SPANISH EYES - WHAT TO SEE & DO IN MADRID FOR THE WEEKEND
It's challenging to do justice to Madrid in a few paragraphs because the city is so bursting with life and culture. With some of the best art museums on the continent, where masterpieces from the Renaissance and important works from the 20th century are ready to enthral you, the city competes artistically with any in Europe. A café con Leche in a formal square, a drink at a rooftop bar, or a stroll through the Retiro or Casa de Campo on a bright day is just a few of the many small details that make Madrid special.
Visit Casa Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world
Casa Botín
According to the Guinness Book of Records, Casa Botn, which opened its doors in 1725, is the oldest restaurant in the world and a symbol of Madrid's top traditional food.
The House earned third place on Forbes magazine's list of the world's top 10 classic restaurants thanks to its two signature dishes, the delectable suckling pig and the lamb grilled in the traditional Spanish manner. The best Segovia suckling pigs and lambs are shipped to the restaurant three to four times per week from the region's famed Seplveda-Aranda-Riaza triangle.
This is distinctive food, but it also bears the imprint of centuries of tradition and the essence of the finest ingredients, very much upholding Gaud's belief that originality necessitates going back to the source.
Their goal is to make each taste a reminder of Madrid's traditions and past. Must keep motivating authors and artists and making sure they keep having their characters sit down at the table. But more than anything, they hope to keep enticing each diner's palette and soul with the love and care they put into their food and service.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
The great hopes of Real Madrid have been realised at this monument of world football ever since it opened on December 14, 1947. Since 1955, the stadium has been known as the Santiago Bernabéu in honour of the man who presided over the team from 1943 until 1978. Real Madrid has had innumerable championships and unforgettable nights, and the best footballers in the world have played in historic events in this sport.
classical BERNABEU TOUR
The tour consists of:
A museum
A 21st-century model of Santiago Bernabéu
Take a photo with the Champions League trophy to create a special and unusual keepsake (optional purchase).
With a panoramic view of the stadium, visitors may depart in style and learn about the stunning transformation of one of Madrid's most well-known tourist attractions from within.
Walks around the field of play's perimeter. Box of honour, the most prestigious seating space. The first team dressing room, which has seen some of the best players in the world pass through, and the changing room for the visiting squad.
The player tunnel makes everything appear different and even more challenging.
Sit in the press room where the coach addresses the media following each game.
In the official store, you can purchase a memento of your adventure.
Retiro Park
Photo by Sara Riano
The Retiro, the centre of greenery and magnificent gardens in Madrid, is a short distance east of the Prado and was a royal estate until the end of the 19th century, when it was made accessible to the general public.
On a beautiful afternoon, kayaking on the Grand Pond near to the Alfonso XII monument is a great activity for families with young children. Bald cypress trees, unusual swamp trees that turn a wonderful golden brown in the summer, are growing in the pond in front of the iron and glass pavilion, which was built to accommodate the Philippine Exhibition in 1887.
The oldest tree in the area was planted in 1633 and is a Montezuma Cypress surrounded by an iron fence.
Royal Palace
Photo by Kristijan Arsov
The Moorish Alcázar fortress-palace in Madrid burned down in 1734, and King Philip V had the Royal Palace constructed there for him in the middle of the eighteenth century. It is the biggest royal residence in western Europe and combines baroque and neoclassical architectural elements.
For the complete experience, you must enter because the royal collections and frescoes are exquisite. Along with spectacular exhibits of watches, tapestries, porcelain, and silverware, there are paintings by Goya, Caravaggio, and Velázquez. The Royal Armory houses the personal weaponry used by Charles V during the 16th century, as well as the world's only string quartet of Stradivarius instruments.
Mercado San Miguel
Photo by Valeria Volosciuc
The Mercado de San Miguel has existed as a food market for more than 100 years. As it allows tourists to experience the essence and flavours of every region of Spain, this historic structure is now one of the most important food markets in the world.
This stunning marketplace in the style of art nouveau, built in 1916, is only a short stroll from Plaza Mayor.
Although there are grocery stalls, it's more of a gastronomic destination to buy the finest ingredients Spain has to offer, such as cava, pimenton (parprika), and saffron.
There are many tapas bars in this area that serve all the traditional dishes, such as patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo, and boquerones, along with beers, rioja, or vermouth.
The enormous Mercado de Maravillas in Cuatro Caminos is the place to go if you want to shop for food like a true Madrileo.
With 200 stalls, it has the most municipal vendors in all of Europe.