Historical Madrid... modern Madrid... green Madrid...

¡Es Madrid!

FRIDAY 10th NOVEMBER

Landing in the new terminal T4 in Madrid Barajas Airport

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1829/1hb6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9669/4ag3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/9940/5sa2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/6629/7mq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Teatros del Canal, by Juan Navarro Baldeweg (under construction)

The metro stop

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6759/14en7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The building

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/3425/12ir9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/4557/15ei1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Walking in the center (night was coming...) It's a pity that my night pictures are not good...

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2218/16cn1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Gran Vía

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5139/18dc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Casino

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8161/19tz0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Lights

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/97/20gi8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

More buildings

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/8995/22bc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/5301/23az0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8826/27xu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Plaza Mayor (main square)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2048/28gp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8145/30jb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Again Gran Vía (amazing view)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/3843/36sr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


SATURDAY 11th NOVEMBER

KIO Towers (Puerta de Europa Towers)

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/1272/38kg5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/6704/40gv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/3162/91ak6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/9933/93ih2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/6752/94tg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Atocha Train Station

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4646/101pl0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4945/102bu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/8545/106hc2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Reina Sofia Museum

The ancient building

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/6577/143qu6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The new extension (by Jean Nouvel)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/747/112tr9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4173/117wv3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/9343/119nd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/2250/126hh6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/2844/130nr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1456/132hr2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Caixa Forum, by Herzog & De Meuron (under construction)

The building

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/6048/145gu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The vertical garden

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/8615/147ov5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Paseo del Prado

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/2599/148ik3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Prado Museum

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/3236/149zw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/4008/150fo6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7089/151fa0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Ritz Hotel

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/6043/152vg1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

Ancient building and extension

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/614/154qu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Garden

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4931/158vx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Plaza de Cibeles (Cibeles Square)

You can see the beautiful Metropolis Building

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/4930/160ko3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Palacio de las Comunicaciones (post office, future town hall) with Cibeles fountain in the center of the square

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/199/161zl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Bank of Spain

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3513/164ml1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Arriving to Gran Vía

Metropolis Building

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/6329/168px6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

and Gran Via starts...

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/2301/172ue0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/6803/173jh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/4895/175fn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1730/176dd9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5929/177hz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/775/178dm5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Puerta del Sol

The main building

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/4349/183sc3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The square

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/6526/181xh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Madrid of the Austrias

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/9044/184wk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8433/185kq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Plaza Mayor (now with the daylight)

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/5748/186qz0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6431/187ke2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Streets

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/2443/188at7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/3572/189tv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Arco de Cuchilleros

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/2812/190ii2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Plaza de la Villa (with the current town hall)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3689/194vw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Arriving to Almudena Cathedral, Royal Palace and Plaza de Oriente

Almudena Cathedral

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/4755/197ix8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

...this view was amazing

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/349/198ph0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

façade

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9666/202on9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Plaza de Oriente

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/179/205vq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9928/209aj6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Royal Palace

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/132/200ye6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5867/206jm0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3629/208tc8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

While having a coffee in the beautiful terraces of Plaza de Oriente night started to arrive...

Royal Theatre in Plaza de Oriente (in front of the Royal Palace)

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/4259/210ec3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Royal Palace

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/3148/211xa9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

...this view is amazing, the bright white Royal Palace in a higher level and gardens, green and nature spreading beyond the palace...

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8762/213nq0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/7703/215ce2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER

The rastro (market) in La Latina district (a must on sunday mornings to buy cheap things, feel the colourful La Latina, feel the people and eat tapas!!!)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5629/219bq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2774/219anq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6924/221yf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1623/222abs4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/6606/235iu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Going to the great Retiro Park

Ancient metro station

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5199/240ye9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Retiro Park it was full of people

The big lake

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/51/242sf0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

a fountain

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/369/245sb0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the "jungle"

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3531/246gy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the Palacio de Cristal (Glass Palace)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/6685/247oc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9426/256cu8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1727/254mu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

colours

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/7320/252rp4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/9397/251zt2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/5769/259tj1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

and night started to come again...

Walking to Puerta de Alcala

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/518/261se8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/6928/265zk4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Puerta de Alcala

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/4329/266fc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You can see the bright Metropolis Building at night

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/2252/269fn6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/9471/271ds4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I had tickets to go to Circo del Sol (Cirque du Soleil), taking the metro

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/262/273rb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Changing to Line 7 with its beautiful and modern metro trains

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/9568/274du4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3186/275it2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/3628/276dq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cirque du Soleil

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/7818/277ag5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


MONDAY 13th NOVEMBER

Botanic Garden

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8784/280cxz0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8228/280c1wh4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/4482/280c2um4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Velazquez Statue in the Prado Museum

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/972/281jq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6245/283lr9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Surrounding the Prado Museum

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7705/285we6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/5871/286as4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/905/287az3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9961/288zv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1829/296cp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4316/289ai4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Prado Museum Extension, by Rafael Moneo (under construction)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1057/293ay1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Neptuno fountain

The fountain

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/5726/297rv6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The surroundings

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2590/298xu7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8344/299qx0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1193/304jh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

View

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4097/300jv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Paseo de Recoletos (continuation of Paseo del Prado)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7818/305bs3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6924/306vt2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9428/307wl9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The National Library

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/6250/308gy1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Arriving to Plaza de Colón (Columbus square)

Columbus statue

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/3691/311jm6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Colon Towers

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9097/312pd7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Italian embassy

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3346/314ug5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Preciados street (main comercial street along with Serrano street)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7159/318pm7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Two beautiful streets

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8582/319sr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6523/320ac6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I wanted to stay longer but I had to take my flight at 11:00 pm!!!

