Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( Royal Palace;
www.patrimonionacional.es
;
Calle de Bailén; adult/child, student & EU
senior €10/3.50, adult without guided tour €8, EU citizen free Wed; 9am-6pm Mon-
Sat, 9am-3pm Sun & holidays Apr-Sep; Ópera)
Spain's lavish Palacio Real is a
jewel box of a palace, although it's used only occasionally for royal ceremonies; the
royal family moved to the modest Palacio de la Zarzuela years ago.
The official tour leads through 50 of the palace rooms, which hold a good selec-
tion of Goyas, 215 absurdly ornate clocks and five Stradivarius violins still used for
concerts and balls.
CAMPO DEL MORO & JARDINES DE SABATINI
In proper palace style, lush gardens surround the Palacio Real. To the north are the
formal French-style
Jardines de Sabatini
( 9am-9pm May-Sep; Ópera)
. Dir-
ectly behind the palace are the fountains of the
Campo del Moro
(Paseo de la Vir-
gen del Puerto; 10am-8pm Mon-Sat, 9am-8pm Sun & holidays Apr-Sep; Prín-
cipe Pío)
, so named because this is where the Muslim army camped before a 12th-
century attack on the Alcázar. Now, shady paths, a thatch-roofed pagoda and
palace views are the main attractions.
Public Gardens
CONVENTO DE LAS DESCALZAS REALES
Convent
Descalzas 3; adult/child €5/2.50, incl Convento de la Encarnación €6/3.40, EU citizen
free Wed; 10.30am-12.45pm & 4-5.45pm Tue-Thu & Sat, 10.30am-12.45pm Fri,
11am-1.45pm Sun; Ópera or Sol)
The grim plateresque walls of the Convento de
las Descalzas Reales offer no hint that behind the facade lies a sumptuous strong-
hold of the faith. On the obligatory guided tour you'll see a gaudily frescoed Renais-
sance stairway, a number of extraordinary tapestries based on works by Rubens,
and a wonderful painting entitled
The Voyage of the 11,000 Virgins
.
La Latina & Lavapiés
EL RASTRO
Flea Market
( 8am-3pm Sun; La Latina)
A Sunday morning at El Rastro, Europe's largest
flea market, is a Madrid institution.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search