And we continue with our collection of essential sites to visit in Madrid, and we hope they will help you plan your visit around the city.
The Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace or Palacio de Oriente was the residence of the kings of Spain until they moved to the Palacio de la Zarzuela. Currently used for state ceremonies and official events. Next to it are the Sabatini gardens and the Campo del Moro.
Open daily for visits to the public to admire the magnificence of the palace, with its halls or the Royal Armory, considered one of the most important worldwide.
The Puerta del Sol
It is one of the best known squares in Europe, located in the center of the city. It houses the famous statue of the Bear and the Madroño, symbol of Madrid, the Clock of the Post Office where thousands of people gather each December 31st to welcome the new year to the sound of their chimes, as well as the “kilometer 0”, which is the point from where the distances to any place in Spain are measured.
The Puerta de Alcalá
The Puerta de Alcalá, one of the most emblematic sites of Madrid, was one of the five ancient Royal doors through which the city could be accessed. It owes its name to the path that led to the nearby town of Alcalá de Henares. It was King Carlos III in 1778 who inaugurated the great project devised by the architect Sabatini.
The Cibeles
The Cibeles fountain (more popularly La Cibeles) is one of the main monuments of Madrid. It is located in the square of the same name. It was conceived in the eighteenth century, at the initiative of King Carlos III, in a project that included other monumental fountains with mythological motifs such as Neptune.
It represents the goddess Cibeles, mother of the Olympian gods and symbol of the earth and fecundity, mounted on a chariot pulled by lions. Based on a Ventura Rodriguez project, the authors of such a magnificent work were Francisco Gutiérrez, Roberto Michel and Miguel Ximénez.
Cathedral of the Almudena
Despite its modernity, since it was inaugurated in the 90s, it is the most important religious building in the city. It was consecrated in 1993 by Pope John Paul II. It is dedicated to the Virgen de la Almudena.
Temple of Debod
This Egyptian temple that stands near the Plaza de España was a gift from Egypt to Spain for its support in the preservation of several monuments during the construction of the Aswan Dam. It is about 2200 years old and was commissioned by Pharaoh Ptolemy IV Filópator, and dedicated to Amón of Debod and Isis. In addition to its architectural beauty, from its location you can contemplate a beautiful sunset every day.
And to all the above we must add a beautiful building on 19 Bailén Street that houses one of the few taverns in Madrid that still exist and that already has more than 100 years of history. Yes, we are talking about our beloved Anciano Rey de los Vinos. We are waiting for you.