Top 10 Most Famous Tourist Attractions of Madrid

Madrid is one of the major tourist cities of Spain. It is known for its vibrating beauty of parks, restaurants, and lavish hotels. Here there is no short of attractions for the tourists. If you are looking to make a trip at this city, then here are the top 10 most famous tourist attractions of Madrid.

10. Cervantes Death House

The Cervantes Death House is a place where the famous writer of Spain, Miguel de Cervantes, had died. It is situated on Calle Cervantes, off Calle Leon, close to the Calle Huertas. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was an outstanding novelist, poet, and writer of Spain. He was born on 29 September 1547, and died on 22 April, 1616. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, is regarded as the very first modern novel of Europe. He was an expert of classic and western literature, and is known to have produced the finest works of fiction and literature in the history. He is a highly influencing writer. Some of his works like la lengua de Cervantes (the language of Cervantes), and El Príncipe de los Ingenios (The Prince of Wits) were translated to other languages as well. He was died in Madrid, and the reason of his death is said to be Diabetes 2, and cirrhosis of the liver. The Cervantes Death House is the place where this great poet/writer had lost his life. Here many of his life’s works and things have been kept as a reminder.

9. Church of San Antonio de los Alemanes

The Church of San Antonio de los Alemanes is a marvelous piece of the architect, Pedro Sánchez. It was constructed in 1624 as a compliment to the Hospital de Portugueses, hich was a creation of Felipe III. When the Portugal got independence, the church’s name was changed to San Antonio de los Alemanes. Internally, it has a big, appealing rood with fresco paintings that are depicting the theme of life of San Antonio of Padua. The Portuguese sculptor Manuel Pereira had played vital role in the decoration of the church. The Italian painters were called for making it more beautiful, such as Vicente Carducho and Eugenio Cajés. Every month, hundreds of tourists come to view the beauty of this church. It was originally built between 1624 and 1631, and is not less than a Baroque jewel. Initially, the church used to serve the Portuguese community, which was a part of Spain in those days. By 1989, the church was highly visited by German worshippers. The Madrid Baroque facade is the work of Juan Gómez de Mora. In 1886, the church was renovated in a more neo-gothic style.

8. Church of San Gines

Located at number 13 on Calle Arenal, just round the corner from the Puerta del Sol, the Iglesia Parroquial de San Ginés de Arlés is one of the oldest churches of Madrid. It is also known as Church of San Gines, and is said to have built in 13^th century. However, it underwent a reconstruction in 1645. One of its popular baptisms is that of Lope de la Vega. It is said that the poet Francisco de Quevedo did the marriage in this particular church. It has kept in display a stuffed crocodile, which was brought from America during the reign of the Catholic Kings, Fernando and Isabel. The temple has been presenting a dedication to St. Genesius of Arles. He was a patron saint of notaries and secretaries in 303 AD. At that time, he was forced to act against Christians, and then was captured. The church has various wonderful paintings by Alonso Cano and El Greco. El Greco's "The Purification" is considered to be his masterpiece, but this painting isn’t shown to the public on Monday at 12.30. El Greco was born in Crete in 1541. He acquired his nickname "The Greek" due to the area he was located in. Alonso Cano had painted the altarpiece of this church, and has depicted himself as a wonderful sculptor and architect.

7. Church of San Jeronimo

San Jerónimo el Real (also known as St. Jerome Royal Church) is a famous Roman Catholic church. It was constructed in the early 16^th century, and is situated in Madrid, Spain. It is true that the church has undergone several reconstructions and restorations, but its original beauty is still maintained. Here the structure of Hieronymite monastery is kept beside the royal palace of Buen Retiro. One of its portions is serving as the Prado museum. Its proximity has connected to the royalty, and is serving for over one century. The church used to be a place of investiture of the Prince of Asturias. Not only this but also a Mass for celebrating the investiture of King Juan Carlos I was held here. For various centuries, the church served as a de facto cathedral, but it had association with the patron saint of Madrid, St. The church has sculptures by Benlliure, Juan Pascual de Mena’s 18th-century Cristo de la Buena Muerte, and paintings by Vincenzo Carducci and José Méndez. The church also has various remains of the monastery of San Jerónimo el Real. It was originally built in a Isabelline Gothic style.

