Page 419 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

ies – the Prado, Thyssen dance, among them the
1 Madrid and Reina Sofía – all Roman Acueducto, the
Madrid is the most Span- clustered close to one of fairytale Alcázar (%921
ish of all Spanish cities. the city’s main boule- 46 07 59; www.alcazardese-
Its food culture, drawn vards and a short walk govia.com; Plaza de la Reina
from the Parque del Buen
from the best the country Victoria Eugenia; adult/conces-
has to offer, makes it one Retiro, one of the loveli- sion/child under 6yr €5/3/free,
of Europe’s more under- est and most expansive tower €2, EU citizens free 3rd
rated culinary capitals, monumental parks in Tue of month; h10am-6pm
while its nightlife and Europe. In short, this Oct-Mar, 10am-7pm Apr-Sep;
c), which is said to have
is a city that rewards
its irresistible joie de
vivre exist like some those who linger and love inspired Walt Disney,
Spanish stereotype all things Spanish. To and Romanesque gems
given form. But there explore Madrid on foot, such as the Catedral
is more to Madrid than see p440. (%921 46 22 05; Plaza Mayor;
just nonstop colour and The Drive » Getting out of adult/concession €3/2, Sun SPAIN 30 HISTORIC CASTILLA Y LEÓN
movement. This is one Madrid can be a challenge, morning free, tower €5;
of the premier art cities with a complicated system h9.30am-5.30pm Oct-Mar,
on the continent, with of numbered motorways 9.30am-6.30pm Apr-Sep) or
three world-class galler- radiating out from the city. Drive the Iglesia de San Martín
north along the Paseo de la (hbefore & after Mass). This
Castellana, turn west along the is also one of the most
M50 ring road, then take the A6, dynamic towns in the
direction A Coruña. Of the two country, a winning mix
Logroño main roads to Segovia from the of local students and in-
:
:
#
F G # \ : : : : ^ : : : : A6, the N603 is the prettier. ternational visitors filling
Río Ebro
29
F G Nájera : : : the city’s bars and public
31
: :
\ TRIP HIGHLIGHT spaces with an agree-
: #
2 Segovia able crescendo of noise.
Unesco World Heritage– To cap it all, the setting
# \ is simply superb – a city
Hontoria listed Segovia is a stun-
del ning confluence of every- strung out along a ridge,
Pinar Navaleno m K its warm terracotta and
# \ 0 ¸ thing that’s good about
\ # N234 the beautiful towns of sandstone hues arrayed
] #
# against a backdrop of
# Soria
11
Calatañazor Castilla. There are his-
# \ Castilla’s rolling hills and
toric landmarks in abun-
the often-snowcapped
Río Duero
\ # # Almazán
\
Gormaz
\ #
LINK
YOUR
# \ Imón Medinaceli TRIP
Atienza \ # \ #
v Roving La Rioja t Northern Spain
Wine Region
Pilgrimage
:
: RíoHenares Discover the wealth of the Crisscross the Camino de
# grape on this peaceful
Santiago pilgrim route, two
Y
: # Cifuentes
\
: : # Torija countryside drive, just an and a half hours north from
\
: : hour and a half north from Soria.
]
: : # : Guadalajara Soria.
:
#
] : Priego
# \
# \
Pastrana 417