Madrid

useful
information

The origins of Madrid lie in the 10th-century Arab settlement known as Magerit, which had been built to defend the Visigothic capital Toledo and was definitively conquered by Alfonso VI of Castile in 1083. Its strategic location at the crossroads of the drovers’ roads that joined the two plateaus led to its growth throughout the 14th century and its being declared the capital city by Philip II in 1561. It achieved its greatest development from 1759 to 1788 during the reign of Charles III, who took it on himself to make the city worthy of its status as capital, commissioning numerous public works and projects of embellishment. During the French invasion on 2nd May 1808 Madrid lived through one of its most tragic episodes with the revolt of the common people against the invader, who wanted to take back to France the few members of the royal family remaining in Spain. The end of the Peninsular War brought liberal airs to initiate a period of Restoration, filling the streets with pavement cafés and laying the foundation of the modern city with the creation of the Universidad Central in 1836, the Palacio de las Cortes in 1850, the Isabel II Canal in 1858, and the first section of the Underground in 1919. The establishing of the Republic in 1931 led to the fighting of the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939, during which the city suffered considerable damage. The war was finally won by the faction led by General Franco, who established a dictatorship that lasted until his death in 1975. The 1978 Spanish Constitution confirmed Madrid as the capital of Spain and ushered in an era of freedom and international aspirations such as the holding of the Olympic Games.

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MADRID ESSENTIALS

Population: 3,273,049 (2010) Area: 605.77 km² (234.09 sq mi) Density: 5,403.12 (13,993.7 sq mi) Elevation: 667 m (2,188 ft) Mayor: Ana Botella

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Tourist Information: Madrid Tourism Centre, plaza Mayor, 27 ( 91 588 16 36). Open daily 9:30 to 20:30. Colón Tourist Office, Paseo de la Castellana subway, between Goya & Genova streets ( 91 588 16 36). Open daily 9:30 to 20:30. Cibeles Tourist Information Point, kiosc at the corner with Paseo del Prado ( 91 588 16 36). Open daily 9:30 to 20:30. Callao Tourist Office, kiosc at plaza de Callao ( 91 588 16 36). Open daily 9:30 to 20:30. Paseo del Arte Tourist Office, Santa Isabel with Glorieta de Carlos V ( 91 588 16 36). Open daily 9:30 to 20:30. Terminal 2 Madrid-Barajas Airport, arrival hall, between belts 5 & 6 ( 91 588 16 36). Open daily 9:00 to 20:00. Terminal 4 Madrid-Barajas Airport, arrival hall, between belts 10 & 11 ( 91 588 16 36). Open daily 9:00 to 20:00. More information at www.esmadrid.com ( 010 or 902 100 007).

Youth Information: Centro Regional de Información y Documentación Juvenil, Caballero de Gracia, 32 ( 91 521 39 60). Open from 9:00 to 21:00. Sevilla.

Telephone: Madrid code number is 91, even necessary for local calls. For international calls dial 00 plus the country code you wish to call. Public telephones works with coins and prepaid cards on sale at newsagents. For telephone information dial 11888 or 11822.

Barajas airport T4 Terminal

Airport: Madrid Barajas Airport – MAD ( 91 305 83 43)is 12 km east of the city centre in A2 motorway. T1-T2-T3 and T4 terminals are connected with free AENA shuttle buses every 3 minutes. Metro connections: Barajas airport has two Metro stations on line 8, Aeropuerto T1-T2-T3 and Aeropuerto T4, with trains running from 6:00 to 1:30 to Nuevos Ministerios (fare 1.50 € + suplement 1 €). Commuter trains connection: Commuter train line C1 connect Príncipe Pío, Atocha, Nuevos Ministerios and Chamartín with T4 Terminal (2.15 € / 11 minute trip to Chamartín, 25 to Atocha & 38 to Príncipe Pío). Local bus connections: All terminals links with bus 200 to Avenida de América Interchange (2nd floor) or bus 101 to Canillejas from 6:00 to 23:00 (1.50 €, tickets from the driver). There is a 24 hour Express Airport line from T1, T2 & T4 to Atocha every 15 minutes (every 30 minutes at night), crossing Avenida de América, O’Donnell & Cibeles square (2 € / 40 minutes). Suburban bus connections: route 822 leaves terminal T1 to Coslada and its local railway station, 827 leaves terminal T4 to Canillejas Metro station, Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes and Tres Cantos. Services generally operate from 6:00 to 23:00 with fares depending on the destination.

