INFOIDIOMAS.COM - Madrid City Guide

The city grew up around a 10th-century Arab settlement known as Magerit, which was definitively conquered in 1083 by Alfonso VI of Castile. The title of capital came to it from Philip II in 1561, although its greatest development occurred between 1759 and 1788 during the reign of Charles III. Madrid has experienced at first hand the vicissitudes of the history of Spain, representing the beginning and the end of all the important events that have occurred in the country. These include the uprising against the French on 2 May 1808 and the surrender to General Franco that brought the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) to a close. Population: 3,128,600

Tourist Information: Municipal Tourist Office, plaza Mayor, 3 ( 91 366 54 77). Open from 10:00 to 20:00. Patronato Municipal de Turismo, Mayor, 69 ( 91 588 29 00). Comunidad de Madrid Tourist Office, Duque de Medinaceli, 2 ( 91 429 49 51). Open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 19:00 and Saturday from 9:00 to 13:00. Barajas Airport, terminal 1 & 4 ( 91 305 86 56). Open from 8:00 to 20:00. Chamartin Station, gate number 16, central building. Open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:00 and Sunday and festives from 8:00 to 15:00 ( 91 315 99 76). Atocha Station, AVE terminal. Open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 21:00. More information at www.esmadrid.com ( 010 or 902 100 007).

Youth Information: Youth Information Center, Caballero de Gracia, 32 ( 91 521 39 60). Open from 9:00 to 21:00. Sevilla.

*Weather:* Madrid has very hot and dry weather during summer season and cold winters with temperatures about 5-10º Celsius. This is the current weather:

month	average temperature	average precipitation	month	average temperature	average precipitation

January	6°C / 42ºF	45.7 mm / 1.80 in	July	24°C / 76ºF	10.2 mm / 0.40 in
February	7°C / 45ºF	43.2 mm / 1.70 in	August	24°C / 76ºF	10.2 mm / 0.40 in
March	9°C / 49ºF	38.1 mm / 1.50 in	September	21°C / 69ºF	30.5 mm / 1.20 in
April	12°C / 53ºF	45.7 mm / 1.80 in	October	14°C / 58ºF	45.7 mm / 1.80 in
May	16°C / 60ºF	40.6 mm / 1.60 in	November	9°C / 49ºF	63.5 mm / 2.50 in
June	21°C / 69ºF	25.4 mm / 1.00 in	December	7°C / 44ºF	48.3 mm / 1.90 in

Telephones: 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.

T4 terminal in Barajas airport

Airport: Madrid Barajas airport ( 91 305 83 43) is 12 kilometres 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 € + suplement 1 €). Local bus connections: Terminals T1, T2 and T3 with EMT bus 200 from Avenida de America Transport Terminus (2nd floor) or 101 from Canillejas. Terminal T4 with bus 204 from Avenida de America Transport Terminus or 201 from Barajas Metro station. All services generally operate from 6:00 to 23:00 (fare: 1 €, can be purchased directly on the bus). 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. More information in www.aena.es.

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 Station: Estación Sur, Méndez Alvaro, 83 ( 91 468 42 00). Méndez Alvaro. Estación Avenida de América, Avenida de América, 9, in the transport interchange subway ( 902 30 20 10). 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 € for a single ticket in any kind of transport and 6.70 € for a 10 trip ticket (Metrobus). There are monthy cards for 42.10 € adults and 27.20 € under 21 (card fare: 1.20 €) and tourist tickets for 1, 2, 3, 5 & 7 days, at 4 €, 7.20 €, 9.60 €, 15 € & 20.80 € each. 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 1.10 €, 1,20 € & 1,75 € for 1-2, 3 & 4 zones each. (pdf format)

Taxis: Flag fall Monday to Sunday from 6:00 to 22:00 costs 1.95 €, from 22:00 to 6:00 Monday to Thursday 2.15 € and Friday, Saturday, Sunday and bankdays 2.95 €. Plus 0.92 € each kilometre Monday to Friday from 6:00 to 22:00 with fare 1 and 1.06 € with fare 2; from 22:00 to 6:00 on weekdays and 24 hour Saturday and bank holidays 1.06 € with fare 2 and 1.10 € with fare 3. Waiting hour cost 16,95 € and supplements 5 € for airport, 2.75 € for IFEMA Fair Groundand and 2.50 € for 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).

Vehicles: Street parking areas inside M-30 round highway is controlled by parking meters which work from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 20:00 and Saturday from 9:00 to 15:00. There are two different colours for these areas: green for residents and blue for visitors, although it can be used both with different fares: 30 minutes cost 0.40 € on blue & 0.90 € on green spaces; 1 hour 1 € on blue & 1.80 € on green; 2 hours 2.55 € only on blue spaces.

Lost & found office: 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).

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 ( 574 86 00).

24 hour pharmacies: Mayor, 59; Atocha, 46; Bailén, 16; Carretas, 12; Toledo, 46; Goya, 12; Goya, 89; Av. Menéndez Pelayo, 45; Conde Peñalver, 27; Velázquez, 30; Ferraz, 13; Cea Bermúdez, 15.