6. Church of San Jose

The Church of San Jose, also known as San José Church (Iglesia de San José), is situated in Old San Juan within the historic colonial section of the capital of Puerto Rico. It is one of the best churches of the city, and has works of finest architects. It was an early surviving example of 16^th century’s Spanish Gothic architecture of the Western hemisphere. During 2013, the church was added to The National Trust for Historic Preservation's list. It was originally built from 1532 to 1735 by the Dominican Order as one of the parts of the Saint Aquinas monastery. It was renamed by the Jesuits who had taken over the monastery in 1865. Juan Ponce de León, the first governor of Puerto Rico, has been buried in the crypt of this church since 1559. Not only this but also his remains have been transferred to the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. In 1972, the 15^th century painting Our Lady of Bethlehem was stolen from this church. During 2002, a restoration project was undertaken to rediscover some great paintings to be kept in this church. In 2004, the church was listed on the 2004 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund.

5. Church of San Manuel and San Benito

The Church of San Manuel and San Benito is situated in Madrid, Spain. It is a catholic church, and the design was presented by Fernando Arbós y Tremanti in early 20^th century. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1982. The church is situated close to the El Retiro Park, and the Barrio Salamanca. It is Neo-Byzantine and was completed in 1910 and restored in 1975 by the architect Jose Antonio Arenillas. The church contains beautiful plan of the Greek cross. One of its best impressions is the style is Byzantine. The church also has various Neo-Gothic influences. It has a big dome crowned by a pavilion and a tower with three sections. The Four Evangelists have been displayed on the dome. The outside of the church shows off the towers, creating a marvelous scene for the visitors. It also has nine Gothic stained glass windows, and there are Byzantine mosaics which show the figure of Christ towering over twelve saints. The façade of this church is standing out, erected in the style of Italian campaniles.

4. Church of San Miguel

San Miguel de Allende is a city and municipality. It is situated in the east of Marid, and is about 274 km (170 mi) from the center of the city. This is a Roman Catholic church, and was constructed by Ramiro I and his wife Paterna in 8^th century. This is regarded as one of the oldest churches in the world. It has been dedicated to St. Mary, but in 12^th century, it was dedicated to Saint Michael. Now this church has become one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1985. The church originally had a basilica ground plan, three aisles with a barrel vault. These days, it is serving the western half from ancient times, along with some elements in other parts of the church such as the fantastic jamb in the lattice on the window of its southern wall.

3. Church of Santa Barbara

The Church of Santa Barbara is locally known as Church of the Monastery. This church has been dedicated to St Barbara. It was constructed in 1757 for the Convent of the Salesas Reales. The convent of the church was constructed in 1748 by the Queen Bárbara de Braganza. She is the wife of Ferdinand VI of Spain. The church is standing close to the convent. Its design was presented by Francisco Carlier. He had collaborated with Francisco Moradillo while designing the church’s outlook. In 1870, the monastery was closed, and was used by the government as the Palace of Justice. During 1891, the church was opened for the worshippers. The external of the church has various statues, such as the St. Francis de Sales and St Jeanne de Chantal, as well as the sculpture of Alfonso Giraldo Vergaz. In the internal area of the church, there are tombs of Ferdinand VI and his wife. These had been commissioned by Charles III of Spain and were constructed by the architect Francisco Sabatini, and the sculptor Francisco Gutiérrez. Additionally, it has the tomb of Leopoldo O´Donnell.

