Guide: all countries » Spain » Madrid » Architecture

Excursion tour in Madrid. Top architecture - monuments, castles, temples and palaces

«« BEGINNING - PART I

Video of flights over top monuments of Madrid in HD format.
Use 'Full Screen' mode.
In this article, dedicated to the architecture of Madrid, we will 'fly' over such iconic historical monuments as Palacio de Cibeles, Almudena Cathedral, Museum of Natural Sciences, and Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. In addition to the virtual flight video, we offer the most important and interesting facts about every landmark, including high-quality photographs. You can also use this article to make your own excursion tour in Madrid. Simply use the icon to locate the object of interest on the map of Madrid.

Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Palacio de Cibeles was originally designed as the central office of the telephone service, post and telegraph of Spain.
» The post office was built in 1918 and was called the Palace of Communication.
» Palace of Communication now houses the City Hall.
» This monumental building, decorating the area, represents one of the four pillars of modern civilization, power.
» Palacio de Cibeles consists of two buildings integrated with each other.
»  This construction is one of the first examples of modernist architecture.

Almudena Cathedral, Madrid

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Almudena Cathedral is decorated with the statue of the Holy Virgin of Almudena, which is also called the statue of the Blessed Virgin, who is the patron saint of Spanish capital.
» According to the legend, the figure of the Virgin Mary was found here in the wall of an ancient Arab fortress, and the Cathedral was built at that site. Almudena is translated from Arab as ‘the fortress’.
» The main altar of the Cathedral of Granada is made of green marble.
» According to the legend, the statue of the Blessed Virgin Almudena was brought to Spain by the apostle James, who preached the Christian faith in the Pyrenees in the 1st century.
» The casket containing the remains of St. Isidro is kept in a duct under the altar.

Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Museum of Natural Science features an important and unique collection of scientific specimens of nature. The venue actively develops the program of exhibitions and educational activities to all visitors.
» The museum is considered one of the largest centers in the whole Mediterranean region and has a collection of 6 million exhibits.
» In 1815 the museum was renamed and became known as the Royal Museum of Natural Sciences.
» Royal Cabinet of Natural Sciences was established during the reign of Carlos III, when the Spanish merchant Pedro Franco Dávila agreed to sell his collection of antiquities to the Spanish king.
» During the Spanish Civil War, the museum was badly damaged in Madrid bombings and was closed for restoration.

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Santiago Barnabeu is the home stadium of Real Madrid.
» Santiago Bernabeu Stadium can accommodate more than 80 million viewers.
» The Stadium is named in honor of the President of the Royal football club Real Madrid and one of its founders, Don Santiago Bernabéu Yeste.
» The stadium was built in 1947 on the site of the former home arena of FC Real Madrid, the Stadium Chamartin.
»  Santiago Bernabeu is the third largest stadium in Europe.

Puerta de Alcala, Madrid

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Puerta de Alcala is one of the main symbols of Madrid, the hallmark of the city.
» Puerta de Alcala was built in the end of the 16th century as a gift to Princess Margaret of Austria.
» After his coronation, Charles III traveled with a large retinue through the Puerta de Alcala and he didn’t like the gate.
» In 1823, Alcala gate were fired by cannon shrapnel. Traces of shrapnel can be seen these days.
» In 1921, at the gate of Alcala anarchists have murdered President of the Council of Ministers, Eduardo Dato Iradier.
»  The Gates is adorned with the head of a lion, a cornucopia and the Greco-Roman deities of rumors and devotion to people. The gate itself is made of granite blocks.

