Travel in Madrid

Guide to Planning a Green Vacation in Madrid

admin — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There are many things to see and experience in Madrid besides bull fights and the annual running of the bulls often resulting in injuries to animals and humans

For those desiring a more pleasant visit to Madrid, one fantastic place to visit is the Royal Palace where tourists can wander through its 1000 rooms including the royal library, pharmacy and the armory. Visitors are treated to tapestries on walls as well as floors of various rooms. Along with exhibits of fine china, gold and silver wares, some unique musical instruments are on display. The palace was built for King Felipe V during the 18th century encompassing the years 1738 to 1777.

Another fascinating place to visit is Retiro Park affording visitors the opportunity to view many statues and sculptures. Among the most popular is ‘Angel Caido’ which translated means ‘the fallen one’. The artist dedicated this creation to Satan.

Nature and animal lovers will enjoy a visit to Casa de Campo which is home to over 2000 mammels , birds and other fascinating creatures such as 70 different snakes including the world’s most deadly snake, the black mamba. Live shows take place every day starring dolphins, seals and sea lions.

How to Find Amazing Hotel Discounts in Madrid

admin — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Let’s face it: traveling to Europe can be expensive, especially if you don’t know what you are doing. Sure, there are hotels that are available, but if you don’t know what you are doing you may find yourself in a situation where you are seriously overplaying for a hotel room that doesn’t exactly leave you excited. This is especially true when you are traveling to a major city, such as Madrid. The thing is, if you don’t know where to look for amazing hotel discounts when you are traveling to Madrid then you are going to end up paying an arm and a leg for it. The trick is knowing where, and how, to look for deals online.

When you are looking for online discounts for rooms in Madrid, you shouldn’t just put your request into a search engine and look for the first thing that comes up. Instead, you need to make sure that you do your research and look not only at the different rates you will get on discount travel sites, but also the kind of hotels you get as well. You don’t want to get a terrible hotel, even if you are going to save some money on it.

Tips on Planning a Family Vacation in Madrid

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Are you planning a visit to Madrid for yourself and family? By this being your first time to Madrid, learning what all is available for you and your family to engage in will be more than worthwhile. In addition, getting a lot of information on Madrid’s attractions will most certainly boost your visit beyond an enjoyable experience.

When you and your family first touchdown in Madrid, you will be presented with a lot of options on great places to settle down in for short term or long term. The great Madrid is home of many outstanding hotels that are all capable of making you feel at home without a doubt. To be able to head to the different attractions, you will have a choice between hopping in a taxi, bus or the Madrid’s metro. Madrid is the golden place for witnessing colorful art galleries and other famous attractions/events like the Madrid’s bullfight. There are a bunch of sports to get involved with from horse racing to basketball and many others. The brilliant guide,www.madrid-guide-spain.com/madrid-activities.html will list a lot of other must-dos. As for the food, Madrid is well-known for mixing flavors of every kind, satisfying every taste bud in one’s mouth.

Taking a Holiday in Madrid Spain

admin — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most festive places on earth to take a holiday is Madrid, Spain. Madrid is an eclectic mix of an old ancient culture that still remains within a new and vibrant 21st century Madrid. As a testament to this is the bull run that occurs every year and has for centuries, and right through the middle of town. If you dare, set your home alarms and come out and experience Spain at its best. If you do not have a home alarm, check out Home-Alarm-Systems.com/’ >Home-Alarm-Systems.com for more information.

Madrid is a city of over 3.3 million, and including the suburbs, it reaches 5.8 million. The city and the surrounding area holds much to do for the first time visitor, as well as someone who might want to relocate here. Spanish culture is truly alive here and is evident everywhere you look.

Statues are still standing reminiscent of ages past when Spain was first conquered and settled, but there are luxury hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts across the entire region, which are filled with hospitality. In the way of restaurants, authentic Spanish cuisine abounds both homemade and in five star restaurants. Come and experience the culture of Madrid.

