| CULTURAL MADRID |
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It was King Felipe II who made Madrid the capital of his Empire, when he chose it as the location for his court in 1561.
The capital of an empire upon which the sun never set, and has continued to gather and maintain, throughout the centuries, the history and art of all the people who have visited it. The result is a cultural legacy, without which it would not be possible to understand the history of Europe. Its beautiful monuments, (among them the magnificent Royal Palace), and a long list of museums, (beginning with the Prado), are permanent reminder of this past. It is a legacy made up of the names of illustrious natives of Madrid, whether by birth or adoption, like CervantesVelázquez or Goya.
But Madrid is restless, alive and not content to simply be part of the past. Madrid wants to help to build the future and thus has placed itself in the cultural spearhead with a rich and varied calendar of activities throughout the year.
However, Madrid does not only offer formal cultural events and a fine transportation network, cultural institutions and professional services. The city also puts every imaginable leisure and entertainment resource at its visitor’s disposal.
The holidaymaker and business traveller probably already know that Madrid´s nightlife quite justly deserves its reputation of being cheerful and lively, and that the liveliness goes on until well into the morning. After an excellent dinner in one of the city´s many recommended restaurants (Madrid´s gastronomic offer includes all the regional cuisines of Spain, as diverse as they are succulent, as well as examples of the main international cuisines), the nightlife caters for all tastes by offering: discotheques, jazz and salsa clubs, flamenco shows, disco-pubs, nightclubs, bars and traditional cafés. When dawn breaks, after a hectic night, a healthy way to start the next day is with a traditional breakfast of hot chocolate with “churros” (fritters). |
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| Shopping |
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Its commercial offer it is defined in different areas: Salamanca, with the “Golden Mile” which contains some of the foremost international fashion labels, jewellery and shoes. The historical centre with its offer of gifts,
handicrafts and souvernirs: Lladró, Majorica, Swarowski. Argüelles is the best place for casual and young fashion.
The shopping centres offer a new concept combining a wide variey of shops and restaurants.
Shopping Timetable: Monday to Friday: 10-20 / 20.30 h. Saturday: 10-20 h.
Shopping Centres: Monday to Saturday: 10-22 h. |
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| Art promenade |
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The Avenue of Art is an itinerary, unique in the entire world, which includes painting, sculpture, architectureand natural beauty, set in one of the most emblematic areas of Madrid: the Paseo del Prado, thickly covered with trees, gardens and fountains. During the reign of Carlos III, (1759-1789), in the middle of the Enlightenment, urban reformation was planned for what at the time was the outskirts of the city; the meadow, (Prado), of San Jerónimo.
This is an area which the inhabitants of Madrid hold very dear and which they can easily explore on foot. It includes three of the most important museums of Spain: The Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofía National Art Centre.
Only one place in all the world, only the Paseo del Prado, offers, in such a short space, the opportunity to see art works of the quality of Las Meninas by Velázquez, Las Majas by Goya, Giovanna Tornabuoni by Ghirlandaio, Les Vessenots en Auvers by Van Gogh and the Guernica by Picasso, as well as other masterpieces of world art.
The Prado National Museum contains the world’s best collection of Spanish painting, that is, of recognised geniuses of world art such as El Greco, Velázquez and Goya. There are also represented great artists of the Siglo de Oro, (Golden Century): Ribera, Zurbarán and Murillo. The Prado contains some of the best Flemish paintings, such as works by Van der Weyden and Hieronymous Bosch, as well as Italian art, including the most complete collection of Titian and other painters of the Venice School contained in a single museum. And the collections of German, French and English art, although smaller than the others, contain firstclass works.
Since its establishment, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum has provided a perfect complement to the Prado. What is missing in the Prado, is splendidly represented at the Thyssen. This special relationship begins with the Italian primitives, of which the Prado offers Fra Angelicas masterpiece, Annunciation. The Thyssen, on the other hand, contains a numerous and important collection from this period. The museum also has excellent samples of the German Renaissance and Dutch painting of the 17th century, of which the Prado contains few works, and 19th century American painting, virtually non-existent in Spain.
Impressionism, Geometric Abstraction and Pop Art, are all the Thyssen Collection and add a wonderful new section to the Avenue of Art. The itinerary is closed with the masterpiece of the 20th century: Picasso´s Guernica, exhibited at the Reina Sofía National Museum Art Centre. The collection is made up primarily of Spanish painting and sculpture Picasso, Juan Gris, Miró, Dalí, Chillida and Tàpies as well as more recent artists. Without a doubt, this Avenue is unique in the entire world. |
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Cultural Facilities
Madrid blends these three aspects to perfection, offering an ample and varied repertoire to suit all tastes: |
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Theatres
Special Rooms on the Private Theatres
Cinemas
Concert Rooms
Auditoriums
Libraries
Museums
Exhibition and Exposition Galleries
Art Galleries
Phonoteca
History Monuments
Cultural Centres
Municipal Cultural Centres
Private Cultural Centres
Other Cultural Centres
Institutions and Cultural Foundations
Total |
20
20
132
12
4
342
73
29
118
6
213
51
39
3
9
71
1.142 |
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