2. Colegio de San Ildefonso Main Front (Alcalá de Henares)

Alcalá de Henares, also known as Colegio de San Ildefonso Main Front is a beautiful city of Spain. It has been a site recognized by UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. The city is standing proudly with its rich archaeology. It is regarded as one of the initial bishoprics of Spain. The approximate population of this city is 210,000. Its local name is "Alcalá", and in Latin it is called Complutum. This city is the capital of the region, Comarca de Alcalá. It tracks its history back from the Calcolithic phase of the Bronze Age. It is said that the Romans conquered the area in 1^st century BC, and laid the foundation of Complutum, close to the Celtiberian settlement named as Iplacea. Initially, this was known as a Roman town of Madrid, having a population of 10,000, until it took the form of Municipium. During 14^th century, Christopher Columbus used to have his meetings held here. Even his meeting was held in this area with the Reyes Católicos, Ferdinand and Isabella.

1. Columbus Square - Plaza de Colon

The name of Plaza de Colon is inspired from Christopher Columbus. It is known to have a beautiful fountain and several monuments that are dedicated to Christopher. From the top side of the column, the plaza is pointing towards the east. On the Calle Serrano, you can explore the sculptures of Joaquín Vaquero Turcios. Plaza de Colón was founded in 1893 to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to America, in 1892.
It is featured with various artworks that give honor to the great explorer, who had been commissioned by Spanish royalty - King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. It, along with the Jardines del Descubrimiento (Discovery Gardens), have been dedicated to the discoveries of new lands. The western side faces the Paseo de la Castellana, which is erected since 1885. There are four big stone blocks present here which have been designed by Joaquín Vaquero Turcios who commemorated America’s discovery America in 1492 by Columbus.

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Top 10 Most Fascinating Tourist Attractions of Europe

Planning a trip to Europe is an interesting and tough activity. We get confused of where to go and where to not. The selection of the right tourist point in this big land is truly very difficult, but after checking this article, your worries will be gone. Here we have the top 10 most fascinating tourist attractions of Europe.

10. Congreso de los Diputados

The Congress of Deputies is also known as the Congress of Deputies. It is the lower house of the Cortes Generales, one of the legislative branches of Spain. There are 350 members here who have been elected by vote on block lists of constituencies that match the provinces of Spain with the help of the D'Hondt method. In the Congress, there are several groups consisting of members of the Parliament of different political parties. It is mandatory to form the parliamentary groups of 15 MPs, but a group may also form with a minimum of five MPs. On the other hand, the MPs belonging to parties who are unable to create their parliamentary group, can form the Mixed Group.

9. Convent of the Incarnation - Real Monasterio de la Encarnación

The Royal Monastery of the Incarnation or Real Monasterio de la Encarnación is a famous convent of Madrid. It is situated in the order of Recolet Augustines, Spain. This institution used to intern the ladies from noble families. Its foundation was laid by the Queen Margaret of Austria, wife of Philip III. This building is kept open for common people as was in the ancient times. In those days, it was administered by the Patrimonio Nacional. It is said that the queen founded this building for celebrating her husband's expulsion of the Moriscos, resident Moors. The design of this building was presented by the architect, Alberto de la Madre de Dios in 1611-1616. The facade has a sobriety which reminds the beautiful and unique style of Juan de Herrera. The monastery has now partially become a museum. It has various art works of the times of St. Januarius and of St. Pantaleon. The interiors of this building were renovated during 18^th century, and some changes were made including frescoes in the ceilings of the main chapel. These changes were made by Francisco Bayeu. Not only this but also the center of the retablor had been redecorated by Vincenzo Carducci. The sides of the altar have sculptures of Augustine of Hippo and his mother Saint Monica, which were presented by Gregorio Fernández.

8. Convent of the Salesas Reales

The Convent of the Salesas Reales was formed in 18^th century. It can specifically be regarded as the convent of the Visitación de Nuestra Señora (Visitation of Our Lady). This complex was built by the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, which was founded by St. Francis de Sales and St Jeanne de Chantal. The church of the convent has been dedicated to St Barbara, but now has taken the form of a parish church. The other parts of the complex are the house to the Supreme Court of Spain. The foundation of the convent was laid in 1748 by Queen Barbara of Portugal, the wife of King Ferdinand VI. In those days, it was a school and home of young women. The design of the convent was presented by François Carlier, and its construction was initiated in 1743. Not only this but also the plans and modifications of this building were finished in 1750 by Francisco Moradillo. In 1870, the nuns were evicted, and the building took the form of the Palace of Justice. During 20^th century, this place saw two fires, and was restored by Joaquín Roji.

