a queue large museums And some types of maps include a free entrance to the museum and to all of the time it is also free travel. You can and do not have time to run everything. Madrid card.
Initially, routes on the sights of Madrid I took in guide Lonely Planet. , entitled "Historical Madrid". It corresponds to the name only half, because throughout the path of the following follows here and there are faced with very vivid manifestations of Madrid of modern.
Main Square, heart of the city and blah blah blah. Need to look? I believe that it is necessary. To make it yourself to make sure that there is nothing more than once. She, above all, is small. After our scoring, I still can not get used to European standards. "Big Square" in their categories is in size in our realities, well, for example, the courtyard in the usual peal area. For comparison, salt takes about a quarter Palace Square In Petersburg.
The historical importance of buildings surrounding the square is not the most unique characteristic. Former mail buildings, couple hotels. The rest on the square is a modern way out of the subway, a glass "shell", an old fountain on the project of some Italian - and the mass of the people. Moreover, tourists and those who earn money for them. I have not seen such a number of growth dolls in the costumes of Disney characters. More live sculptures of various plots that have no relation to Spain, the history of Madrid or at least events that happened once on the square. (Suddenly, our vigorous-discharged "Peter I" with Catherine, offering photographed at all corners in the center of St. Petersburg, seem complete meanings and meanings).
Of the remarkable parts on the square - the mark of the zero kilometer of Spanish roads (you never know, someone collects a collection and wants to add a photo to his colleagues to Peking, Paris, etc.), clock on the building tower old mailwhich are the same for the Spaniards that our Kremlin Quararants, and the sculptural group "Bear and strawberry tree".
On the first floors all over the area of \u200b\u200bthe stores. Cafes and restaurants are much smaller.
EL OSO Y El Madrono
The image of the strawberry tree and the bear decorate the coat of arms of Madrid. See the sculpture in a lively nice. It is not large, it stands on a granite rectangular pedestal. The bear can be patted behind the paw. It was moved in 2009, it seems, and now it stands on the Puerta del Sol area at the entrance from the street of Alkal.
Plaza Mayor.
From Puerta Del Sol Sol, moving left (if you stand back to the clock tower). If you roll onto the second or third street to the left - then we come to Plaza Mayor. She is something similar to the Square of Vogzov, the same closed on all sides. But in the center is not lawns with grass, but paved pavement. In the middle of the equestrian monument. If you are in Madrid in May, then on the square you can listen to a number of concerts in honor of the patron saint of Madrid St. Isidro (his day is celebrated on May 10, and festivals are organized within a week before and after that). In the galleries on the first floors of the restaurant, you can dine over the tables exhibited. There are no museums on the square, so it's just an interesting point on a walk map.
Chocolateria San Gines.
From Puerta Del Sol along Arenal Street stroll to the current San Hines Church, turn left and then go through a narrow street and be at the magic signboard of the San Hines chinse. As they say, this is the oldest churring in Madrid. Churros is such sticks that are made from the dough similar to our pyshki, and roasted in boiling oil. The dough is unplaced, so sprinkled with sugar powder, and the main thing is served thick hot chocolate, where the churro should be inappropried before eating.
Decorated in the style of Paris old bistro. There are always a lot of people there, however, there will always be a table in the basement room. In comparison with prices in Spain, on average, "coffee + snack" is cheap. A cup of chocolate with six churros costs 3.80 euros.
San Miguel
The market is different from what you see in Boqueria in Barcelona. It is not in order to buy products, but rather to try different tapas, eat, eat seafood, sweets and fruits. The shops are small. With dogs inside it is impossible. There are few tables, but you can continue the walk with food with food.
Pret on streets
After the market, return to Calle Mayor and continue the way to Villa Square. To roll on it and walk along the narrow street down (Calle Del Cordon) at the first crossroads look back, see the Mudjar style tower, pith a picture of the names with names to collect a collection, and go down the streets of the street to Calle Segovia. Honestly, you can hide the streets that you like, the main thing you need to get to Calle Segovia and go to the right. There you will find important.
