Madrid, the capital and largest city in Spain is definitely one of the most popular cities to visit. Known for its fascinating history, Madrid boasts over 45 museums–many of them art museums–but all promise cultural experiences that should not be overlooked. When staying in a city for a extended period of time whether it be a hotel or an Apartment in Madrid, one gets to take in the city at a slower pace. One gets to enjoy all the city has to offer, from fine dining, the architecture to the history of the city and quite often this can be brought together in the many museums Madrid has to offer.

The Golden Triangle of Art is made up of three museums including the Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Each one of these museums has its own appeal. The most famous art museum by far is the Prado. This museum, which opened almost 200 years ago is housed in an 18th century building and contains works by European masters such as Raphael, Velazquez, Rubens, Bosch, Goya and many more. With over 4,800 paintings by Spanish artists and large collections by the Italian and Flemish, and over 900 works of sculpture, it is easy to see why this museum is known the world over.

For contemporary art the Reina Sofia is the perfect choice. This museum, which is housed in an 18th century hospital, offers four floors of both permanent and temporary exhibits, with collections by Picasso, Miro, Dali Salano and other famous artists. A complement to the Prado and the Reina Sofia, the Thyssen-Bornemisza offers an important private art collection with everything from ancient to modern pop art.

The Museo de America exhibits archeological findings, textiles and clothing from North, South, and Central America. This impressive museum's 25,000 artifacts exhibit the myths, beliefs and ways of life of different societies, and languages of indigenous cultures. The most fascinating exhibits are the Aztec Tudela Codex from the 1500's, and a Paracas mummy from the first century BC.

For a trip back in time to Spain's golden age, the former home of the "Shakespeare of Spanish literature", now the Lope de Vega Museum, is a delightful experience. A two-story brick house, this museum offers rooms with furniture from the 17th century and a beautiful garden with fruit trees that were described in Lope de Vega's journal.

With 24 rooms of artifacts reflecting the history of the Spanish Navy, El Museo Naval is one of the most significant naval museums the world over. The rooms go in chronological order with exhibits from the 15th century to the cutting-edge technology of today. One of the most interesting exhibits is the Peral Submarine, invented in 1884, which many call the first U-boat.

There are a number of other important museums in Madrid such as the Archaeological Museum, the Caixa Forum, the Goya Museum and many more. For those who are planning a trip to Spain, visits to any of these museums offer rare experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime.

 Head back to your apartment in Madrid, take your time and soak up the city, enjoy a bottle of wine at your new favorite restaurant and plan your next visit to one of the many museums throughout Madrid.

Visitors lucky to have an extended stay in Spain’s capital city of Madrid will eventually ask “what is worth seeing outside of the city limits?” If you are one of the fortunate ones to have rented one of the many Madrid apartments available throughout the city you are offered many choices on day trips from Madrid. One such choice might be Segovia, Spain.

Segovia is a well-known historical city just north of Madrid, Spain. There are three main ways to travel to Segovia from Madrid to enjoy a day of sightseeing in Segovia, Spain. The quickest way is using the AVE high speed train which takes about a half an hour. Another way is taking a train from the Chamartin train station. It takes approximately two hours by train. The last way is by bus. On average, it takes between an hour and an hour and a half to make the journey by bus.

Segovia has many extraordinary historical sites to explore.
The Aqueduct of Segovia is the most popular monument in the city. It is over 2,000 years old, and is still in excellent condition. The aqueduct is located in the Plaza del Azoguejo. While in the plaza, enjoy a taste of roasted suckling pig.

The Calle Real is a pathway between the Plaza of Azoguejo and the Plaza Mayor. There are many fascinating historical monuments to visit along the path. Some of the monuments include: the Palace of del Rio, the Palace of Torreagero, the home of the Picos, the Palace of Conde de Alpuente, and the Juan Bravo Plaza. Once in the Plaza Mayor, visitors can see the stunning masterpiece known as the “Lady of Cathedrals”, the Segovia Cathedral. It is a Basque-Castilean Gothic, and the last one built in Spain.

The Alcazar Castle is located near the Segovia Cathedral. It is an exquisite, royal palace built on top of the rock between the Eresma and the Clamores Rivers. The Alcazar Castle has two towers and two lovely courtyards.

The medieval palace of Henry IV is the home of the Museo de Arte Contempraneo Esteban Vicente. The museum has a large collection of masterpieces on display. In addition, visitors can see the carved Hispano- Moorish wooden ceiling of the Renaissance chapel, and the beautiful garden located along the palace.

After a day of exploring Segovia, you most likely will want to grab something to eat before you head back to your apartments in Madrid. Visitors will find many fine choices when it comes to meal time.

The Meson de Candido is located in the Plaza del Azoguejo. The restaurant offers both Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. A couple of its famous dishes include roasted baby lamb and roasted suckling pig.

The Casa Duque is located along Calle Cervantes 12. The restaurant has a large variety of foods to offer. Some of the delicious dishes it offers include roasted lamb, roasted suckling pig, cream of crabmeat soup, and grilled lamb, chicken, pork and beef plates.

The Jose Maria is an elegant restaurant offering a wide variety of foods including roasted lamb and suckling pig as well as some delicious desserts. It is located in the Plaza Mayor.