7. Convento de las Carmelitas Descalzas

The Convent of San Hermenegildo is one of the best religious buildings of Madrid. Its history belongs to the congregation of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The duty of its construction was assigned to Pedro Ribera. This convent was constructed in 1586 by intervention of St. Teresa of Jesus. It was, later on, demolished in 1870, and the reforms of Church in San Jose were to survive from destruction. Years after, a theater was built close to this convent, named as the Apollo Theate. The foundation of this convent was originally laid by Philip II. Previously, it was found in the street Ortiz Ximénez de Cataño, behind the main street of Alcalá. But finally, it was moved to a new convent in December 1605. The finance for its construction was given by worldwide donors. In 1870 the convent was survived from destruction, and converted in the form of a church. Both the convent and orchard are part of the Plaza del Rey.

6. Cuatro Torres Business Area

Cuatro Torres Business Area (CTBA) is also known with the name of "Four Towers Business Area". It is a well known business district, situated in the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid. The area has some of the tallest and most attractive skyscrapers of Spain, such as Torre Espacio, Torre de Cristal, Torre PwC, and Torre Caja Madrid. This business center’s construction was completed in 2008, and is also known as Madrid Arena. Its design was presented by Henry N. Cobb and it was constructed by Obrascón Huarte Lain. It has a 57-storey Torre Espacio (Spanish for Space Tower) which is about 224 m tall. During November 2006, its height surpassed that of the Gran Hotel Bali, and it was regarded as the tallest building of Spain. The structure had been topped out during March, 2007. This was the day when Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, mayor of Madrid, had to attend the firework display at an event. This business area was first named as Torre Repsol and used to be the headquarter of oil and gas company named Repsol YPF. When its tower was constructed, Repsol took the decision of changing the location of the company’s future headquarter, and then the financial institution Caja Madrid bought this building for about €820 million.

5. Decorative Arts Museum

The Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas (also known as National Museum of Decorative Arts, or National Museum of Industrial Arts) is located at 12 Montalbán Street, in Madrid, Spain. It is found to the southern side of the Puerta de Alcalá and the west of the Buen Retiro Park. It is one of the most famous and ancient museums of the city, found within the Golden Triangle of Art. Just like the marvelous Victoria and Albert Museum of London, it illustrates the history of minor arts such as furniture, ceramics, glasses, and textile. The collections kept here belong to 16^th and 17^th centuries. It has around 35,000 pieces, with so many Arabic world items collected from Morocco and Turkey. Its 62 exhibition rooms are present in the premises of a palace close to the Jardines del Retiro de Madrid. This museum receives around 21,000 visitors every year. The museum was established by Royal Decree in 1912. In those days, it was named as the National Museum of Industrial Arts. It was founded during the reign of Amadeo I of Spain.

4. El Capricho Park of Alameda de Osuna

El Capricho Park of Alameda de Osuna was founded in late 18^th century by the Countess-Duchess of Benavente. This park is one of the best examples of the gorgeous landscape of Spain. It has combined the beauty of Italian and French architectures. The visitors and delight themselves with an artificial river, a gorgeous lake, flowers and trees all around, and an island. The reed-covered boathouse is called the Casa de Cañas. Here there is also a temple to Bacchus, the Casa de la Vieja house, a tiny fort, the shrine, and El Abejero. Spring is the best time to explore the beauty and charm of this garden. During the spring season, it remains filled with the perfumes of the groves of lilacs and the cascading roses. This garden is not less beautiful than the jewel of Romanticism. It is spread in an approximate area of 14 hectares, and has various stimulating things to view and get amazed with. Its construction was started 1780 when the Duke and Duchess of Osuna ordered to build such a marvelous garden.

