Madrid - Retiro Park

July 20, 2008

A visit to the Retiro Park in central Madrid in the morning can be a relaxing experience. Built in the early 18th century ( 1868) by King Phillip the IVth as a retreat for the Royal Spanish Family. the park is spread over 360 acres and has a lake in the centre and another small lake on the west side. There are some beautiful buildings in the park including a museum.

The park is a very popular place , particularly on weekends where families come for picnics and leisure. The park has beautiful gardens which offer a place for respite and relaxation. It also has numerous statues but probably the most well known is the El Angel Caído. It is dedicated to Satan, possibly the only such statue in Europe.

The Retiro is also a favourite place for performing artists and includes street theatres as well as performing musical bands which also take this opportunity sell there music on CD's

Street Performers in the Park

Relaxing in the Park

Madrid at Night

Madrid Town Hall at Night

Church in Goya

Views of Gran Via Close-up of a building in Gran Via

Almudena Cathedral - Madrid

Located opposite the Palaceo Real ( Royal Palace), this neogothic cathedral is a magnificiant building called La Almudena after the virgin of Almudena to whom it is dedictated. The stunning blue facade is a delight to see.

The cathedral is stunning building with a bright and modern interior

The interior of the cathedral is full of light coming from the beutifully stained windows and the multicoloured ceiling. Its grand grezing organ adds to the grandeur and gets played on Sundays and holidays.
The huge central dome measures 20 Mtrs in diametre

The beautiful stained glass windows in the cathedral are not be missed

The Royal Palace - Madrid

The palace is built entirely of stone - granite from the Sierra de Guadarrama and white Colmenar stone. Massive foundation walls support the building on the steep slope down to the Manzanares which is laid out in gardens (the Jardines de Sabatini to the north, the Campo del Moro to the west). The impression of imposing and unapproachable majesty which is conveyed by the palace is reinforced by the massive substructure of finely dressed ashlar with small windows. An intermediate floor, also with small square windows, forms a transition to the main structure. The balconies of the principal apartments are separated by Ionic columns and Doric pilasters. Above the main floor is another intermediate floor without openings, and above this again a final floor with windows. The facade is topped by a balustrade of white stone with statues of Spanish kings

The main front is on the south side, facing the Plaza de la Armeriàa. Like the other fronts, it bears the royal arms

Close View of the Coat of Arms on the Front of the Palace

Palacio Real de Madrid - Gardens

One of the top tourist attractions, The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Royal family. These days however, the Royal Family only use it for state ceremonies. The rest of the time it’s open to the public. Otherwise known in Spanish as the Palacio Real, the Royal Palace was built during the 18th and 19th centuries, and is a monumental building.

The right of the Royal Palace is flanked by a Garden with numerous statues.

The Palace gardens are known as the Palo del Moro

( Garden of the Moors). These gardens orignated during the reign of King Philip II, the present appearance however dates from 1890.

The square situated to the east of the Palace, and known for this reason as the Plaza de Oriente, has recently been remodelled. It contains several of the statues of the kings of Spain carved during the reign of King Ferdinand VI.

Madrid - Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is a magnificiant building with sprawling lawns on the side and a fountain with a statue facing the building.

Weekend in Madrid - Central Madrid

Madrid - Sol (Central Madrid)

After having spent the morning admiring the Plaza de Cibelis and the surrounding areas, we decided to head for the market areas of Sol. There are a number of different shopping zones within central Madrid, with a very diverse range of shops. Around Calles Preciados, which has been pedestrianised, Puerta del Sol and Montera, there are department stores and shops, including bargain-basements, craft, jewellery, clothes and many tourist outlets. Old craft and curiousity shops can be found along Calles Mayor, Arenal and also Plaza Mayor. Further south is the Mercado de Puerta de Toledo mall, a very chic collection of over 140 shops, also open on Sundays, which has become a popular place to shop. To the east of Puerta del Sol are some interesting art and antique showrooms in Carrera de San Jerónimo and Calle del Prado. Gran Via was once the most fashionable shopping boulevard in the city, and although these days that is no longer true, it still has a good collection of shops. Some of the city's best fashion outlets can be found nearby in Calle de Génova, Calles Almirante, Conde de Xiquena, Argensola and Orellana


One of those intersting building in Central Madrid that has withstood the onslaught of time.

Anita at the pedestraised market in Sol. This area has numerous outlets of fasion items as well as some of the larger hypermarkets like El Corte

Statue atop a building

View from a street Bar in Sol

This is one the numerous bars where a quick bite and drink can be had. These are inexpensive and convenient

Facade of Building in Sol

Weekend in Madrid

Plaza De Ceblis and Surrounding Areas

Statue of the Godess of Cybelles

One of the most unforgettable sights in Madrid is the Plaza De Ceblis . This is one image of Madrid that remains in the mind. It is that of the square where the Goddess Cybelle ( Rhea for the Greeks) sits majestically on a chariot drawn by a pair of Lions. The Goddess Cybelle is a symbol of Madrid as well as a symbol of Real Madrid for the fans. This square was built by Ventura Rodriguez during the reign of Charles III.

Plaza de Cybelis - Veiw from across the stree

Plaza De Ceblis
Anita in front of Plaza De Ceblis


Traffic Rounded near Plaza De Ceblis

Decided to take a weekend break in Madrid. Left on 17th morning from Delhi by Lufthansa Airlines to Munich and caught a connecting flight to Madrid. Relaxing and comfortable flight. Reached Madrid in the evening.

Morning decided to explore Madrid and headed for the famous Plaza De Ceblis and surrounding areas.