Bull Running

www.travel-in-madrid.com — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Most people have heard of bull fighting, but not everyone may be familiar with bull running (or the running of the bulls). The quintessential Spanish tradition is said to date back to the 14^th century in Northeastern Spain when residents of villages would have to move cattle from pasture to market, and men reportedly hurried the process by incorporating fear and excitement tactics which later turned into a competition as young men would race in front of the bulls while also attempting to escape injury. As time progressed, word of this activity spread to other Spanish cities and a tradition (which stands to this day) was born. The most famous of these runs is in Pamplona during its San Fermin Festival which runs from July 6 to the 14^th and was the focus for Hemingway in his novel The Sun Also Rises. While the length of any bull run is a mere 903 yards, there are countless injuries and fatalities that have taken their toll including that of a 17 year old boy who fell not to the actual bull himself, but to a human pile-up at the entrance to the bullring. The oldest victim was 63 at the time of his death, and his demise was in fact due to being hit by the horn of the bull. While Pamplona is the most noteworthy of all bull runs, they are in fact held in many towns and villages across Spain and Portugal (and even some cities in southern France). And for those not able to travel to Europe but who still want a bull run fix, you might be pleased to read that San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (SFNO) is an annual festival in New Orleans featuring a bull run which replicates and pays homage to the world famous San Fermin in Pamplona.

Fifteen 20th-Century Spanish Artists

www.travel-in-madrid.com — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Most people have heard of the surrealist painter Salvador Dali (1904-1989) who is best known for his unmistakable landscapes and “bizarre” dream imagery, but if you’re planning a trip to Madrid you may want to also get up to speed on a few other 20th century artists that you may run across in various museums you visit. Following is a list of 15 of the most popular for you to research as you find interesting. 1.Angel Ferrant y Vazquez (Sculptor) 1890 1961 2.Joan Miro (Painter and Sculptor) 1893 19833.Jose de Togores I Llach (Painter) 1893 19704.Benjamin Palencia (Painter) 1894 1980 5.Ismael de la Serna (Painter) 1897 1968 6.Francisco Bores Lopez (Painter) 1898 1972 7.Esteban Vicente (Painter) 1903 20018.Pedro Pruna (Painter and Print Maker) 1904 19779.Oscar Dominguez (Painter) 1906 195710.Jorge Oteiza (Sculptor) 1908 2003 11.Remedios Varo (Painter) 1908 196312.Emilio Grau Sala (Painter) 1911 197513.Esteban Frances (Painter) 1913 197614.Antoni Tapies (Painter) 1923 15.Eduardo Chillida (Sculptor) 1924 2002

The Royal Botanical Garden

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:40:59 +0000

Madrid is a beautiful city, but sometimes, you need a moment away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle. Well, for anyone in need of a little natural beauty, the Royal Botanical Gardens is a must-see.Charles III is the monarch responsible for its development, and when it opened in 1781, “this garden promoted a series of expeditions that brought glorious times to Spanish botany, accompanied by illustrious names: Mutis, Ruiz y Pavn, Cavanilles, Boutelou, Lagasca, Colmeiro, etc.” (Spain.info website).Now the garden is home to a variety of floral displays, including Azaleas & Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Daffodils, Orchids, Camellias, Tulips and even Bonsais. The garden is located at the Plaza de Murillo, and houses three displays: the Terraza de los Cuadros, the Terraza de las Escuelas Botanicas, and the Terraza del Plano de la Flor. Each section contains its own garden style. In the Terraza de los Cuadros, for example, you’ll find a rock garden and flowers you’d expect to find in your own home. This collection also contains aromatic and medicinal plants. On the other end of the spectrum, the Terraza del Plano de la Flor is a lot greener, with a beautiful pond and gorgeous trees. Even further from the other two collections, the Escuelas Botanicas showcases plants by their scientific classifications and biological relationships.The garden also contains two greenhouses, as well as Spain’s largest Herbarium, which houses millions of plants, including specimens from the Iberian Peninsula and South America.General admission costs 2,50 while reduced tickets are 1,25. The garden’s hours change depending on the time and month of year. While the Royal Botanical always opens at 10:00am, closing times vary from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Be sure to check the Spain.info website for the most accurate hours of operation.