3. El Oso y el Madroño

The statue of the bear and arbutus, also called El Oso y el Madrono, is a nice sculpture, formed in 20^th century. It is situated in Madrid, Spain, and represents the beauty of the city. This statue has been presented in the eastern side of the Puerta del Sol, between Calle Alcalá and Carrera de San Jerónimo, and is of great historical value. The statue was created by sculptor Antonio Navarro Santafe (1906-1983) and was made available for common public to visit during 1967. The promotion of this sculpture was done by the cultural section of the city of Madrid. The purpose of its promotion was to introduce the historical values of Spain to the worldwide visitors. Firstly, the statue appeared like a rampant bear, standing close to a fruity tree. But later on, its appearance was changed, and the previous sculptures were replaced by two current figures. Under the agreement of the Council of Priests and Beneficiaries, this place became the property of Cabildo. The weapons kept here underwent several modifications with the inclusion of a new tree and a changed position of the bear, standing on the tree.

2. El Pardo Royal Palace

The Royal Palace of El Pardo (in Spanish it is called Palacio Real de El Pardo) is one of the famous historical buildings of Madrid, Spain. It has now become the district of Fuencarral-El Pardo, and its owner is Spanish state. This building is being administered by the Patrimonio Nacional agency, but initially it was a hunting lodge. This building was founded as an alternative residence of the Spain’s kings until the reign of Alfonso XII, who died here in 1885. In the times of King Enrique III of Castile, he gave order to construct the pavilion in 1406 on Mount El Pardo. But later on, in the times of Emperor Carlos V (1547), it took the form of a palace. The design was presented by the architect Luis de Vega. On 13 March 1604, a massive fire destructed many paintings of this palace including masterpieces by Titian. So, King Carlos III decided to renovate it during 18^th century. For this purpose, he hired the architect Francesco Sabatini for this job. The building was completed with new renovation in 20^th century with double the size of the original structure.

1. El Rastro Flea Market

El Rastro de Madrid or simply el Rastro is one of the famous open air flea markets of Madrid. It is held on Sundays, when there is a public holiday. The market is situated along Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores, between Calle Embajadores and the Ronda de Toledo, in the southern La Latina metro station. What amazes the visitors about this market is the variety of products. If you get a chance to come here, then you can find both new and used products at el Rastro. Several local antique shops are also present here. El Rastro means "the trail". The market has its distinctive name because of the tanneries that were once located in Ribera de Curtidores. This market has gained worldwide fame that even the famous writers and authors have written much about it. For example, the German writer Hans Magnus Enzensberger has said that el Rastro is the final border between Europe and Africa, and comprises of diverse individuals of different countries.

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Top 10 Ancient Monuments in Spain

Spain is one of the biggest and most developed countries in the world. If, on one hand, it is known for its glamorous nightlife, then on the other hand, Spain’s ancient monuments and daytime attractions are popular among the tourists. If you are in love with historical and cultural values of the country, and want to explore the hidden treasures of Spain’s culture, then here comes the top 10 ancient monuments in Spain.

10. Marqués de Grimaldi Palace

The Palace of Marqués de Grimaldi is situated in Madrid, Spain. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 2000. During 17^th century, Carlos III commissioned Francisco Sabatini to construct this palace. It was, in those days, the house of state secretaries administrative units. It is actually situated in the Austrias district. This building has a rich history, and was beautified with classic traces and rigid symmetry which are arranged at the entrance and windows. The ground floor and mezzanine are also very beautiful. Inside the building, you can view the composition of the lobby staircase with great visual effects of the space expanding all around. The name of this palace was kept because of its inhabitants who were Marquis of Grimaldi and Manuel de Godoy. These two were ministers of the king. When Godoy stayed here, he renovated the building with marbles, fresco paintings, and beautiful sculptures. Today, the palace has taken the form of the Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies.