Viaduk Street Bailen
An incredible bridge that allows the Bailen Street to pass over two hills. I am very advised to climb there. It is difficult to photograph there, since both sides of Viaduct is closed with large plastic transparent panels. The bridge was a favorite suicide destination, the city authorities had to take action. View from him on the mountain ridge Serra de Guadarama is awesome.
On the street, Bailene is located one of the most "young" cathedrals of Spain. He was consecrated by Pope only in 1993. The entrance is free, asking to just sacrifice only one euro. The current royal couple Spain was crowned in this cathedral.
Panorama and Royal Palace
The next building of the Cathedral is the current Royal Palace. You can get into some chambers, entering 10 euros, plus an audio guide for four. With dogs there are not allowed.
But I like the square between the cathedral and the palace, and the panorama that opens with it. Spirit captures. When I first turned out to be there, it was at sunset - I wrote Sestrik in SMS, which would die right here from such beauty. Sit on the steps of the cathedral and look at Sierra can be ever.
Campo Park Del Moro
A lot of greens around the palace. In the northern facade, Sabatini's gardens, called in honor of the Italian architect, who built the royal stables in the 19th century, previously located on the site of the park. This is a regular park, with clear shapes and trimmed bushes. Proorce artificial, in my opinion.
And if you go through it, and go down from the hill - you will find yourself and Park Campo del Moro. Here it is for sure that you can take a walk. It has paths, ponds, streams, peacocks walk and some other birds. In hot noon better place Not to find, the crowns of trees are reliably close from the rays of the sun. But you can not go there.
It is important to note that for some reason Google maps In Russian, the entire park array next to the royal palace is called Sabatini gardens. And this does not correspond to reality. In the Campo del Moro Park, a private entrance, at the foot of the slope, over which the palace is towers. Through Sabatini's gardens, not to get there.
Vacation began and we were waiting for the wonderful city of Madrid - the capital of the Corrida, Flamenco and Hamon. This is Madrid. And at least we did not plan in it, he conquered us and remained in our memory forever.
After all the experiences, which usually anticipate holidays - tickets, visas, money, after fees and sleepless nights, we are finally sitting in the chairs that has already scored the height, the airbus and look at the pyrenees slowly under the wing.
After 5 hours of 20 minutes, we landed in Madrid, at Barajas airport. The weather was wonderful, +30 sun and nor cloud. HOLLA ESPANA! To get to Madrid, you can use a taxi, bus or subway. We chose the Madrid Metro. It is not even necessary from the airport, you don't even need to go through the terminal focusing on the pointers right to the metro station, there are terminals before entering the ticket where you can buy a ticket. Madrid metro is a very efficient and economical type of transport in the city, the price of a ticket is 1.50 euro, and children under 4 years old are free of charge.
If in our subway platform in the middle, here on the contrary, in the middle of the rails and platforms at the edges. Therefore, to go in the opposite direction if you suddenly slept your station to make a march of a staircase or an escalator on the other side of the platform. Spain met us Madrid, or rather one of his immigrants, formerly our compatriot, who kindly agreed to show us Madrid. First of all, we needed to buy train tickets to Alicante, from where we will get to the town called Calpe, where we were going to spend all vacation. On the subway with several transfers, we reached the athome station, the oldest in Madrid. It is notable for the fact that the Botanical Garden in the center of the station building is located, palm trees and shrubs spread, and in this garden there are turtles, an irreplaceable number of turtles.
Leaving things in the Station Storage Camera, comparing the departure time with time on the clock, we found a difference at 5 o'clock. How to see Madrid in 5 hours? It is quite possible, naturally not going into museums and not moving away from the city center. So let's go! Pedestrian route in Madrid is not difficult to choose. Here all attractions in the center and are located within walking distance of each other.
Prado Museum, Madrid
We go along the Alley Prado, on the left hand from us is the Museum of Contemporary Art Caixaforum Madrid and as a confirmation of this fact, next to it, at the next building there is a green wall of Patrick Blanca, French designer-naturalist, it is seated by plants in which gardeners support life "They watered them and cut them out, there was still an elephant on a trunk, but now it is already there. 
And here the Prado Museum itself, we do not have inside the time, but we are obliged to put it outside. 
Near the central entrance to the museum is a monument to Diego Velasquez, and a little further on the opposite side of the monument to Francisco Goya. 
