MUST SEE MADRID

"De Madrid al cielo" or meaning from Madrid to heaven. Madrid hold a popular adage that says something about, after seeing Madrid, the next fun thing is just heaven. No less prestige of Rome, Paris, and London, Madrid is a mecca for lovers of art, fashion observer, even architecture and football. At the time, Madrid is the most important city in the world, connecting the western and eastern hemispheres. Fabiola Lawalata tells of the main places that you must visit the largest cosmopolitan city in Europe.

Like most major cities in Europe, Madrid offers a variety of facilities to facilitate tourists who want to explore the city further. Many travel agency selling package around the city of Madrid with his personal tour guide for visitors who do not want the hassle. Another option is to buy tickets canal or the Tourist Travel Pass valid for buses, all metroline, suburban trains, and ML (Metro Ligero) 1. Tickets can be bought at stations or tourist information. One other alternative that I chose was on a bus level 2 which allows us to stop at the main places of the city. Each person only needs to pay a ticket for € 17 per day or € 22 for 2 days straight.

The first place you should not miss is the Royal Palace. The building was built in the 18th century it was the official residence of the Spanish royal family is now led by King Juan Carlos. Now, The Palace was opened to the public and tourists can enjoy the beauty of the interior and exterior architecture. With paid admission, you can look around the palace like a dining room, living room, chapel, and the porcelain room. This palace is really awesome and includes the largest palaces among other Western European royal palaces.

royal palace

After admiring the beauty of the palace, do not forget to visit the city square known as Plaza Mayor. Here, a typical Spanish restaurant row and typical Spanish souvenir shop and souvenir shop typical of Madrid. Built in the 1700s by the Spanish King Philips III, you would see his statue stands majestically in the center of the plaza.

plaza mayor

If lucky, you can enjoy a free show action dancers and street entertainers Flamenco other. Several other plaza is no less popular is the Plaza de Espana where a statue of Cervantes, Spanish poet embryo majestic pride and Puerta del Sol and the symbolic is the zero point or the center of Spain. As with other European nations, plaza or piazza in Italian is the center of urban activity, so do not be surprised if the field is usually rectangular surrounded by government buildings and other important moments.

plaza de espana

puerta del sol 

Atocha Railway Station or commonly known as Estacion de Atocha train station is the first and largest in Spain which is located close to the Reina Sofia Museum and the Museum of El Prado. While you do not plan on traveling train, there is no harm in visiting the place on this one because in it you will find the uniqueness that makes it one of the best stations in the world. Here there is a tropical garden area of ​​4000 square meters, complete with a variety of tropical plants, pond fish, birds, and turtles. The park makes the atmosphere of the station connecting Madrid to other cities both in Spain and neighboring countries is very comfortable and natural. On 11 March 2004, the station had become the world's attention as a powerful bomb attack which killed. No wonder you will find quite a tight security system at this station.

atocha raiway station

reina sofia museum

museum of el prado 

Not only historic buildings, Madrid is also known as one of the European art. Kingdom of Spain who reached the height of its power in the 17th century has become a haven for artists of the world. Call it an homage to El Greco renaissance, Velazques famous for his portrait paintings, romantic homage to Goya. You who love history and love to visit the museum should not miss the Prado Museum as one of the largest art galleries in the world, the Prado Museum displays thousands masterpiece painters the world not only from Spain, but also from many other countries in Europe such as Germany, France, Italy, Britain, and the Netherlands. There are free tickets to visitors who apply each day Tuesday-Fiber 18:00-20:00 and Sunday at 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Although I am not a Madridista (call for fans of Real Madrid FC fanatic), feels Santiago Barnebau Stadium still not be missed. With the admission of around € 15 (if no match), you can enjoy all the facilities ranging from the ranks of the stadium grandstand and VIP seats, shower room which is equipped with plunge pools of warm water and massage chairs, hall entrance athletes, press conference room, to seat Recaro usually occupied by the coach. Also all the trophies on display from the beginning of the year the club was founded, along with posters shoes and gold balls. One room was able to make my skin crawl because it is made in such a way direct the withdrawal was watching the game, complete with the accompaniment of the song "We are the Champions"!

santiago barnebau stadium

Madrid is not only offers museums and old buildings. City bears the symbol bears perdikat green capital because of its many parks. One of them is the famous Buen Rentiro located right at the city center. Trees lined with artificial lake in the middle. In summer, the park was filled with children and office workers who come to enjoy the atmosphere while eating lunch. For those of you who came to Madrid with their children, in addition to parks, zoos may be the right choice. You can visit the Casa Del Campo is famous as one of the best zoos in Europe because it has a collection of more than 3000 animals, aquarium, dolphin shows, and much more, aquarium, dolphin shows, and much more. There is also an area farm where the kids will get excited because it can directly interact with the animals. Use Teleferico cable car to get to the Casa Del Campo. The cable car has been in operation for more than 40 years this will take you from Pasteo Del Pintor Rosales. Price of a return ticket goings € 4.65 for adults, € 3.80 for children aged 3-7 years, and free for children age 3 years. For 11 minutes, you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of the city of Madrid from the sky. Cable car will later be past The Egyptian Temple of Debod, Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, and tall office buildings. Do not miss to capture these photogenic landscape through the lens of a camera.