9. Monastery of San Lorenzo

The Monastery of El Escorial has been known to be an example of marvelous architectural style of Spain. It became famous as Herrerian after the creator, Juan de Herrera. It is one of the World Heritage sites. This monastery was used by Philip II for his family pantheon. Its construction was started in 1563 under the supervision of Juan de Toledo. The time he died, this work was handled by Juan de Herrera, who completed the building in 1584. The building is made of beautiful granite and has been divided into three areas. The middle area is the Kings' Courtyard. A tower is present at its four corners having a measurement of 55 m, crowned by metal spheres. The compound has the Ministries, Casa de los Oficios artisans' houses, and the Compaña. Also, each apartment has been connected with the others through arches. A church is present, formed in Greek-style, and there are funerary monuments of Charles V and Philip II in the main chapel. A library with over 43,000 is also present on the second floor. These books and documents belong to 15^th and 16^th centuries.

8. Museum of America

The Museum of America is a nationally reputed museum of Madrid. It has wide range of artistic, archaeological and ethnographic collections. These monuments have been collected from all parts of the world especially from America, and belong to the Paleolithic period. The museum took the form of an institution and its foundation was laid in 1941. During 1962, all the funds were moved to museum’s present-day premises. The exhibition centers have been divided into five areas; awareness of America, reality of America, society, religion, and communication. The museum has more than 25,000 artifacts, collected from South and Central America, and Asia. Most of its monuments are from the North America. One of its attractions is the Pre-Columbian art section. Also, there are fantastic monuments of the scientific advancement. One of its sections has monuments of indigenous languages of America. A fascinating artifact is the Tudela codex, the Aztec code of law from around 1553, having beautiful and attractive pictograms. For those with a taste of textiles, this museum has colorful feather headdress, collected from the Karajà Indians times in Brazil.

7. Museum of Costume

The Museo del Traje is situated in Madrid, Spain. It is devoted to the collections of fashion and costumes. The museum has more than 150,000 pieces and documents, which have come from different parts of the world. The construction of this museum was completed in 1973. Most of the collections date from the Middle Ages, which remind the awesome work of fashion designers of Spain. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1962. The current Museo del Traje is dating back from 2004. The museum, regardless of the fact that it has rich historical value, is a newly constructed building. It tracks its history from the Historic Costume Exhibition times which was held in 1925. In 1993, the Museum of the Spanish Village and the National Museum of Ethnology were united to form one institution, the National Museum of Anthropology (1993–2004). However, both of these museums had been operating separately. Finally, in 2002, a decision was taken that the collections of costumes from ancient times to the present day should be depicted in a specific museum.

6. Museum of Natural Sciences

The Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales is also named as the National Museum of Natural History. It is situated in Madrid, by the Paseo de la Castellana. The museum is under the adminstration of the Spanish National Research Council. Its foundation was laid in 1772 by Charles III of Spain as the Gabinete Real de Historia Natural. Its name was changed several times, and is originally hosting the collections of a Spanish merchant, Pedro F. Dávila. In 1867, some facilities were separated to form other museums (Archeology, Botanic Garden, Zoologic Garden). In 1987, the museum was founded for the second time, and the donations of two small museums were spent here. Some of the major components of this museum are; Megatherium from Argentina in 1789, Diplodocus by Andrew Carnegie, and others. The museum is sharing a vast building with the Industrial Engineering School of the Technical University of Madrid. It has been divided into several research departments for better view. It has, since the day of its origin, has evolved as an excellent museum through several incarnations. This is one of those few places in the world where you can find original dinosaur bones, meteorites, historical paintings and a garden dedicated to students. The museum also has a wide range of interactive games to attract the children.

5. Museum of Outdoor Sculpture

The Museum of Outdoor Sculpture of Alcala de Henares (also known as Museum of Outdoor Sculpture) is one of the famous contemporary art exhibitions of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid). This museum was founded in 1991 and has been organized by the sculptor José Noja. It was opened for public during 1993. Thise museum has wide collections of 58 sculptures both of figurative and abstract art. Not only this but also the museum has various modern and contemporary works of ancient artists of Spain, America, and Europe. In this museum, the arrangement of the sculptures is done in two urban sections: along the Complutense Avenue (Vía Complutense) and on the border of ancient city walls. This way, the museum is longest of its class all over the world, spread in an area of 2 km. The museum has several attractive statues of famous artists like Amadeo Gabino, José Lamiel, Pablo Serrano and others.