The Limon y Menta can be found near the Plaza Mayor. It offers mouth-watering desserts.

By train or bus, Segovia makes for a great and easy day trip from Madrid.

With a population exceeding three million, Madrid is the third-largest city in Europe, and a global leader in politics, education, science, entertainment, fashion and the arts. Madrid’s culinary arts are also world-renowned, with a wide variety of restaurants catering to every imaginable nationality and palate. Of course, most visitors to Madrid want to experience the local cuisine and restaurants, of which there is also a vast variety.

So you have settled into you Madrid apartments or hotel and now want to experience the various local cuisines the city has to offer. With so many restaurants to choose from where does one start? Well to be honest, where ever you start you will not be disappointed.

A good starting point may be the Botin Restaurant, which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest restaurant in the world. In business since 1725, Botin counts as former clientele such notables as the artist Goya and Ernest Hemingway. Among Botin’s specialties are roast suckling pig and roast lamb. The history alone is worth the visit, and the experience is one not soon to be forgotten.

You will find style of Madrid’s restaurants range from traditional to bistro, flamenco to modern all the way to gourmet. Along with Botin, other notable traditional Madrid eateries include Las Cuevas de Luis Candelas, Cafe de Oriente and Restaurante El Rocio. For those wishing for a casual experience featuring music and a relaxed atmosphere, La Mariachita (featuring Mexican cuisine), Café Oliver (Mediterranean dishes), and the Italian-flavored Marcellino Pasta e Vino may suit the mood. For flamenco lovers, as well as aficionados of authentic Spanish cuisine, El Corral de la Pacheca is for you. For those preferring a more contemporary adventure, modern Madrid eateries such as El Rancho Asador Argentino, Sushiwakka Serrano, Picanha (Brazilian) and the Scandinavian-themed Olsen are certain to satisfy the most demanding of appetite. For gourmet dining, Goizeko Kabi Madrid, featuring Basque cuisine, is a local favorite, and for an international flavor, don’t miss Horcher, which offers fine dining amid a luxurious mansion and is widely acclaimed for its’ game dishes (venison, wild boar, wild duck).

Gallinejas, or fried sheep entrails, might appeal to the more daring diner. Other local favorite dishes which the adventurous diner may wish to sample include Bocadillo de calamares, or fried squid rings. Another
Madrid “delicacy” is Callos a la madrileña, which consists of calf or lamb’s tripe, blood sausage, and the snout and hoof of a cow.

One of the nice things about staying for a while in one of the many hotels or apartments in Madrid that are available, is getting to know the ins and outs of the city, with so much to do throughout the day you will have plenty of opportunities to try the local cuisine and restaurants Madrid has to offer.

Madrid, one of the top fashion destinations in Europe, is sure to give you the best of both historical attractions and modern fun. This cosmopolitan city is famous for high-end fashion boutiques, world class restaurants, many art galleries and a host of other attractions.

If you love art, your first stop should be the Prado Museum, which has a very wide collection of traditional and modern pieces from around the world. You can also stop by the Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza galleries that host a large collection of European and American masterpieces.

The Puerta del Sol is the hub of the city where people meet, shop and live. Numerous choices of hotels and Madrid apartments will place travelers in the center of city. It gives easy access to Plaza Mayor, the Opera and the Royal Palace, the Spanish Parliament and Plaza Santa Ana. The statue of el Oso y el Madrono is a bear eating from an evergreen tree and is the main meeting place for Madrid’s youth.

History comes alive in Madrid through a number of magnificent historical monuments. One of the most popular one is the Temple of Debod. This is an ancient Egyptian temple that was initially built alongside the River Nile and dedicated to Isis, an Egyptian goddess. The temple was donated by Egypt to Spain in 1968 and was renovated in Madrid. Get into the ancient Egyptian world right at the heart of Europe in Madrid!

For those who would like some seaside fun, the Parque del Buen Retiro is the place to be. This is a scenic oasis park that is located right at the heart of Madrid. The park has a lake and you can hire a rowing boat to experience some water adventure. If you have kids, enjoy a puppet show at the park.

Football fans should not miss the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium- the home of one of the best football clubs in the world – Real Madrid. If you are lucky, you can catch a game of this top European team over the weekend.

After a long day of sightseeing and visiting different monuments, relax at one of the many parks in Madrid. The Plaza Mayor, Plaza Santa Ana and Plaza de Cibeles are great places to stroll or just relax as the day fades away. The night life is also unequaled in the world. The evening meal will never be before 9:30, and Madrid has one of the highest concentrations of restaurants and bars per capita in the world. The city is just as busy at 4:00am as it is at 10:00am. Huertas street and the streets nearby have many small restaurants and bars with a variety of Spanish and international music along with flamenco.

La Latina is an area south of the Plaza Mayor where there are Madrid’s most famous restaurants and tapas bars. Botin is the oldest restaurant in the world where Hemmingway sat for long hours and included in his novels. Along with all of this are cinemas, theaters, ballet, flamenco, nightclubs and opera.

A visit to Madrid is one that you will never forget. Hard press to see the city in one day, one should plan on several days to truly enjoy this magnificent city. Travelers will find the choices of accommodation in Madrid plentiful, with a wide price range that will meet everyone's budget.

For more information on Madrid and Spain, checkout Beachcomber Pete Travel Guides.