Must-see buildings in Madrid

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:27:59 +0000

One factor that makes Madrid so enchanting is its gorgeous, intricately designed buildings and monuments. With so much classic architecture to see, Madrid could almost be called an architect’s paradise.The Plaza Mayor, for example, has been the heart of Madrid for centuries. There are multiple archways supporting the interchanging terracotta and art-covered buildings. And if the artwork wasn’t enough by itself, atop these beautiful decorated buildings rest large, cross adorned steeples. The finished Plaza emerged in 1619, and underwent a refurbishment in 1790. Thus several architects are responsible for the finished space. The center holds a statue of Philip III riding a horse, and has been used for bullfights and executions, particularly during the Spanish Inquisition.However the Debod Temple, originally from Egypt, was placed in La Montana Park in 1968 after an 8 year moving process. The ancient building (2^nd century BC) was an Egyptian gift that keeps true to its Egyptian roots. Fronted by two stone archways, the temple’s entrance is adorned with four pillars topped with intricate capitals. Unless you visit Egypt, such an architectural wonder is rare, with Madrid being one of the only places to hold an Egyptian building.Madrid is also home to the El Pardo Royal Palace which was completed while Philip II was king. While it is a royal palace, you might notice the ways this Baroque building imitates a castle. Its current location was once the remains of a 15^th century castle, and when the palace was constructed, the architects incorporated the structure of the ruins. General admission costs 4 while children, students, retired and disabled persons are only 1,70.Architect lovers must also visit the Toledo Bridge. This 18^th century bridge is an architectural masterpiece. Its key features are the perfect granite ashlar arches, and the two beautiful alcoves made to honor Madrid’s patron saints.

Seek art, culture, and history in Madrid’s best museums

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:15:53 +0000

As the capital of Spain, Madrid has a lot of history and culture to offer visitors. There’s no better place to get a feel for Madrid’s past then by visiting a museum. Whether you’re looking for an art collection or a museum of historical artifacts, Madrid has a little of everything.National Museum of ArcheologyThe National Archeological Museum has collections from multiple cultures all under one roof. Societies represented in the museum’s exhibits vary from Egypt, to the Mudejars, and from the Hispano-Roman culture to the Moors, and of course, Spain. Queen Isabella II established the museum during the 19^th century, and its permanent exhibit contains artifacts from Spain’s origin to the time of the museum’s founding. Visitors to the History of Civilizations can expect to see the bust of Dama de Elche and a display of the Altamira Caves. There’s no ticket cost during the renovation.National Museum of RomanticismRomanticism was a movement that rejected reason, and instead, focused on individual feelings and the beauty of nature. Romantic themes were seen in all areas of life, from literature and music, to home dcor and artwork. The National Museum of Romanticism contains collections that represent this era in Spain. Just some of the artists showcased in the museum include Villamil and Francisco de Goya, but visitors will also find romantic dcor on display. Ticket prices vary, costing 3 for general admission and nothing for children and retired people. For more ticket prices, visit the Museum’s profile on Spain.info.Prado MuseumThe Prado Museum is home to a comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings, as well as artwork from throughout Europe. The museum is often labeled one of the world’s bests, with artists such as Rembrandt, Velzquez, and El Greco showcased in its collections. General admission is usually 8, but advanced and reduced tickets can be purchased, too.

Have a 5-star stay in Madrid

mgeedey — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:58:26 +0000

While it’s good to know where Madrid’s best attractions are, after a full day of sight-seeing, a bed to rest your aching feet is equally important. And what’s better than a 5-star hotel? Located within the Art Triangle of Madrid (the Salamanca Neighbourhood), the Hotel Wellington is not only a gorgeous example of Spanish architecture, but is within walking distance of your favorite attractions (such as the Prado).The hotel was established in 1952 by Baltasar Ibn Valds. Since its opening, celebrities such as Ernest Hemingway, Gene Kelly, members of Asturias and Spanish royalty, and many others have called the Hotel Wellington their home away from home.Guests have the option of staying in one of five rooms, the Standard & Superior rooms, with the Suites & Junior & Presidential suites ranking just a notch above them all. Each room comes with an LCD TV, exquisite marble bathrooms, and comfortable robes and slippers. Past the standard rooms, guests can expect additional luxuries, such as welcome chocolates and music players for iPods.Hotel Wellington is also home to six dining and bar vicinities, which are equally as luxurious as their guest rooms. From the Goizeko, which offers culinary masterpieces from Basque, to the Michelin Star winning Kabuki, a sushi place, the Hotel Wellington caters to all palates. Other dining and lounge areas include the La Llave de Oro, the English Bar, Hall, and a bar by its lavish pool area.Pricing for rooms vary, with the lowest Standard room costing 160 Euros a night. However, the hotel does offer multiple packages, such as 15 off if you stay 4 nights, or 130 Euros for a Standard during their Cool Summer at Wellington special. For further package options, visit the hotel’s website.