Madrid
Madrid
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Did You Know?
Like Piccadilly Circus in London or Times Square in New York, Madrid has its own heartbeat: the Puerta del Sol. This is the focus of the old city, which is bordered by the Palacio Real to the west and the Paseo del Prado to the east. On or near this leafy boulevard are the city's three world-famous museums of art.
The northern boundary of the old quarter is the 100-year-old Gran Vía, while around the southern perimeter a loop of broad roads joins the Puerta de Toledo and the Glorieta de los Embajadores. Within this relatively small area are narrow, medieval streets and alleyways, massive churches and a host of bars and restaurants.Madrid's lungs are to the east and west. Beyond the Prado is the Parque del Retiro with its formal paths and gardens; beyond the Palacio Real is the Casa de Campo, a vast park with a lake and recreation area. North of the Gran Vía is another network of old streets, including the Chueca district. Usually labelled as Madrid's gay area, this is open to all and has many trendy restaurants. To the northeast, the Salamanca district is Madrid at its most affluent, with expensive apartments and elegant shops overlooking tree-lined streets.
With few skyscrapers, Madrid does not overwhelm the visitor, and as the renovation of old buildings continues, the capital is looking better than ever. It is a compact city, so whether you walk or take the Metro, you can see and do a lot in a relatively short time.
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