Plaza Mayor
Since the 15th century, Plaza Mayor has been the main market of the town and the venue for numerous public events such as bullfights, autos-da-fé and public executions. It also hosted the beatification of San Isidro, the city’s patron saint.
Today, its arcades house shops and restaurants, and it hosts concerts during the San Isidro festivities as well as the traditional Christmas market, a tradition since 1860.
During your visit, you must eat the famous calamari sandwich.
Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is Spain’s Kilometer Zero. Since 1950, a plaque in front of the Casa de Correos, the oldest building in Puerta del Sol and current headquarters of the Madrid regional government, marks the starting point of Spanish radial roads.
The most notable feature is the clock tower of the Casa de Correos, built and donated in the 19th century by José Rodríguez de Losada. This clock broadcasts the twelve chimes that ring in the New Year, during which twelve grapes are traditionally eaten.
Gran Vía
Gran Vía is one of Madrid’s main and most famous streets. It starts at Calle de Alcalá and ends at Plaza de España. The street is renowned for its buildings, rooftops, cinemas, theatres and shops.
The section between Plaza de Callao and Plaza de España is known as the “Madrid Broadway” due to the high number of theatres along the way.
Almudena Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Almudena, the patron saint of Madrid, was consecrated by Pople John Paul II during its fourth trip to Spain on June 15, 1993. It is the only Spanish cathedral dedicated by a pope.
This temple, 102 metres long and 73 metres high, was constructed during the 19th and 20th century. It features a blend of styles: neoclassical on the exterior, neo-Gopthic inside and neo-Romanesque in the crypt.
The main façade faces the Royal Palace.
The Royal Palace
Located in the Plaza de Oriente, where the Royal Theatre is also situated, it is the largest palace in Western Europe in terms of area, covering 135,000 square metres and containing more than 3,418 rooms.
It houses a valuable historical and artistic heritage, as well as significant collections in artistic disciplines such as painting, sculpture and tapestry.