Train Stations: Chamartin Station, Agustín de Foxá ( 91 315 99 76). Connections to North Spain & Europe. Atocha Station, Glorieta de Atocha. Connections to south Spain & Portugal. Renfe Information, 91 328 90 20.

Bus Stations: Estación Sur ( 91 468 42 00), Méndez Alvaro, 83 ( Méndez Alvaro). Estación Avenida de América ( 902 30 20 10), Avenida de América, 9, in the transport interchange subway ( Avenida de América).

Public Transport: Madrid’s Public Transport network – CTM has over 150 bus routes (EMT), which operate from 6 in the morning to 12 midnight. Night buses or búhos (“owls”) run every 20 minutes to and from Cibeles Square (from N1 to N24)with 2 circle lines from Cibeles to Moncloa (NC1 and NC2) at the same price than daily transport. Buses cover also Metro lines during Friday and Saturday nights (from L1 to L12) every 15 minutes. Metro network ( 902 444 403)is the third most extensive in the world, with 12 lines and several light trams called Metro Ligero covering the whole city and the surroundings (under special fares). Operates from 6:00 to 1:30 am, with a fare of 1.50 € for a single ticket in any kind of transport and 9.30 € for a 10 trip ticket (Metrobus). There are monthy cards for 47.60 € adults and 30.50 € under 21 (card fare 1.20 €) and tourist tickets for 1, 2, 3, 5 & 7 days, at 6 €, 10 €, 13 €, 19 € & 25 € each (under 11 years old 50% discount). A 10 line network of suburban trains called Cercanías connect Madrid to nearby towns from 5:00 or 6:00 am to 24:00 or 1:00 in the morning at 1.35 €, 1.50 € & 2.15 € for 1-2, 3 & 4 zones each.

Taxis: Flag fall Monday to Sunday from 6:00 to 22:00 costs 2.05 €, from 22:00 to 6:00 Monday to Thursday 2.20 € and Friday, Saturday, Sunday and bankdays 3.10 €. Plus 0.98 € each kilometre Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00 with fare 1 and 1.15 € with fare 2; from 22:00 to 6:00 on weekdays and 24 hour Saturday and bank holidays 1.15 € with fare 2 and 1.17 € with fare 3. Waiting hour cost 16,95 € and supplements 5.50 € for airport and 2.95 € for IFEMA Fair Ground, train and bus stations. Teletaxi, 91 371 21 31. Radioteléfono Taxi, 91 547 82 00. Check the driver has put the taximeter on at the start of the journey and in case of doubt ask for an official receipt plus a complaint sheet, which the driver must give you. In the event of complaint send it to: Vallehermoso, 1 – 28015 Madrid ( 91 447 07 14 / 91 447 07 15).

Lost & found: Lost objects in EMT buses, Cerro de la Plata, 4 – 28007 Madrid. Open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 14:00 ( 902 50 78 50). Check a list on-line of the last items found. On the day 20th all items are moved to Oficina de Objetos Perdidos Ayuntamiento de Madrid, Paseo del Molino, 7 – 28045 Madrid ( 91 527 95 90).

Emergencies: All the emergencies: 112; Medical Service: 061; National Police: 091; Local Police: 092; Firemen: 080.

