Visiting the city of Madrid provides one with the opportunity to experience some of the best historic and cultural attractions in Spain, and indeed in Europe. Visited by almost three million people annually, the Prado museum is an art gallery and museum which is home to an absolutely stunning collection of art. The building was created in the 18th century at the request of King Charles the 3rd who wanted to use it as a National History Cabinet, although the decision was later made to use the facility as for its current purpose. The building is expansive and the design incorporates a large number of windows and statues which provide it with a distinct and unmistakable appearance. It took a few decades after completion for the museum and gallery to be opened to the public, but once it was in 1817 it proved to be an instant hit and its popularity has continued to grow ever since. Some examples of artists who have work on display here are El Greco, who is one of the most important figures from the Renaissance era, Romanesque and Gothic artists Fernando Gallego and Jaime Serra, Italian artists Tintoretto and Boticelli and Dutch artists Vermeer and ...

One of the busiest and most popular areas in Madrid is the Puerta del Sol district, largely due to the fact that it was one of the gates to the city in historic Madrid. It was an area where people would meet and much trade and entertainment would take place here. Modern Puerta del Sol is similar in this respect as there are plenty of bars and restaurants to keep one entertained. If you choose a holiday apartment in the Puerta del Sol area don't miss some of these typical Spanish restaurants! Abaceria de la Villa Address: 83 Castello, Madrid Although this restaurant has a traditional small town feel to it, it produces high quality food and only uses the best and freshest produce from the local markets. The specialities at this restaurant include game and wild mushroom dishes as well as low fat alternatives. Zalacain Address: 4 Calle Álvarez de Baena, Madrid This has long been regarded as one of the best restaurants in Madrid. It is the perfect location for a romantic meal in the city centre as it pays attention to every detail of the service. This Michelin Star Madrid restaurant serves top class Spanish dishes which are hard to match for ...

The city of Madrid, which is the capital city of Spain, has plenty to offer the tourist in terms of history, culture, entertainment and dining. There are, however, plenty of areas around Madrid which are also attractive to the tourist which often tempt people away from the city for a while. These areas area close enough for the tourist to visit for the day before returning to their accommodation in Madrid. Below are some of the best options in this respect. Segovia This is somewhat of a fairytale destination situated just a short distance from Madrid. The Roman Aqueduct in the city is still in magnificent condition and allows you to relive history and walk amongst it as people have been doing for thousands of years. Aside from this other attractions include the Alcazar castle in all of its glory and the Museo de Arte Contempraneo Esteban Vicente. Toledo The winding streets, city walls and remarkable gates, the city of Toledo has retained all of the medieval wonder which earned it the status of Spain’s capital city until the status was passed to Madrid. Some of the things to do in Toledo include taking in the city walls, visiting the museums, getting to ...