Arriving...

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/1177/321vq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looking for my check in point...

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/4987/325jg4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here it is!!!

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/907/326oz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

My gate was K85...

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8190/328pb1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looking for the blue color... 1200 meters long of gates!!! one side...

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/8007/329hj2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

... the other side... can you see the blue at the end???

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1039/330pe9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here it is!!!

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/5691/333rr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


¡Es Madrid!

Nice collections - well done !

That was AMAZING!

Great pics! Madrid is such an interesting city full of vibrant culture, colour and great architecture!

I think your pictures made Madrid one of my top 10 cities! Great work!

I love how Madrid has excellent old buildings and excellent modern buildings.

How much of Medieval Madrid remains? It looks like a lot. Very cool.

^^ Depends on what you mean by Medieval. Madrid's oldest districts date from the 16th century, when most historians consider the Medieval period over. :dunno:

What I like more about these pictures is that you get the authentic sense of Spanish architecture, whereas many European cities simply jazzed up Parisian-inspired copies. While beautiful, woefully lacking in orignality.

The colored buildings, with decorative moldings, with the tile roofs. You can tell you are Spain.

it's so beautiful.thanks for hard work

Stunning city! Thanks for your photo tour

^^ Depends on what you mean by Medieval. Madrid's oldest districts date from the 16th century, when most historians consider the Medieval period over..


:ohno: Madrid's oldest districts date from the 10th century

:bow: :drool:
Spectacular. I think that a photo of azca not this one badly probably this one serves:
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1856/azcale5.jpg

I can't wait to get to Madrid and Barcelona this summer... and these photos just make me all the more excited! :)

very interesting photos. . they need the windsor

Madrid is the best city ive been to!

A mistake, sorry. My pix are in a new thread (they were too many).

fantastic photos, I MISS MADRID!

I love how Madrid has excellent old buildings and excellent modern buildings.

How much of Medieval Madrid remains? It looks like a lot. Very cool.
No Medieval remains in Madrid. The city was founded in 1562.
;)
It is a modern and nice city.
:wink2:

bitxo Madrid wasn't founded in 1562 :| that's when it became capital of Spain

from wikipedia:

the first historical data on the city comes from the 9th century, when Muhammad I ordered the construction of a small palace in the same place that is today occupied by the Palacio Real. Around this palace a small citadel, al-Mudaina, was built. Near that palace was the Manzanares, which the Muslims called al-Majrī. From this came the naming of the site as Majerit, which was later rendered to the modern-day spelling of Madrid. The citadel was conquered in 1085 by Alfonso VI of Castile

No Medieval remains in Madrid. The city was founded in 1562.
;)
It is a modern and nice city.
:wink2:

Actually it was founded in the 9th century by the arabs. In 1561 became the capital of the kingdom of Spain, but the town already had in that time more than 10,000 inhabitants, so we can say it was a quite big city. There're some medieval remains, like this house, in front of the former (or still current, I don't know) city hall, the Casa de los Lujanes, from the 15th century. Perhaps there's some church even older, I'm not sure.

http://www.aviewoncities.com/img/madrid/kvesp0798s.jpg

Gran Via is so beautiful :eek: :eek:

Thank you very much for the pics UNRAVEL!

No Medieval remains in Madrid. The city was founded in 1562.
;)
It is a modern and nice city.
:wink2:

I'm afraid that's simply wrong. Madrid was founded at some point during the 9th century. Unfortunately, only few ruins remain from that years, the oldest standing buildings in Madrid dating from the 12th century, as you can check in this thread: Your city's oldest buildings (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=404701)

I guess your mistake has something to do with the fact that Madrid became the Spanish capital in the year you mention although by that time the city was 7 centuries old already.

:ohno: Madrid's oldest districts date from the 10th century
Districts suggest entire neighborhoods. I know that there are some old churches/other buildings scattered throughout the city but I was under the impression that "Austrias" was the oldest barrio of the city.

Districts suggest entire neighborhoods. I know that there are some old churches/other buildings scattered throughout the city but I was under the impression that "Austrias" was the oldest barrio of the city.

You are right, there are no entire districts left from that period. The oldest areas of the city where you can find complete quarters are perhaps from the 15th-16th centuries.

MADRID one of the most beautifull cities in the world! I was there during the summer and I really enjoyed

MADRID one of the most beautifull cities in the world! I was there during the summer and I really enjoyed

Hey, Madrid can be roasting during the summer... My advice is to visit the city either in spring or fall. It's great that you enjoyed it, though! ;)

a very pretty city….thanks for the photographies