Medical Assistance: Casa de Socorro distrito Centro, Alvarez Quintero, 3 ( 91 446 71 21). Casa de Socorro distrito Centro, Navas de Tolosa, 10 ( 91 521 00 25). Casa de Socorro distrito Salamanca, Montesa, 22 ( 91 588 51 00). All them open 24 hours. Gregorio Marañón General Hospital, Doctor Esquerdo, 44-46 ( 91 586 80 00). Niño Jesús Children’s Hospital, Av. Menéndez Pelayo, 65 ( 91 574 86 00).

Restaurants: Casa Ciriaco, Mayor, 84 ( Opera). Traditional tavern. Casa Patas, Cañizares, 10 ( Antón Martín). Tapas and flamenco shows. Casa Lucio, Cava Baja, 35 ( La Latina). Castillian cuisine and worldwide famous crashed eggs. Con 2 Fogones, San Bernardino, 9 ( Plaza de España). A small restaurant with an imaginative concept about Mediterranean cuisine. Botín, Cuchilleros, 17 ( Sol). It is said to be the oldest restaurant in Madrid and maybe in the world, due it was opened in 1725. Taberna La Bola, La Bola, 5 ( Santo Domingo). You don’t know Madrid if you don’t taste the cocido of La Bola. La leyenda del Ágave, Núñez de Balboa, 37 ( Velázquez). Behind a small façade and a deep stair is one of the best Mexicans in Madrid. They offer well known Mexican recipes, with some options like cactus tacos, alambres and huitlacoche crepas. Don’t forget desserts called “calorías”, like three milk cake or cheese pie. Negro de Anglona, Segovia, 13 ( La Latina). Imaginative cuisine in the basement of an ancient palace. Samarkanda, Atocha Station, Glorieta de Carlos V ( Atocha). Imaginative cuisine over the tropical garden of Atocha Station. A wide wine menu, even with the desserts, where brights a delicious tiramisú. Al Mounia, Calle Recoletos, 5 ( Colón). Moroccan cuisine in a restaurant open in 1968. Zalacaín, Alvarez de Baena, 4 ( Gregorio Marañón). Probably the most expensive restaurant in Madrid. A wide cellar in an impresive cuisine. Hard Rock Café, Paseo de la Castellana, 2 ( Colón). American cuisine and great merchandising about rock’n'roll. La Gloria de Montera, Caballero de Gracia, 10 ( Gran Vía). An imaginative new concept of Mediterranean cuisine with affordable menus. Café de Chinitas, Torija, 7 ( Santo Domingo). A restaurant with flamenco show in an ancient palace.

Círculo de Bellas Artes

Cafés: Círculo de Bellas Artes, Alcalá, 42 ( Sevilla). Busy café. Café Gijón, Paseo de Recoletos, 21 ( Colón). Historical meeting point for writers and artists. Café Comercial, Glorieta de Bilbao, 7 ( Bilbao). Traditional Café. Chocolatería San Ginés, San Ginés, 5 ( Sol). The best place to end a night out when the sun raises up. Its chocolate with churros is world famous. Freddo-Freddo, Mayor, 51 ( Opera) & Padre Damián, 15 ( Cuzco). The best ice-creams in Madrid. Gaudeamus Café, Tribulete, 14 ( Lavapiés). Café in Lavapiés area. Café Galdós, Los Madrazo, 10 ( Sevilla). Modern literarian café.

Pubs & Clubs: Centro Cubano, Claudio Coello, 41 – first floor ( Serrano). Cuban cocktails and food. Las Cuevas de Sésamo, Príncipe, 7 ( Sevilla). Sangría. Villa Rosa, Plaza de Santa Ana, 15 ( Sevilla / Antón Martín). Amusing pub for people over 30. Berlín Cabaret, Costanilla de San Pedro, 11 ( La Latina). Live shows. Alegoría, Villanueva, 2 ( Colón). Impresive scenery with antiquities. Joy Eslava, Arenal, 11 ( Sol). Young crowd from 3-4 in the morning. Kapital, Atocha, 125 ( Atocha). One of the biggest clubs in Spain: 5 floors, summer terrace and karaoke. Pachá, Barceló, 11 ( Tribunal). Big club in an ancient theatre.

