MAJESTIC MADRID
Wish you were here
Royal Spanish city
Sandip Hor is enthralled by Madrid’s bullfighting, flamenco and football
Once a muddy mediocre village, Madrid has evolved as a royal city since it became the capital of the Spanish empire in 1561. Today, it’s not only the nation’s political hub but also the epicentre of art, commerce and culture, with countless royal emblems such as statues of former monarchs, monuments, fountains, gates and noble houses dotting the cityscape.
Spain is synonymous with bullfighting, flamenco and football, and Madrid is home to all of them.
While bullfighting is considered cruel by many, it continues with gusto in Madrid at the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, which is the world’s largest bullring. For almost a century, highly trained professionals (called toreros and matadors) have been fighting here with maddened bulls.
Flamenco is a high-energy music and dance form. Though its jumbled roots sprout from the Andalusia region in southern Spain, Madrid unquestionably steals the show. An evening at any of the city’s tablaos (special flamenco clubs) makes for a truly memorable experience.
The most famous venue is Villa Rosa, which boasts the footprints of many celebrities such as author Ernest Hemingway and actress Ava Gardner.
Madrid is also a football crazy city and home to Real Madrid, one of the world’s most famous soccer clubs. Real Madrid is headquartered at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and is a site of pilgrimage for the city’s football fans. Guided tours are available to provide many examples that help justify the obsession of the city and its people with the game.
WHERE TO STAY As a world city, there’s no shortage of accommodation to suit tastes and budgets. Hotel NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding is popular with international visitors.
WHAT TO EAT The most famous dishes are cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig); a chickpea based stew called cocido madrilène; and paella, a rice dish cooked with seafood and meat.
They are best served at Casa Botin and Los Galayos, which are two of the city’s century old restaurants.
WHERE TO GO The ebullient Puerta del Sol is the city’s physical nerve centre. All distances in Spain are measured from this point.
Plaza Mayor is where the city’s heart has been beating since the 15th century. Surrounded by old buildings with ornamented balconies, it’s a portico lined paved space with nine arched entrances.
The equestrian statue of 17th century monarch Philip III is one of the most valuable works of art to be found on the streets of Madrid. Most visitors begin their itineraries from this plaza after obtaining all the necessary information and a city map from the Madrid Tourism Centre, which is located in the historic Casa de la Panaderia building.
Located within walking distance from Plaza Mayor is the Palacio Real de Madrid, a lavish 3,000 room regal residence built in 1755 on the site of a medical citadel that was reduced to ashes following a devastating fire.
Madrid is also a football crazy city and home to Real Madrid, one of the world’s most famous soccer clubs
The present King of Spain Felipe VI doesn’t live here but the venue is regularly used for royal events and state functions. A part of the palace is open to the public and provides a great opportunity to savour a taste of Spain’s royal lifestyle.
A visit to Madrid is incomplete without browsing the generous art collection of the 16th and 17th century Spanish royals that’s displayed at the Museo Nacional del Prado. The 197 year old institution is one of world’s premier art galleries – it exhibits the works of several celebrated European artists such as Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt and Rubens.
However, what specially lures art aficionados are the works of Goya, Velázquez and El Greco – three prodigious sons of Spain who were regularly commissioned by the royals to create art that stuns modern generations to this day.
