By James Scott Bankston
The capital of Spain, Madrid is a city known for its sophistication and style, as well as its art museums and impressive architecture. It's also a city of great energy and appetite for life, seeing as the citizens--at least the younger ones--tend to not eat dinner until around 10pm, and then stay out well into the wee hours of the morning.
Palacio Real
Many of the rooms on one floor of Palacio Real, a huge eighteenth-century palace, are open for public tours, though you should check ahead to make sure the King is not hosting an event there on the day you plan to visit.
Tapas
At night, Spaniards like to go out for tapas---small portions of food served in bars. Each bar on the main tapas circuit has its specialty, and you can spend hours visiting one bar after another, having a nibble and a drink.
Paseo del Prado
Paseo del Prado is home to chic shops, lavish hotels and such museums as the Prado, Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Museo Naval and the Museo del Ejercito.
Museo del Prado
One of the most famous art museums in the world, the Prado, has a large collection of European Old Masters---especially works by Goya and Velazquez.
Old Madrid
Old Madrid is full of shops, cafes and centuries-old buildings. Its main public spaces are the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid is one of the most successful football (soccer) teams in Europe. Its home is Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
About the Author:
James Scott Bankston, of Austin, Texas, has been a writer and editor since 1985. His work has appeared in Citysearch.com, the Austin Chronicle, and various Demand Media sites. He has a B.A. with a double major in English and history from Sam Houston State University.
