Prado Museum
The Museo del Prado offers one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th Century through the early 19th Century. Apart from paintings and sculpture, it also contains important collections of drawings, prints, coins, medals and almost 2,000 decorative objects. There are famous masterpieces by such Spanish artists as Diego Velázquez and Francisco Goya, as well as Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Raphael, Titian, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, Veronese, Hans Baldung and Fra Angelico. The best-known works on display are Goya's La maja vestida and La maja desnuda, as well as Las Meninas by Velázquez. The museum was constructed during the reign of Charles III as part of a monumental urban space. Near Prado, there are two other national museums: the Museo Arqueológico, housing art from Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome, and the Museo Reina Sofía, with a collection of 20th-Century artwork. Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol, which means Sun Gate, is one of the most well-known and busiest places in Madrid. It lies in the centre of the radial network of Spanish roads known as Km 0. On the square, there’s also the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year. This tradition involves eating a grape for each bell strike on December 31 at midnight to ensure prosperity in the new year. Puerta del Sol was initially a city gate in the wall, encircling Madrid in the 1400s, decorated with a rising sun, from which derives its name. The gate was a popular meeting place until the 19th Century, when there was constructed the post office. Today it is the seat of the Madrid Community Presidency. Puerta's attractions are recognized by all Spanish, like a remarkable statue of King Charles III on the south side of the square.There is also a statue of a bear and a sculpture of a madrono tree, which is a symbol of Madrid. The square is bordered by Parliament, Palacio Real, Plaza Mayor and Atocha railway station. Palacio Real is the residence of the Spanish royal family, where take place many official ceremonies and events. Retiro Park
Called the Jardines del Buen Retiro, or Parque del Buen Retiro, it’s a large, popular park in the very centre of Madrid, not far from the Prado Museum. This beautiful "Park of the Pleasant Retreat" entirely surrounds the city. It was created at the site of a royal palace (Alcázar) built in 1632 under the reign of King Philip IV. During the Peninsular War, most of the building was destroyed, leaving the space open to the public. The few remains of the palace now house museum collections. Inside the park, you’ll see a superb artificial pond, Estanque del Retiro and next to it, the Monument of King Alfonso XII. The park also contains the Palacio de Cristal, a glass pavilion inspired by The Crystal Palace in London and designed by architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco. Don't miss the Fountain of the Falling Angel, which represents Lucifer falling from Heaven. In Retiro Park, there’s also the Forest of the Departed, a memorial monument to commemorate the 191 victims of the March 11th, 2004 Madrid attacks. There are also many artistic events and performances here, especially in the summertime. Almudena Cathedral
This beautiful cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena. Its construction began in the 16th Century and was finally completed in 1993. Although it was begun in the Gothic style, the cathedral eventually became a neo-Classical building, matching the grey-and-white façade of the Palacio Real, which stands directly opposite. Don't be surprised by its uniquely modern interior with Pop Art decorations. Nearby, you can walk along Calle Mayor, which is a site for excavations with the unearthed remains of Moorish and Medieval city walls.