buen rentiro

casa del campo

telefrerico cable car

pasteo del pintor rosales

temple of debod

almudena cathedral

 

Travel to Madrid it feels incomplete if not shopping. Not far from Puerta del Sol, Calle Gran Via and Calle Carmen, two-way dedicated to the pedestrians have been waiting for you, ranging from designer clothes to cheap souvenirs, you can find it here. Do not forget to pay a visit to El Corte Ingles and certainly one of the many Zara boutiques scattered throughout the city. You can also stop at Principe Pio shopping mall, a shopping center located at the train station. Fans of antique trinkets can go to El Rastro, flea markets that will present its own treats.

el rastro flea market

You were admitted youthful and happy socialize, hang out in Madrid will be an unforgettable experience. Many say that Madrid is the center of night life in Europe. Looks like nicknames were proven true because many places to accommodate the residents of Madrid night life activities and tourists. Starting from Terrazas aka-terrace café to club, even the kind that you might not come across in other places such as the After-Hours or discos are open around 18:00 to noon.

terrazas cafe

Buen Apetito!

Here are three types of foods that you must taste Madrid:

Cacido Madrileno: soup with chunks of chicken, meat, potatoes, peas, and vegetables according to taste, served with a fresh tomato sauce. This traditional meal from the 17th century

Sopa de Ajo: soup with garlic ingredients, cooked with olive oil and pepper then add the water, salt, and eggs.

Tortilla de patata a la Madrilena: potato omelette cooked with olive oil and onion pieces.

 tortilla de patata

Tourism in Madrid is also not free from culinary. Unlike in Indonesia, ritual lunch there starting at 14:00 to 15:00 while dinner starts at 22:00. Thus, the opening hours of the restaurant or the restaurant had to adjust. However, the restaurants are located in areas with many tourist will open early, 12:00 to 15:00, then close and re-open at dinner time. In any typical Spanish restaurant, available 'Menu Today' or in Spanish 'Menu del Dia', which pack a lunch consisting of food first (primer plato) continued with a second meal (Segundo plato). Such packages usually less expensive and the menu offered was different every day. Plenty of restaurants to choose from, but this restaurant Botin berama lest you miss. Founded in 1725, Botin is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest restaurant in the world. Ernest Hemmingway was a regular customer and recognize it as a favorite restaurant. Francisco Goya once worked as a waitress before eventually became world famous painter. Interior Botin ancient amaze me. Dominated with wood and brick open with such lighting, creating an atmosphere appropriate for an 18th-century tavern. The menu offered at prices ranging from € 18 and a 3 course meal package starts at € 40 per person. Highly recommended an order a few days earlier.

botin restaurant

Two other things that should not be missed is the dance of Flamenco and bullfighting performances. Flamenco comes from Andalusia, southern Spain, is a dance that originated from different cultures and countries, such as Morocco, Egypt, and India. Dance movement, rhythm, and music are complementary tools that spawned a new stream called Flamenco. Dancers perform a dance with improvised move vigorously to create a dynamic and energetic performances, covering the legs move fast, graceful hand movements, clapped his hands and flick of fingers . They danced a solo, in pairs, or in groups with brightly colored clothes. November 2010, Unesco include Flamenco dancing into the list of Intangible Cutural Heritage of Humanity (Cultural Heritage and humanity). Many cafes and restaurants of Madrid Flamenco dances as routine entertainment for the guests. For example, Café de Chinitas located at Torija road, close to Gran Via.

flamenco dancer

bullfighting performance 

If Flamenco offers beauty and harmony, what about bullfighting? While not only be found in Spain, but also in parts of Portugal, Southern France, Mexico, and parts of South America, in fact the Spaniards who identify bullfighting performances as part of their culture. No kidding, to become a matador require special skills gained from education schools matador. The training includes how to fight the fear of bulls and confidence levels.

las ventas

Understandably, bull arenas not appear in ordinary bull, but bull specially trained and prepared to be a bull complaints. This matador graduate school pupils will be beginning her career in small arenas in the suburbs, before they can compete in the larger arena. Is Las Ventas, bull arenas in the eastern city of Madrid to target to see first hand this legendary show. Divided into 10 classes of seating that includes at least 25,000 people, the closer seats to the arena and face the sun, then the price of the ticket was more expensive. The period of performance bullfight usually from March to December each year. Can be seen every day from 19:00 or 20:00 for nearly 3 hours. But lately, there has been controversy about bullfighting and had to be taken to the parliamentary level. They think that bullfighting is an old tradition that is no longer relevant to contemporary moral values​​. Apart from the understanding that, should prepare mentally and your heart before attending this bloody spectacle.