What to see in Madrid

From the vantage point of your Madrid apartment, you'll be able to discover all the best of the city. The use historic part of the town is enclosed by various landmarks: the Retiro Park, Atocha train station, the royal palace, Plaza de España and the Plaza de Colón.

Plaza Mayor: Madrid's central square is spectacular not only for its architecture, but also for its size. It comes upon you as a surprise when you follow one the narrow cobbled streets through one of the square's arches, and come across this brilliant expanse. The square was originally the idea of Phillip II, who requested Juan de Herrera to design it. However it was not until the reign of Phillip III that it was constructed, under the guidance of Gomez de Mora. Nowadays, there are many bars and restaurants in and around the square, where you can while away the afternoon.

The Royal Palace: Construction began during the reign of Phillip V and was concluded under Carlos III. The palace has a fabulous art collection, which includes work by Goya and Velazquez. In current times the palace is only used for official functions, but the guided tour is well worth the trip.

The Prado: No visit to Madrid would be complete without a visit to the Prado, one of the world's great museums. Work on the building began in 1785, and the aim was to house the royal families' collections. You'll find first class examples of the works of Velazquez, El Greco, Zurbaran, Goya, Murillo, El Bosco, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Rubens, Titian, and Rembrandt. If time is short, we recommend limiting yourself to few artists or a particular period as the museum is truly enormous.

The Retiro. The centrally located Retiro Park occupies an immense space bordered by, on one side, the Prado and the Puerta de Alcala. When your legs will carry you no further, you can sit the grass or one of the many little bars or "chiringuitos" and watch the world go by. There is also a lake where you can rent a boat.