Gay venues: Liquid, Barbieri, 7. Videodisjockey pub, now in a new location ( Chueca). Museo Chicote, Gran Vía, 12 ( Gran Vía). Famous meeting point for artists and celebrities. Shangaiclub, Costanilla de los Angeles, 20 ( Santo Domingo). A new air for the Madrid night. Vanguard decoration, three bars and great house music, getting in progressive by the end of the night. Boite, Tetuán, 27 ( Gran Vía / Sol). The new gay club in Madrid. Studio 54, Barbieri, 7 ( Chueca). A imitation of the mythic New York venue, open Thuersday to Saturday from 23:30 to 3:30. Ohm, Plaza Callao, 4 ( Callao). House music. Cool, Isabel la Católica, 6 ( Santo Domingo). House and international music.

travel
guide

plaza de la Villa

The nerve centre of the city, and the starting-point for all Spanish roads, is the Puerta del Sol. It is a square dominated by the equestrian statue of King Carlos III and the Casa de Correos, built by Ventura Rodríguez in 1760. The latter is currently the headquarters of the Madrid Local Government and its clock is the one used to see in the New Year. Descending towards the west along the Calle Mayor we come to the Plaza Mayor, designed by the architect Juan Gómez de Mora in 1619; it was restyled by Villanueva to give it its present appearance. The equestrian statue of King Felipe III and the frescos on the façade of the Casa de la Panadería are worthy of note. Immediately to the south of this square -down the Calle Toledo- stands the Colegiata de San Isidro, constructed in 1626 in the Baroque style; and the Palacio de Santa Cruz, the old 17th-century Court prison. Back in the Calle Mayor, and continuing towards the west, stands the building of the Mercado de San Miguel (Saint Michael’s Market), built of wrought iron in the early 20th century; and the Plaza de la Villa, where some of the most historic buildings of the city can be found: the 15th-century Torre de los Lujanes where François I of France was kept prisoner; the Casa de Cisneros in Plateresque style; and the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) built by Juan Gómez de Mora in 1640.

Debod temple

The street leads into Calle Bailén, where if you turn right you can see the Catedral de la Almudena, built in eclectic Gothic style ( Opera; from 10:00 to 13:30 and 18:00 to 20:00). The Palacio Real appears opposite; it was erected on the site of an Arab fortress that was destroyed by fire in 1734. The construction was commissioned by Felipe V from the Italian architect Filippo Juvara and finished by Sachetti 26 years later. The Plaza de la Armería, the dining-hall and the Salones del Trono (Throne Rooms) are still used for official ceremonies ( Opera; April to September Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00 and on Sundays from 9:00 to 15:00; October to March Monday to Saturday from 9:30 to 17:00 and on Sundays from 9:00 to 14:00; 8 €, under 21 and students 3.50 €, free on Wednesdays to EU citizens). The west façade of the palace is taken up by the Campo del Moro (Field of the Moor), an English-style garden that houses the Carriage Museum to the north the Sabatini gardens; and to the east the Plaza de Oriente, decorated with statues of the Gothic kings on its perimeter and with the equestrian statue of King Felipe IV in the centre.