Pantheon of Illustrious Men, Madrid

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Pantheon of the Illustrious Men was conceived in 1837; the main goal was to create the National Pantheon to house the remains of the great Spanish for at least 50 years after their death.
» Currently, the tomb monument designed for the burial of famous people stands in the gallery of the Basilica.
» For some time, there have also been the remains of Prima, Palafox and Castaignos, but in the end they were moved to their places of origin.
» Gravestones are works of art, made by famous sculptors like Mariano Benlliure, Agustin Querol, Arturo Melida, Pedro Estany and Federico Aparisi.
» This Basilica, built on the site of the former Dominican convent of the 16th century, houses the Roman image of the Virgin Mary.
Madrid - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Plan your own tour over Madrid on the monuments map

More to see in Madrid
The capital of Spain has prepared a lot of pleasant surprises for fans of fascinating excursions. In the city you will find widest selection of historical and architectural sites. Don’t forget to pay attention to the beautiful Royal Palace (Palacio Real), the construction of which was completed in 1734. Until 1931 the palace was the main royal residence. Even nowadays the halls of the palace hold important events and political meetings. A large part of the premises is open to visitors, so tourists can stroll through beautiful rooms and look at this amazing example of luxury. Art lovers should not forget to visit Museo Lazaro Galdiano, in 37 rooms of which are exhibited collections of priceless sculptures, paintings, folk costumes and weapons. The museum is located in a beautiful mansion of the 19th century, which itself is an object of a great value. Among the famous architectural buildings of Madrid we should definitely distinguish Goya Pantheon (Panteon de Goya). The great artist directly participated in the decoration of the dome of the chapel. There are also frescoes in the church. The frescoes depict the scenes from Goya's stories about St. Anthony. The chapel is the tomb of the world famous painter. Parque del Retiro is simply the best place for hiking and outdoor recreation. The park is located in the heart of the city and covers an area of 140 hectares. Several centuries ago Philip IV liked having rest in this beautiful garden. It is also worth making a walk … Read further

Tours through neighbours of Madrid

San Sebastian
To build a summer cottage, the members of the Spanish royal family purchased the land at the coast of the bay. The residence was finished in 1893. The three-storey palace is located in the upper city. Servants lived on the upper floors. The basement was used for household needs. It is just a few meters from the beach. To link Antiguo with the other district of the city, the tunnel for vehicles was specifically built. The tunnel is dug ... Open »
Sevilla
The Seville Cathedral is currently the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe. The Cathedral was built in 1401 - 1519. The length of the cathedral is about 116 meters, and the width is 76 m. The height of the cathedral is 42 meters, and the height of the bell tower is 105 meters. The cathedral is notable for its numerous relics and treasures including paintings by Murillo, Velazquez, Zurbaran and Goya in the Cathedral Bell Tower. The temple is ... Open »
Porto
The Porto Cathedral is the oldest and most revered in the city. It started to be built in 1110. An urban settlement was gradually growing around it. For centuries, a lot of interesting events took place at the cathedral. In 1387, King John I and English Princess Philippa of Lancaster got married. The son of John I, Henry, was baptized here. He was called “a sailor”, although he never took part in expeditions but organized such ... Open »
Lisbon
The National Pantheon is one of the most impressive sights of Lisbon. This building was called the National Pantheon only in 1966, during the reign of dictator Antonio De Oliveira Salazar; previously it was the St. Engrasia Church. The church was built in the 12th century in Portuguese Baroque style. Interior of the construction complements the exterior. The floor and walls of the building are decorated with colored marble patterns, and the ... Open »
Barcelona
Museu Nacional d Art de Catalunya was created by merger of the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Art of Catalonia. The Romanesque Collection of the museum is considered one of the most complete in the world. It was formed on the basis of the unique Romanesque frescoes department; they are exposed at an appropriate architectural background. That’s the largest museum of Catalonia and the most important center of Spanish ... Open »
Secure Connection
Main Office
Weegschaalstraat 3, Eindhoven
5632 CW, The Netherlands
+31 40 40 150 44


Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About us
Copyright © 2002 - OrangeSmile Tours B.V. | Incorporated by IVRA Holding B.V. - Registered in The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel KvK, The Netherlands) No. 17237018