This month, we propose a tour of Madrid! A 4 km walk to explore the wonders of the Spanish capital. You don't need much: good walking shoes, a cap and a bottle of water. And off you go!
Retiro Park
We start our walk from this splendid park, created in 1630, where you will be attracted by the greenery and calm. Here you will find its famous pond where you can rent a little boat, or its beautiful Crystal Palace with exhibitions all year round. Fun fact: until 1767, access to this park was reserved exclusively for royalty.
Prado Promenade
Leaving the Retiro through the Puerta de Moyano and walking about 5 minutes, you will find the Paseo del Prado. This great tree-covered avenue holds unique treasures, starting with the Reina Sofia Museum, the contemporary art museum par excellence, which also has a modern extension that includes a beautiful library. Continuing on to the Royal Botanical Gardens, with over 5,000 species of plants and where at different times of the year they put on incredible light shows. Right next to the Botanical Gardens you can find the Prado Museum, one of the most outstanding museums in the world, with works by artists such as Velázquez, Goya and Bosch. And to finish the cultural tour, on the other side of the street, you can find the ThyssenBornemisza National Museum, which has both modern and classical works.
Puerta del Sol
About 10 minutes from the Paseo del Prado you can find the Puerta del Sol, famous for its statue of the bear and the strawberry tree, it is the kilometre zero of Spain, and also internationally known for being the place from where the New Year's Eve chimes have been broadcast since 1962.
Plaza Mayor
A short walk down Calle Mayor will take you to the Plaza Mayor, one of the most picturesque squares in Madrid, especially at Christmas time, when it is full of Christmas decorations. The ground floor of this square is full of tapas bars. In the centre of the Plaza Mayor stands the equestrian statue of Felipe III.
Royal Palace
It was the residence of the kings of Spain for two centuries, with 3,400 rooms, making it one of the largest palaces in Europe. Nowadays, this palace is only used for official acts, receptions and ceremonies, as the kings reside in the Zarzuela Palace.
Almudena Cathedral
Opposite the Royal Palace is the Almudena Cathedral. This cathedral owes its name to the Virgin of the Almudena, patron saint of Madrid, whose image it houses inside. It was here that the wedding of the current King Felipe de Borbón and Queen Leticia Ortiz took place.
Well done. You've just walked 10-15 kilometres - that means you've burned at least 500 Kcal and experienced tons of excitement
