Page 272 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

270  M ADRID

Introducing Madrid

Spain’s capital, a city of over three million people, is situated
close to the geographical centre of the country, at the hub of
both road and rail networks. Because of its distance from the
sea and its altitude – 660 m (2,150 ft) – the city endures cold
winters and hot summers, making spring and autumn the best
times to visit. Madrid’s attractions include three internationally
famous art galleries, a royal palace, grand public squares and
many museums filled with the treasures of Spain’s history. The
city is surrounded by its own small province, the Comunidad
de Madrid, which takes in the Sierra de Guadarrama and one
of Spain’s most famous monuments, the palace of El Escorial.

The Palacio Real (see pp280–81),
the royal palace built by Spain’s
first Bourbon kings, dominates
PLAZA
the western part of Old Madrid. DE COLÓN
Its lavishly decorated chambers
PASEO DE RECOLETOS
include the throne room.
PLAZA
DE ESPAÑA
GRAN VIA
The Plaza Mayor (see p277), DEL CALLAO
PLAZA
Old Madrid’s great GRAN VIA DE CIBELES CALLE DE ALCALÁ
PLAZA
17th-century square, has
been a focal point of the OLD MADRID CALLE DE ALCALÁ
city since the days when it CALLE DE BAILEN (See pp272–85) PUERTA BOURBON MADRID
was used as a public arena DEL SOL (See pp286–303)
for bullfights, trials by the PLAZA
Inquisition and executions MAYOR DEL CASTILLO
PLAZA
DE CANOVAS
(see p278). An equestrian
statue of Felipe III stands in CALLE DE SEGOVIA
the middle of the square. C A L L E D E AT O C H A PASEO DEL PRADO
Madrid Province
(see pp330–37)
Buitrago
del Lozoya

El Escorial
Torrelodones
Alcobendas
MADRID Alcalá
(See main map) de Henares
El Escorial (see pp334–5), the
Alcorcón Getafe massive, architecturally austere
monastery-palace built by
Felipe II, has some sumptuous
apart ments decorated with
great works of art. Marble
Aranjuez
0 kilometres 25 sarcophagi in the octagonal
Royal Pantheon contain the
0 miles 25 mortal remains of many
Spanish monarchs.
Madrid’s Palacio de Comunicaciones, on Plaza de Cibeles

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Flashmap template “UK” LAYER
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Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm