Explorations of the capital of Spain!
Finally, I reached Madrid, which would be my final destination in Spain. It was a bittersweet visit. I didn’t want to say goodbye to this wonderful country. However, exploring Madrid was a great way to end the trip.
Madrid has been the capital of Spain since 1561 (save for a handful of years in Valladolid) and now a major metropolis. The area that will become Madrid has been settled since the Stone Age. A small citadel was founded here in the 9th century by Moors. Madrid started as a military outpost, then called Mayrit. A small town developed around the castle over the centuries. It kept its rural nature which attracted monarchs in the 14th century. Phillip II (once married to Bloody Mary of England) moved the capital to Madrid, which only had 20,000 inhabitants at the time. The city grew rapidly in the 17th century, and it hasn’t stopped. Not much of this really early Madrid can be found. Madrid is truly a modern city, but it still has kept much of its older feel, especially in the historic center.
I’m just going to show pictures in order, I think. I walked all over Madrid several times. It was just a great place to walk honestly.
Wandering Jana Early morning street views with the towers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the background.
Wandering Jana Calle de Toledo, heading towards the Plaza Mayor.
Wandering Jana The gorgeous 16th century Plaza Mayor.
Wandering Jana Close up on that center building. It’s covered in paintings of people for some reason.
Wandering Jana This plaza is huge!
Wandering Jana The plaza known as the Puerta del Sol. It’s a very busy place. The main shopping district is north of the plaza and there is a train station underground.
Wandering Jana There is a couple of streets full of fancy buildings.
Wandering Jana It was Epiphany (January 6). They would be taking down those decorations soon.
Wandering Jana A fancy door for a government office.
Wandering Jana The Metropolis Building with a giant Christmas decoration in the front.
Wandering Jana Art deco!
Wandering Jana The Bank of Spain’s fancy building.
Wandering Jana Where the Calle de Alcala and Calle de Gran Via meet. Both streets have awesome buildings.
Wandering Jana Madrid has so many cool buildings.
Wandering Jana I wish they still made buildings like these today.
Wandering Jana That one is cool.
Wandering Jana The Palacio de Cibeles and the Fountain of Cibele.
Wandering Jana The Estanque Grande de El Retiro in El Retiro Park.
Wandering Jana The Palacio de Cristal in El Retiro Park.
Wandering Jana Fountain of the Fallen Angel.
Wandering Jana A whole row of book stands.
Wandering Jana The Pardo Museum. I never ended up going inside.
Wandering Jana In front of the Pardo, there are trees full of parakeets. This one found a stick.
Wandering Jana The Fuente de Neptuno. So many fountains in this city.
Wandering Jana That’s a fancy one.
Wandering Jana A colorful theater.
Wandering Jana So many Christmas lights in the Plaza de Canalejas.
Wandering Jana A very cute restaurant.
Wandering Jana A cute little confectionery shop.
Wandering Jana A very fancy city government building on the Plaza de la Villa.
Wandering Jana The Plaza de la Villa has some of the oldest buildings in Madrid that still stand.
Wandering Jana The oldest building in Madrid, from the 15th century. Madrid is young compared to other Spanish cities.
Wandering Jana Starting a new day in a cemetery. I know I’m weird.
Wandering Jana The Cemetery of San Isidro has some very interesting tombs.
Wandering Jana And some really fancy ones.
Wandering Jana The cute 17th century Chapel of the Virgin of the Harbor.
Wandering Jana Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena, or simply the Cathedral of Madrid. Construction didn’t begin until 1879 and didn’t finish until the 1990s. The catholic church headquarters are in Toledo so there was no rush to build a cathedral here.
Wandering Jana It’s a very modern, yet colorful church.
Wandering Jana That’s the ceiling design.
Wandering Jana The apse is even more colorful.
Wandering Jana The Romanesque style crypt is a whole other world from upstairs.
Wandering Jana Small, pretty chapels line the crypt.
Wandering Jana Not a bad place to be buried.
Wandering Jana Pretty chapel.
Wandering Jana The front of the Cathedral of Madrid.
Wandering Jana Next, I visited the Royal Palace of Madrid.
Can’t take photos the royal palace, so I will be continuing on in my next post with more explorations of Madrid!
Check out my next update where I explore more of Madrid!
or
Start at the beginning of my travels around Spain!
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