On the opposite side of the palace stands the Teatro Real (Opera House) and the Plaza de Isabel II with the statue to Queen Isabel II. To the north of the square, the Monasterio de la Encarnación by Juan Gómez de Mora houses works by Ribera and Carducho and is where the blood of San Pantaleón turns into liquid every year on 27 July ( Opera; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:30 to 12:45 and from 16:00 to 17:45; Fridays from 10:30 to 12:45; and Sundays from 11:00 to 13:45; adults 3.60 €; under 21 and students 2 €). Continuing along Calle Bailén we reach the Senate and the Plaza de España, with the obelisk to Miguel de Cervantes and Don Quixote ( Plaza de España). Behind it in the Calle Ferraz lies the Templo de Debod -of the 4th century b.C.- a gift from the Egyptian government in gratitude for Spanish collaboration in rescuing temples otherwise to be drowned behind the Aswan dam ( Ventura Rodríguez; free entrance). Back in Calle Sol, and descending the Carrera de San Jerónimo, we come to the 19th-century Congreso de los Diputados (House of Commons) with guided tours every Saturday of the year -except August- every 30 minutes from 10:30 to 12:30, and -in the Paseo del Prado, number 8- the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, which houses the Thyssen collection ( Banco de España; Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00; adults 6 €; students 4 €), and which together with the Prado museum and the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía make up “art’s golden triangle”. The Prado museum -in the Paseo del Prado- houses the most important collection of Spanish painting from the 12th to the 19th centuries, with works by Velázquez, Goya, Ribera, Sorolla, Zurbarán and also Rubens, Hieronymus Bosch, Fra Angélico and Rembrandt, among others ( Banco de España; Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00; adults 12 €, concessions 6 €, free for EU students under 25 and youngsters). The Centro de Arte Reina Sofía National Museum -at Calle Santa Isabel, 52- renovated in September 2005 by french arquitect Jean Nouvel, contains some of the most valuable paintings of the 20th century such as Picasso’s “Guernica”, as well as paintings by Miró and Dalí ( Atocha; Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 and on Sundays from 10:00 to 14:30; closed on Tuesdays; adults 6 €, students 3 € and 18 or younger free). There is a card called Abono Paseo del Arte which allows one entrace during one year to the three museums of the golden triangle at 14.40 €.

Fountain of Cibeles

March 11th victims monument in Atocha Square

The adjacent Glorieta de Atocha marks the beginning of the Paseo del Prado, which with successive name changes crosses the most interesting areas of the city, such as the Botanical Gardens ( Atocha; daily April to October from 10:00 to 20:00 and November to March from 10:00 to 18:00), the obelisk to the heroes of the 2nd of May in the Plaza de la Lealtad, the fountains of Apollo, Neptune and Cibeles, sculpted by Ventura Rodríguez; and the monument to the discoverer in the Plaza de Colón ( Colón). In the square formed by Cibeles the most important buildings are the Palacio de Comunicaciones and the Banco de España, where on our right -going up Alcalá- we come to the Puerta de Alcalá, commissioned by King Carlos III from the architect Sabatini ( Retiro). Further on lies the Parque del Retiro, which is noted for its pond with a monument to Alfonso XII and the Palacio de Cristal, designed by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco in 1887.

Tourist Office recomends Madrid Card, which allows free entrance to 40 museums and monuments in the city and environs, unlimited use of sightseeing buses, and discounts on restaurants and shopping. Prices for 1, 2 and 3 days are 38 €, 48 € and 58 € (discounts when booking through the web and 91 713 04 44).

surroundings

Monastery of El Escorial

University of Alcalá de Henares

EL ESCORIAL

At San Lorenzo del Escorial, an hour’s train journey away from the Atocha station, stands the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial ( suburban train line C8a or long-distance buses 661 and 664 from Moncloa exchanger). This masterpiece of architecture by Juan de Herrera was commissioned by Philip II in 1563 to commemorate the victory against the French army at the Battle of San Quintín. It is noted for its library, its basilica, and the royal pantheon, the resting Place of all Spanish monarchs of the Habsburgs and the Bourbons in 26 marble tombs ( Tuesday to Sunday from April to September between 10:00 and 18:00, and from October to March from 10:00 to 17:00; adults 9 €, students and young people under 18 – 3.50 €). Conceived as Place s of recreation for princes and infantes, two buildings were raised near the monastery. These are the Casita del Príncipe or Casita de Abajo -at Avenida de los Reyes Católicos- which was built in 1772 by Juan de Villanueva for the Prince of Asturias (then Charles IV) and contains a collection of paintings, furniture, tapestries, and porcelain ( at Easter and from July to September from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 18:45; 3.40 €), and the Casita del Infante or Casita de Arriba -at La Herrería on the road from San Lorenzo to Robledo de Chavela- which was commissioned by the Infante Gabriel de Borbón to resemble that of his brother from the same architect Juan de Villanueva; it is decorated with paintings in the neoclassical style ( from Easter to September on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 18:30; 3.40 €).

