The 8 best monuments in Madrid

The 8 best monuments in Madrid

Want to know what are the best monuments in Madrid? This city is full of history and it is impossible to see all the monuments in one day. In ForMadridLovers we have created a list of the 8 best monuments in Madrid so you do not miss any. Let's see them!

Best monuments in Madrid

Gran Via

The main tourist and commercial artery of the center of the capital begins in the C / Alcala and runs 1.3 kilometers to its end at the Plaza of Spain. Over more than 100 years, Gran Via has had several names depending on the government of the day. During the Spanish Civil War it was popularly known as the Avenida de los Morteros because of the shells that ended up on the sidewalks and buildings. In 1981, during the Spanish Transition, the emblematic street was given the name of Gran Vía. Throughout its long history, the Gran Vía has been home to Madrid's first department stores and some of the city's best entertainment venues.


Royal Palace

Residence of the Spanish monarchy from Charles III to Alfonso XIII, this building now functions as a museum where you can learn about the glitz and luxury of Spain's royal elite. The architecture was inspired by sketches made by Bernini to build the Louvre in Paris, and although Filippo Juvarra began work on the plans, it would be his protégé Juan Bautista Sachetti who eventually completed the formidable work. The decor inside the 3,000 rooms was changed with each change of power to suit the specific tastes of each monarch. Our highlights include the main Sabatini staircase, the Throne Room, the Royal Chapel and the Royal Apothecary.


Prado Museum

Housed in a spacious neoclassical building, the Prado is Spain's most important art museum. Its construction began with Juan de Villanueva commissioned by Charles III in 1785. In recent years, the Prado has undergone an ambitious expansion program, and there's ' sa controversial new cube-shaped building, designed by Rafael Moneo and mainly dedicated to temporary exhibitions. Among the Prado's highlights are Diego Velázquez's 'Las Meninas', Francisco de Goya's 'The 3rd of May 1808' and 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' by Hieronymus Bosch (aka El Bosco).

Plaza Mayor

Housed in a spacious neoclassical building, the Prado is the most important art museum in Spain. Its construction began with Juan de Villanueva commissioned by Charles III in 1785. In recent years, the Prado has undergone an ambitious expansion program, and there's ' sa controversial new cube-shaped building, designed by Rafael Moneo and mainly dedicated to temporary exhibitions. Among the Prado's highlights are Diego Velázquez's 'Las Meninas', Francisco de Goya's 'The 3rd of May 1808' and 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' by Hieronymus Bosch (aka El Bosco).

Reina Sofia National Museum and Art Centre

Don't even think of leaving Madrid without visiting this museum which, along with the Prado and the Thyssen Bornemisza, forms part of Madrid's Art Triangle. The impressive façade of the Reina Sofia has three glass and steel lifting towers that give access to the largest contemporary art museum in the city. The rear extension was completed in 2005, adding 30,000 square meters, used mainly as temporary exhibition space. The masterpiece of this museum is undoubtedly Pablo Picasso's 'Guernica', a painting commemorating the destruction of the Basque town of Guernica in 1937 by German bombers flying in support of Franco's forces during the Spanish Civil War.


Puerta de Alcalá

Don't even think of leaving Madrid without visiting this museum which, along with the Prado and the Thyssen Bornemisza, forms part of Madrid's Art Triangle. The impressive façade of the Reina Sofía has three glass and steel lifting towers that give access to the largest contemporary art museum in the city. The rear extension was completed in 2005, adding 30,000 square meters, used mainly as temporary exhibition space. The masterpiece of this museum is undoubtedly Pablo Picasso's 'Guernica', a painting commemorating the destruction of the Basque town of Guernica in 1937 by German bombers flying in support of Franco's forces during the Spanish Civil War.

Puerta del Sol

The Puerta del Sol, or Puerta del Sol as it is known locally, is located in the heart of Madrid. Named (unsurprisingly) after the sunlight that shines on the area, Puerta del Sol began as a wide crossroads where small merchants would set up shop to do business with those coming and going from the city centre. Now, the most important building is the Casa de Correos, the seat of the government of the Community of Madrid. The square is also home to one of the city's most famous statues, 'El Oso y el Madroño' ('The Bear and the Strawberry Tree'), which is 4 metres tall, weighs 20 tons and, understandably, is always surrounded by tourists. .


Temple of Debod

This is Madrid's Nubian treasure and the only Egyptian temple in Spain to be preserved in its entirety. Brought stone by stone from Egypt and carefully reconstructed from its original orientation, this monument was a gift from Egypt and UNESCO for Spain's participation in saving the temples of Abu Simbel, which would otherwise have been submerged under water after the construction of the Aswan Dam . At the time of the dam's construction, the temples were one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Africa, dedicated to the gods Amun and Isis with reliefs and carvings decorating the interior of the sanctuary. When you visit, be sure to hang out to watch the sunset, a spectacular view from where the temple stands.

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