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

Restaurants: Casa Ciriaco, Mayor, 84. Traditional taberna ( Opera). Casa Patas, Cañizares, 10 ( Anton Martín). Tapas and flamenco. Casa Lucio, Cava Baja, 35 ( La Latina). Castilian cuisine. Casa Mingo, Paseo de la Florida, 2 ( Príncipe Pío). Cheap Asturian cuisine. Botín, Cuchilleros, 17 ( Sol). The oldest restaurant in Madrid. Taberna La Bola, La Bola, 5 ( Santo Domingo). The most famous "cocido" in town. Teatriz, Hermosilla, 15 ( Velázquez). Italian cuisine in an old theatre. Palacio de Anglona, Segovia, 13 ( La Latina). Imaginative cuisine in the lower floor of an ancient palace. Samarkanda, Estación de Atocha, Glorieta de Carlos V ( Atocha). Imaginative cuisine in a tropical garden. Al Mounia, Recoletos, 5. Moroccan cuisine ( Colón). Zalacaín, Alvarez de Baena, 4 ( Gregorio Marañón). The best and most expensive restaurant in Madrid. Bali, San Bernardino, 6 ( Plaza de España). Indonesian cuisine. Hard Rock Café, Paseo de la Castellana, 2 ( Colón). American cuisine. La Gloria, Caballero de Gracia, 10 ( Gran Vía). Imaginative cuisine with affordable prices. Really recommended.

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 de la Villa, Centro Cultural de la Villa, plaza de Colón ( Colón). Concert-café. Café Comercial, Glorieta de Bilbao, 7 ( Bilbao). Traditional Café. Chocolatería San Ginés, San Ginés, 5 ( Sol). The best hot chocolate shop in town open 24 hours. Freddo-Freddo, Padre Damián, 15 ( Cuzco). The best ice-creams in Madrid. Café de Chinitas, Torija, 7. Flamenco show ( Santo Domingo). Gaudeamus Café, Tribulete, 14 ( Lavapiés). Café in Lavapiés. Café Galdós, Los Madrazo, 10 ( Sevilla). Modern literarian café.

Pubs & Clubs: Centro Cubano, Claudio Coello, 41 - first floor ( Serrano). Cuban cocktails. Las Cuevas de Sésamo, Príncipe, 7 ( Sevilla). Sangría. Balcón de Rosales, Paseo de Pintor Rosales ( Argüelles). A club with karaoke and nice views from the city. 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. Amnesia, Paseo de Recoletos, 16 ( Colón). People under 30. Kapital, Atocha, 125 ( Atocha). One of the biggest clubs in Spain. Pachá, Barceló, 11 ( Tribunal). Big club in an ancient theatre. Palacio de Gaviria, Arenal, 9 ( Sol). International club. But, Barceló, 11 ( Tribunal). Live music in a big club. Sala Divino, Paseo de la Ermita del Santo, 48. House club.

Gay venues: Liquid, Barquillo, 8. Videodisjockeys ( Sevilla). Museo Chicote, Gran Vía, 12 ( Gran Vía). Famous meeting point for artists and celebrities. Polana, Barbieri, 10 ( Chueca). Forget personal space in here. Boite, Tetuán, 27 ( Gran Vía / Sol). The new gay club in Madrid. Priscilla, San Bartolomé, 12 ( Chueca). Comercial music. Studio 54, Barbieri, 7 ( Chueca). The new imitation of the mythic New York venue, open Thuersday to Saturday from 23:30 to 3:30. Tábata, Vergara, 12 ( Opera). Young crowds. Ohm, Plaza Callao, 4 ( Callao). House music. Cool, Isabel la Católica, 6 ( Santo Domingo). House and international music.

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. The street leads into Calle Bailén, where if you turn right you can see the Catedral de la Almudena, built in eclectic Gothic style ( from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 18:00 to 20:00; Opera). 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 ( 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; Opera). 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.

Templo de Debod

March 11th victims monument in Atocha Square

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 ( 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 €; Opera). 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 ( Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00; adults 6 €; students 4 €; Banco de España), 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 ( Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 20:00; 6 €, free for EU students under 25 and youngsters; Banco de España). 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 ( 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; Atocha). 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

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 ( daily April to October from 10:00 to 20:00 and November to March from 10:00 to 18:00; Atocha), 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 ocean fountains 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 the use of 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).

Monastery of El Escorial

University of Alcalá de Henares

An hour away by train from Atocha station -in San Lorenzo del Escorial- stands the Monastery of El Escorial (local train line C8a), a masterpiece of Herrera architecture which was commissioned by Felipe II in 1563 to commemorate the victory of the Battle of San Quintín over the french army. The library, the basilica and the Panteón de los Reyes, where all the Spanish monarchs from the Austria and Borbon families rest, are noteworthy ( Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00 -April to September-, and from 10:00 to 17:00 -October to March-; adults 9 €; under 18 and students 3.50 €). The Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen) is situated in the surrounding area. Francisco Franco ordered its construction in 1940 and it is here where his remains lie, together with those of 40,000 victims of the civil war ( April to September Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, October to March from 10:00 to 17:00; combined ticket with Monastery: adults 10 €, under 18 and students 5 €).

Other important towns in the Madrid area are Alcalá de Henares (local train lines C1, C2 or C7 from Atocha), where the Cervantes house/museum, the University of Alcalá -one of the oldest of Spain- and the Colegio de San Ildefonso can be visited; and Aranjuez (local train line C3 from Atocha), whose palace on the River Tajo was constructed by the architect Juan de Herrera in the 18th century.


		MADRID CITY GUIDE