After spending 5 days in Barcelona, I took that AVE train one morning to continue exploring Spain. I was on my way to see another big city, and yet I knew it’s something far different from Barcelona.
It was time for Madrid.
Madrid was where I started to see the true Spain. As Spain’s capital, it’s truly the heart and soul of this country. By simply seeing Spanish flags hung almost everywhere and hearing Spanish accents close to my professors’ at Instituto Cervantes de Manila, I realized it’s that Spain I used to think about. The more when I started to walk and make my way to explore the big city.
Coming from Atocha Cercanias station, I took the Madrid metro then got off at Sol station. I set base in Sol, which to me is a strategic central place for any backpacker in Madrid. Not to mention that it’s literally the center of Madrid as it’s where Kilometer 0 (Km 0) is at.
Aside from Km 0, the busy public square of Puerta del Sol is also famed by this El Oso y el Madroño statue, a bronze sculpture of a bear leaning on a strawberry tree. It’s a representation of the coat of arms of Madrid, and it’s also the badge of the Spanish football club Atlético Madrid.
In front is the Real Casa de Correos (Royal House of the Post Office) painted in striking red. It’s also where the monument of King Charles III is located at.
Not far from Puerta del Sol is another known landmark, the Plaza Mayor. It’s also a big public square, surrounded by strips of posh restaurants with outdoor seats that serve good ambiance at night.
Plaza Mayor has 9 entrances and exits, some of which could lead you to the narrow alleys for a more local feel. It’s where I let myself blend in and get lost in a maze of small shops or restaurants ran by locals who live at the apartments above it.
The famous Mercado de San Miguel is also in the same area. It’s a glass covered market in modern style that cater mostly to tourists.
In this market, I saw an array Spanish tapa (starting at EUR 1) along with local wines and desserts. There are designated seats at the center and corners, which make it not only a market but also a sort of a pub for socializing.
As I headed further south, I caught myself in front of Teatro Real, or El Real in short, which is a known major opera house in Madrid where famous international and local performances premiered.
What’s a trip to Madrid without seeing the majestic Palacio Real de Madrid? I was truly amazed by its size and elegance! Although the Royal Family isn’t really residing there (as King Felipe VI and his family live in Palacio de la Zarzuela in the outskirts of Madrid), a trip to the Royal Palace is a must when in Madrid for its historical and cultural significance.
Right beside the palace is a beautiful cathedral, called the Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena or simply the Almudena Cathedral. It’s the seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid.
A short walk from the palace, I ended the day at Plaza de España, a huge park in Madrid. There lies the big Cervantes Monument, dedicated to the prolific Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, author of Don Quixote. He shares the monument with statues of 2 characters in the story: Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. It’s located at the tip of Gran Via, a central boulevard in Madrid with all the big shopping malls and hotels.
It was a short but sweet day in Madrid. A day isn’t enough to explore everything. For sure it won’t be the last time to visit it, as there are a lot more reasons to come back.
It was time for Madrid.
Madrid was where I started to see the true Spain. As Spain’s capital, it’s truly the heart and soul of this country. By simply seeing Spanish flags hung almost everywhere and hearing Spanish accents close to my professors’ at Instituto Cervantes de Manila, I realized it’s that Spain I used to think about. The more when I started to walk and make my way to explore the big city.
Coming from Atocha Cercanias station, I took the Madrid metro then got off at Sol station. I set base in Sol, which to me is a strategic central place for any backpacker in Madrid. Not to mention that it’s literally the center of Madrid as it’s where Kilometer 0 (Km 0) is at.
Aside from Km 0, the busy public square of Puerta del Sol is also famed by this El Oso y el Madroño statue, a bronze sculpture of a bear leaning on a strawberry tree. It’s a representation of the coat of arms of Madrid, and it’s also the badge of the Spanish football club Atlético Madrid.
In front is the Real Casa de Correos (Royal House of the Post Office) painted in striking red. It’s also where the monument of King Charles III is located at.
Not far from Puerta del Sol is another known landmark, the Plaza Mayor. It’s also a big public square, surrounded by strips of posh restaurants with outdoor seats that serve good ambiance at night.
Plaza Mayor has 9 entrances and exits, some of which could lead you to the narrow alleys for a more local feel. It’s where I let myself blend in and get lost in a maze of small shops or restaurants ran by locals who live at the apartments above it.
The famous Mercado de San Miguel is also in the same area. It’s a glass covered market in modern style that cater mostly to tourists.
In this market, I saw an array Spanish tapa (starting at EUR 1) along with local wines and desserts. There are designated seats at the center and corners, which make it not only a market but also a sort of a pub for socializing.
As I headed further south, I caught myself in front of Teatro Real, or El Real in short, which is a known major opera house in Madrid where famous international and local performances premiered.
What’s a trip to Madrid without seeing the majestic Palacio Real de Madrid? I was truly amazed by its size and elegance! Although the Royal Family isn’t really residing there (as King Felipe VI and his family live in Palacio de la Zarzuela in the outskirts of Madrid), a trip to the Royal Palace is a must when in Madrid for its historical and cultural significance.
Right beside the palace is a beautiful cathedral, called the Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena or simply the Almudena Cathedral. It’s the seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid.
A short walk from the palace, I ended the day at Plaza de España, a huge park in Madrid. There lies the big Cervantes Monument, dedicated to the prolific Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, author of Don Quixote. He shares the monument with statues of 2 characters in the story: Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. It’s located at the tip of Gran Via, a central boulevard in Madrid with all the big shopping malls and hotels.
It was a short but sweet day in Madrid. A day isn’t enough to explore everything. For sure it won’t be the last time to visit it, as there are a lot more reasons to come back.
Have you been to Madrid? Share your experiences below!
Shelly Viajera Travel