VALLEY OF THE FALLEN

Nearby can be found the Valle de los Caídos, the construction of which was ordered by Francisco Franco 1940 and where lie the remains of the founder of the Falange Jose Antonio and those of 40,000 victims of the Spanish Civil War ( Tuesday to Sunday from April to September between 10:00 and 18:00, and from October to March between 10:00 and 17:00; together with the Monastery: adults 10 €, students and young people under 18 – 5 €).

EL PARDO

The Palacio de El Pardo -in Calle Manuel Alonso on the hill of El Pardo- where the dictator Franco lived until his death in 1975, was reopened to the public in 2007. It is an old hunting pavilion of Henry III of Trastámara and is located in a natural landscape of pine trees and wild animals on the edge of the capital; it is currently used to lodge foreign dignitaries on official visits to Madrid ( long-distance bus 601 from the Moncloa exchanger; open weekdays from 10:30 to 16:45 hours and Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 13:30 hours, the gardens close one hour later; closed to the public from two days before the arrival of foreign dignitaries; adults 4 €, young people under 17 – 2.30 €).

El Pardo Palace

Aranjuez gardens

ALCALÁ DE HENARES

Alcalá de Henares, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, is 30 km from Madrid on the A2 dual carriageway ( suburban train lines C1, C2, or C7 from Puerta de Atocha). Around the landscaped Plaza de Cervantes are arranged the most noteworthy spaces of the town, in particular the Town Hall or former Colegio-Convento de San Carlos Borromeo of the 17th century, the oldest Corral de Comedias (Patio Theatre) in Spain ( guided tours from Tuesday to Friday at 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 17:00 & 18:00, and at weekends and on holidays at 11:00, 11:45, 12:30, 13:15, 16:45 & 17:30; 2.50 €) and the 16th-century Cervantes House-Museum -in the Calle Mayor- where the writer of genius Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) was born, arranged around a patio of Renaissance columns ( from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00; free entrance).

To the east of the plaza stands the Universidad de Alcalá or Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso, which was commissioned by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499 and was the greatest Renaissance university complex in Europe. Among other treasures it has a façade by Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón, a porticoed patio in the de Herrera style, the University Chapel of San Ildefonso with the marble tomb by Carrara of Cardinal Cisneros and that of Antonio de Nebrija, the author of the first Spanish grammar, and the auditorium decorated with Mudejar coffered ceilings, where the Cervantes prize is awarded each year to the best writer in the Spanish language ( guided tours every hour from Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 18:00 and every half an hour at weekends and on holidays from 11:00 to 19:00; 3 €). Back in the porticoed Calle Mayor (the axis of the former Jewish quarter) stands the Cathedral of the Saints Justo and Pastor in the late Gothic style, which was built in honour of two saints who were martyred on its site in the year 305, and is unique in the world together with that of Saint Pierre in Louvain, Belgium in holding the title of Magistral, a category that means all its canons must be lecturers at the Universidad de Alcalá ( Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 18:00 to 20:00, Saturdays from 9:45 to 11:30 and from 17:45 to 19:00, and Sundays from 10:00 to 10:45, from 11:45 to 12:15, and from 18:00 to 19:45; Cathedral museum 1 €, guided tours 2.50 €). A block away to the north stands the Palacio Arzobispal, the former headquarters of the archbishops of Toledo in the city and the scene of the first interview between Columbus and Isabel the Catholic, and the current headquarters of the Bishopric of Alcalá de Henares. South of Alcalá lies Complutum, the former Roman villa that gave its name to the town and where the House of Hippolytus and the Forum, with remains from the 1st to the 5th centuries, can be visited ( Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00 and at weekends from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00; free entrance).