4. National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum of Spain has been opened after its renovation. It is situated beside the Plaza de Colón (Columbus Square), and shares the building with the National Library. The foundation of this museum as laid in 1867 by a Royal Decree of Isabella II. It was constructed with the purpose of depicting the marvelous archaeological, ethnographical and decorative art collections to the world. These collections belong to the Spanish monarchs. During 1895, this museum’s collection ere brought to the present-day venue, which is a neoclassical building. Its design was presented by architect Francisco Jareño and construction was completed during 1866 - 1892. In 1968, due to the renovations and extension work, the area of the museum was increased. During 2008, this was again closed for renovation. The project had to be completed by 2013, but the museum was re-opened in April 2014.

3. National Auditorium of Music

The Auditorio Nacional de Música, also known as National Auditorium of Music, is a complex of concert venues. It is situated in Madrid’s main concert hall of the metropolitan area. The auditorium comprises of two main concert rooms: a symphonic hall and one chamber music hall. The main venue of this auditorium is the Orquesta Nacional de España. This used to symbolize the concerts of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid and the Community of Madrid Orchestra. Another major venue is the Auditorio Nacional which is dedicated to guest orchestras’ performances of Madrid. One of the main concert halls of Auditorio is the Sala Sinfónica (Symphonic Hall) which has a capacity of over 2300 seats. The Main Hall’s seats are present all around the concert stage, and follow the traditions of modern concert halls of Europe. A relatively small hall is named as the Sala de Cámara (Chamber Hall). It has the capacity of only 690 seats. The Auditorio has a Sala General del Coro (General Choir Hall), having the capacity of only 207 seats. It has some practice rooms as well. The auditorium plays a significant role in the music world, because here various performances are held.

2. National Library of Spain

The Biblioteca Nacional de España, also known as National Library of Spain, is a major tourist point of Madrid. It is a famous public library of Spain, and one of the largest in the world. it is situated in Madrid, on the Paseo de Recoletos. The foundation of the library was laid by King Philip V in 1712 as the Palace Public Library (Biblioteca Pública de Palacio). The Royal Letters Patent were granted by this king. During 1836, the library was given the status of Crown property, but then its ownership was transferred to the Ministry of Governance (Ministerio de la Gobernación). During those days, its name was changed into the Biblioteca Nacional. Above the library is present the statue of Hispania by Agustí Querol. During 19^th century, the confiscation, purchase and donation let the BN acquire the major part of antique and precious books that are presently present in this library. It was opened for public on March 16, 1896. The library has one Reading Room on the main floor that holds over 310 readers. In 1931, the Reading Room was renovated, and major collections of reference books were provided. On the other hand, the General Reading Room was founded to fulfill the reading requirements of students, and library employees.

1. National Museum of Decorative Arts

The Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas (also known as National Museum of Decorative Arts, and National Museum of Industrial Arts), is situated at 12 Montalbán Street, in Madrid, Spain. It is in the southern side of the Puerta de Alcalá and the west of the Buen Retiro Park. It is one of the most famous and ancient museums of Spain, found within the Golden Triangle of Art. Just like the Victoria and Albert Museum of London, this museum has wide collection of industrial and minor arts such as furniture, ceramics, glasses, and textiles etc. Its collections belong to 16^th and 17^th centuries. There are around 35,000 pieces in this museum, including a big quantity of Arabic world items, which are collected from Morocco and Turkey. The museum has over 60 exhibition rooms, which are present within the palace close to the Jardines del Retiro de Madrid. This museum receives around 21,000 visitors yearly. The foundation of this museum was laid by Royal Decree in 1912, under the name of National Museum of Industrial Arts. It had been following a precedent during the reign of Amadeo I of Spain, and in those days it was considered to be an industrial museum. During the initial stage, the place was dedicated for research work rather than tourism. It used to be an institution for learners, manufacturers and designers, just like the Victoria and Albert Museum of London and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs of Paris.

