There are those who come to Madrid to eat, some who come to sample the city’s nightlife and others who are drawn by the trio of world-class art galleries. There’s no reason why you can’t do all three in one of the world’s great cities, as you soak up its buzzy atmosphere, elegant boulevards and majestic squares.
Madrid’s ‘third’ gallery
The Prado and the Reina Sofia are the two art galleries that most visitors flock to. And while they deserve their plaudits, there’s no way that the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza should be considered a poor relation.
The main difference is that it’s based on a private collection and covers a huge range of art in a breathtaking romp through periods, schools and genres. On one floor you’ll wander through Pop Art and Cubism, past Picasso and Dali, Klee and Chagall, Miro and Jackson Pollock.
Move up a floor for Degas, Gauguin, Goya, the hypnotic Les Vessenots by Van Gogh, Gainsborough, Manet, Monet, Edward Hopper and Toulouse-Lautrec. Up another floor and you’re in the realm of Rubens, Rembrandt, van Dyck, Constable, Renoir and Canaletto.
You get the picture – this is a gallery packed with works by timeless masters of the art world.
A sense of space
As enticing as the art in Madrid is, it would be remiss to visit this most kinetic of cities and not spend some time outside – especially when the Spanish sun is shining.
There are a number of squares where people gather to chat, people-watch or sip on a café con leche – Plaza Mayor chief among them. The square is surrounded by tight warrens of streets and lined with cafes as well as impressively stately architecture.
It’s somewhere to watch the world go by, but also a place of history that has witnessed bullfights, executions and the bloody outcome of the Spanish Inquisition. These days it’s more about celebration, complete with a Christmas market each December.
If you’re in need of some rest and relaxation, the city’s El Retiro park is the place to head. It’s overlooked by its fair share of fine buildings and monuments, but on weekdays it’s a place for quiet contemplation.
Enjoy the green spaces and tranquil lake next to the monument to 19th century monarch Alfonso XII. When you’re done wandering the rose garden or picnicking in sight of the Dante’s Inferno mural, hire a rowing boat and take a spin out on the water.
The festival spirit
It’s not like Madrid is ever restful or quiet, but it truly comes to life when there’s a festival going on – and, this being Spain, there’s often a festival going on. They vary in size and intensity, from Dos de Mayo – the 2nd of May, which is a public holiday – to Almudena on 9tn November, celebrating the female patron saint of Madrid.
There’s also the month-long Festival de Otono in October, various neighbourhood festivals during August and the biggest of them all, Fiestas de San Isidro, in May. Come to Madrid during festival season and you’ll be swept along in the atmosphere.
There’s much more to discover in this most generous of cities, which is why car hire at Madrid Airport is essential to see as much of it as possible, at your own pace.