If you go a little more, you will leave for the monument to the nameless artist and rising the stairs to the Church of St. Jerome. 
We are so used to living in our city, which is a real event in someone else's for us. Whether it is Chelyabinsk or Madrid, that's just in Chelyabinsk on vacation we do not go, and in Madrid we go, and that the sin of Timing is hardly in Chelyabinsk architecture is very different from our hometown, which you can not say about Madrid. The architecture amazes ... No, of course, here is not every building of the Roman Colosseum, just, surprises this neighborhood of such luxury buildings and ordinary roads, for which taxi drivers are delivering in rushing people and on which buses go. I am striking how little street is replaced by a spacious square with some monument or monumental structure. 
Kanavas de Castilos Square in Madrid
Puerta Dal Salt Square, in Madrid
We continue our way to the Puerta-Dal-salt area to the bronze zero, mounted in the pavement, from which the distance is counting in all directions of Spain. Translated the name of the square means the "Gate of the Sun", at this place there were once a city gate in the stone wall. Another feature of the square, which they wanted to see with their own eyes was the Bear Sculpture - Madrid Symbol. To make a desire and rub the heel of the bears - it is obligatory to make every tourist. Is it worth saying that the heel of grate to the brilliance. 
By the way, yes, on the streets of Madrid a lot of all kinds of mimes, clowns, living statues and other Elvisov. They will wore you or, at least, puzzy. Walking in Madrid, immersed in a fairy tale, feeling in an alternative reality, and such arts quickly remind us that young people live in Madrid. 
Throughout our pedestrian route We often came across cozy squabs and parks with beautiful statues. 
Plaza Major Square, Madrid
In the old part of the city, that neither the corner is the story or legend. One of the main attractions of Madrid is considered to be Plaza Major, which is translated as the main square, for a long time just such. The history of Spain was held through this area: the royal cortices, military parades, proclamation of the heirs of the throne, gloomy religious processions, poetic competitions, knight tournaments, Dueles nobles, bonfires of the Inquisition, folk walking, corrida, execution - everything was obeyed by Plaza Major. The center of the square has a monument to Philip III. 
I was struck by the Madrid sky. No, it is exactly the same color as we have, well, can only the top of the buildings on its background of another architecture. But this sky is used by traces of aircraft, like a child draws a cage for playing in noliki cross. This attaches special artisticity to our walk. 
In this city, I want to get lost, get away from the bustle, wander around the streets and listen to an unfamiliar speech. 
Everything! Here we already exhausted, and the flight has affected. They found one of the street cafes, although why to look for them, they are here at every step and arranged a snack. 
Royal Palace, Madrid
The Royal Palace is open for more than half a century to visit. The king in it appears only during the ceremonial receptions on the occasion of state visits and at the ceremonies of presenting credentials by ambassadors. Square, like the royal palace itself, is called Oriente, that is, Eastern, although it is on the western side of Madrid. On her two sides between the Palace and the Royal Theater lined up on the pedestals of the 20 stone kings of Spain. In the center of the square rises a monument to Philip IV. 
Temple Almuta, Madrid
Madrid can not be called the city of churches, the time did not spare many of them. Opposite the main entrance to the Royal Palace is the temple of Almuta, named after the Holy Patron of Madrid. 
For some reason, the government of all European countries dislikes public shops, probably because of the homeless. Sit and relax just nowhere, so tourists like sparrows are delivered everywhere where there is a shadow - on the stairs, under the trees and of course in a cafe.
Siblez Square, Madrid
Go back to the Prado Museum on the Gran-Via Street, its name is translated as the "main road", still retains its glory as a trading showcase of the city. Metropolis Corner building Attraction at Grand Via, a dome from a black roofing slate with gold-plated ornaments and a statue of a winned victory on the top. 
Siblez Square, located directly opposite the Grand Building - Spain Post. Fountain "Siblez" is considered the most famous in Madrid. Siblez - the daughter of the sky and the earth, the wife of Saturn, the Mother of Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto is shown on the chariot, shaped lions. And under the fountain at a depth of 37 meters there is a gold stock of the state in the armored chamber of the Spanish Bank. 