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Strawberry Train

El Tren de la Fresa or the Strawberry Train is a famous excursión train of Madrid. It is being operated over the RENFE line between Madrid and Aranjuez. This was founded in 1851 as the second railway line of Spain. The railway connected Spain’s capital with the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. It was named as "Tren de la Fresa". It is called "Strawberry Train" because it had fields of strawberries all around. Fresa con Nata/ strawberries with whipped cream is a lovely production of this area. The excursions are running from May to July and then again from September to October. The train has departed from Madrid Atocha railway station, and arrives in just fifty minutes in Aranjuez . The return journey from Aranjuez is at 18:25, and it arrives again at Atocha at 19:15. During the journey, you can view the interesting sites spread all around, many of which are of 16^th century.

Practical info

The trip will include a guided tour of the Royal Palace and Royal Barge Museum. The tain is pulled by a steam locomotive and has six coaches of wood, belonging to 19^th century. UNESCO World Heritage site of Aranjuez is present about 48 kilometres from Madrid. The train usually runs on Saturday and Sunday.

Senate Palace

The Palacio del Senado, formaly known as Senate Palace, is the headquarter of the Spanish upper house of Parliament. This building was started as a convent school in 15^th century. In those days, it was popular with the name of Colegio de Doña María de Aragón, and this name was given due to its founder. It was firstly used as a parliament building in 1814. In 1820, neoclassical addition was made to the interiors of this building. The architects Isidro González Velázquez, and Anibal Alvarez Bouquel completed its renovation between 1844 and 1850. In those days, a new fasade was also formed here in the neoclassical style. During 1882, the architect Emilio Rodríguez Ayuso laid the foundaiton of a library and some reading rooms here. The previous traces were replaced with the new ones. Also, a new floor was built during 1969.

Practical info

It is present in the Plaza de la Marina Española, close to the Royal Palace and Sabatini gardens. This is few strides from the metro station Santo Domingo, and a few minutes walk away from Metro Opera or Callao, and also the Plaza de España Square.

Royal Carpet and Tapestry Factory - Real Fábrica de Tapices

The Royal Tapestry Factory (also known as Real Fábrica de Tapices de Santa Bárbara) is a manufacturing plant. It is found in Madrid, and its foundation was laid in 1720. The credit for founding this fctory goes to Philip V. It was constructed after the loss of Spain’s Belgian territories, and tapestry workshops, due to the Peace of Utrecht. This project was a part of mercantilist initiatives, and had been initiated and completed during 18^th century in Madrid. The purpose as to provide luxurious goods to the citizens at reasonable costs. The present look of the factory is the result of 19^th century’s construction. It is still producing traditional tapestries and carpets. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 2006. The famous painter Francisco Goya was commissioned for providing some marvelous and innovative designs for tapestries for hanging in the San Lorenzo de El Escorial and El Pardo palaces. The factory is also involved in the repairing of tapestries or rugs. The tourists can order a tapestry or carpet.

Practical info

The opening hours of this factory are Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 2 pm. The tourists are given special ‘tourist guides’ who explain the history of the factory and how it manufactures tapestries and rugs.

Railway Museum

The Madrid Railway Museum (also known as Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid) was opened for public in 1984. It is situated in the former station of ‘Delicias’. This is one of the best museums of Spain, having the marvelous monuments of industrial architecture that was inaugurated in 1880. The museum has collections of vehicles and railway-related exhibits that are depicting the historical values of Spain, connecting the history of transport to modern-day transportation systems. The museum conveys the historical values of the railway system of the country. It has the Railway History Archives and the Railway Library Consultation Rooms for the visitors to have clearer views. It lets you view a comprehensive collection fo vintage rolling stocks. The Central Hall has various collections of ancient locomotives and passenger coaches. Many of its monuments are over 150 years old. On both sides, its central area opens to exhibition rooms that give devotion to old station clocks, model railways, and models of railway infrastructure.

Practical info

It is situated in the Las Delicias Station, on the southern side of Atocha in the barrio of Delicias. The museum was built  by Gustave Eiffel.