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Madrid has become an increasingly popular destination, competing with the all-time Spanish favourite city Barcelona. There is no Gaudi, modernist wonders or the sea in the capital city, but it sure is full of tradition, splendour, art and secrets that make it an unbeatable place to visit. So here’s my guide to a weekend around Madrid, under the famous blue skies that Velázquez portrayed so well.
Once you eat the last olive of your drink, you can enjoy a stroll around the neighbourhood of Las Letras, which was given that name because many of the most famous writers of the Spanish Golden Age (a period in which many arts flourished in the country) lived in this area. This is why the streets carry their names, with Lope de Vega or Cervantes on the list. As a matter of fact – and don’t be misguided, Madrid is not all about drinking although it may seem like it – the best place to grab a properly served “caña” (small beer) in town is the Cervecería Cervantes, on Cervantes Street. If you have enough time, you can actually retrace the steps of the mastermind behind Don Quijote de La Mancha during his time in Madrid. The author of other less famous, yet brilliant novels that include Rinconete and Cortadillo, Cervantes was great at portraying the Spanish culture quite well mentioning traditional customs and even games, like the Trente-Un, that eventually became part of a more extended popular culture. So after looking at the city from this writer’s angle, you can head to the Prado Museum, which is just five minutes away from the Cervecería and discover the amazing work of Goya or the unbeatable Garden of Earthly Delights, among the many other jewels found there.
For lunch there are many options, although one that has become quite fashionable is eating at markets. Two of these that are less touristic and more genuine are Mercado de San Fernando, which gets very crowded on weekends, and Mercado de Antón Martín. Both offer different types of cuisine for all tastes. Though if you visit the city in the winter, you must eat a Cocido Madrileño (here’s a small guide to learn how to order food in Spain), and the best place to do so is La Bola, located downtown.
The ideal place to watch the sunset is the terrace of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, which also offers a 360º view of Madrid.
On the weekend, another place you shouldn’t miss is El Rastro flea market, although you should skip the main road and visit the small “almonedas”, which are filled with the most eccentric antiques. Close to El Rastro, you can visit La Tabacalera, the old tobacco company that now hosts art events and is just a very interesting building with great graffiti and an urban garden inside. El Matadero (the old slaughterhouse) is also a must and during the summer it hosts great markets and concerts, in addition to being located next to the river where you can enjoy a picnic under the warm sun.
The must-see neighbourhood is Los Austrias, which is the old part of the city and has narrow charming streets that lead to a fantastic plaza called La Paja, where you can also enjoy a relaxed moment in its hidden garden. And then, of course, you should not miss the more imperial part of town near the Palacio Real and the Opera House, and go through the Puente de Segovia until you arrive to the Plaza de Las Vistillas where you can drink a cup of champagne at the Champañería María Pandora at the end of an unforgettable weekend in Madrid.
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Source: pommietravels.com