A Day on the Paseo del Prado
Morning
Begin at
Plaza de Cibeles
and take a peek at the palatial central hall of the
Town Hall .
Plans to redirect traffic away from the Paseo del Prado have been
frustrated, but the central boulevard still makes a pleasant walk, with
plenty of shade in summer. Cross the road to Plaza de la Lealtad and the garden terrace of the Hotel Ritz – a delightful spot for coffee.
Continue past the Neo-Classical façade of the
Museo del Prado
and you’ll come to Plaza de Murillo and the Real Jardín Botánico. Allow at least an hour here to make the most of the verdant tranquillity.
On leaving the garden,
cross the Paseo del Prado and double back to Plaza Cánovas del Castillo
and Ventura Rodríguez’s splendid Neptune Fountain. The small side
streets here are crammed with plenty of tempting tapas bars and restaurants. You could try
La Platería
for a light lunch.
Afternoon
After lunch, take the small detour into Plaza de las Cortes, to admire the impressive portico of the
Congreso de los Diputados
. Return to the Paseo del Prado and on your left is the
Museo Thyssen Bornemisza
which will occupy the rest of the afternoon. Take the central boulevard to return to your starting point, Plaza de las Cibeles.
Best of the Rest
Puerta de Alcalá
This imposing gateway to the city was designed in 1769 by Francesco Sabatini.
Puerta de Alcalá
Real Fábrica de Tapices
The Royal Tapestry Factory was founded by Felipe V in the 18th century. Today’s artisans still use the original wooden looms.
Calle Fuenterrabía 2
Open 10am–2pm Mon–Fri
Closed Aug, public hols
Adm
Iglesia de San Jerónimo el Real
The Castilian parliament, the Cortes, met in this historic church in 1510.
Salón de Reinos
The Hall of Kingdoms was part of a 17th century palace and was named after the
shields of the Spanish monarchy’s 24 kingdoms that decorated the hall. It has now been acquired by the Museo del Prado.
Méndez Núñez 1
Closed until 2015
Museo Naval
Among the highlights here is a 16th century Flemish galleon and the first map of the New World.
Museo del Ferrocarril
Housed in a disused station, the railway museum has a wonderful collection of old steam locomotives on display.
Museo del Ferrocarril
Hotel Palace
The
Palace has been one of Madrid’s most luxurious hotels since opening its
doors in 1913. Wander in to gaze at the fantastic stained-glass ceiling
over the Rotunda .
Plaza de Murillo
The decorative centrepiece of this small square is the Apollo fountain, designed in 1781 by Ventura Rodríguez.
Observatório Astronómico
The National Observatory museum includes historic telescopes and other astronomical instruments.
Congreso de los Diputados
Admire the portico and Renaissance-style sculptures of the congress building on a guided tour.
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If you want to take a tour of the Congreso de los Diputados, take your passport with you as a form of ID.
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