Madrid, Spain Luxury Hotels and Destination
Madrid, Spain
Madrid is a city that luxury hotel guests could spend weeks exploring and still find more to see and do at the end of each day. This is because Madrid is historic and culturally rich; from cuisine to architecture, nightlife to artistic wonders, Madrid is special. Luxury hotel guests love Madrid because it offers something for everyone; museums that are packed full of rare treasures; an active, booming nightlife; and a dining and shopping scene that range among the most elite in the world. Madrid attracts luxury hotel guests in droves, partly because of the elegance and opulence of the luxury hotels, and partly because Madrid is a must-see destination on a European itinerary. As the political, intellectual and cultural capital of Spain, Madrid hearkens to luxury hotel guests who want to see the heart of this beautiful country. The history of Madrid is dense and rich; luxury hotel guests who explore this history on their Madrid luxury hotel vacation will have enough sites to visit for a month long vacation. However, regardless of how long your Madrid luxury hotel vacation is, there are a few sights that every traveler to Madrid should see.
Hapsburg Madrid
Hapsburg Madrid, the oldest part of the city, is a small quarter of Madrid that was founded by the Austrian Hapsburgs in the 16th century. Today, this section of the city is a popular spot for luxury hotel guests and other tourists. The centerpiece of Hapsburg Madrid is the Plaza Mayor, which features elegant architecture, which luxury hotel guests will appreciate, cafes, and even live flamenco performances. The other major centerpiece in this quarter of the city is the Catedral de San Isidro. Luxury hotel guests will appreciate the elegant Jesuit Baroque style of architecture. Also in Hapsburg Madrid is the Encarnacion Monastery. This monastery offers guided tours in Spanish only, but luxury hotel guests will be awed by the frescoed ceiling and the Relics room, which includes a variety of relics of saints. The highlight of this collection is the blood of Saint Pantaleon, which is kept in a glass orb and said to liquefy on July 26th, the eve of his feast day. Luxury hotel guests will find that these types of mysteries abound on the historic streets of old Madrid.
Bourbon Madrid
The most popular quarter of Madrid to visit on a luxury hotel vacation is Bourbon Madrid, which was constructed in the 18th century and contains a beautiful and architecturally interesting assortment of parks, palaces and churches. The highlight of this quarter is the Palacio Real. The changing of the guard is a great time to plan your visit to this site on your luxury hotel vacation; the costumes and pageantry of the event are impressive. The Palacio Real is still the central palace for the Spanish royal family, and the impressive nature of this palace is evident in its towering form. Luxury hotel guests might enjoy arranging a private tour that includes a visit to the Throne Room, which contains the two Spanish thrones and a ceiling fresco. More rooms to tour in the Palacio Royal are the Salon de Gasparini, which houses a Goya portrait and the Chinese Room, which is considered the most beautiful room inside the palace. These rooms and more are open to the public, so for those luxury hotel guests who do not arrange private tours, it is advisable to arrive early to avoid lines. Not too far from the Palacio Real in Bourbon Madrid is the Catedral De Nuestra Senora de la Almudena, which is perhaps the most controversial church in Madrid: its close-to art-deco architectural style differs from the traditional Madrid church style. Madrid luxury hotel guests will want to make sure to tour the white crypt underneath the church.
Madrid Parks
Like most large European cities, Madrid has several parks that invite luxury hotel guests to stroll through and enjoy. The first is Campo del Moro, which is on the west side of the Palacio Real, and is a perfect place for luxury hotel guests to enjoy the warm sun on a perfect Madrid day. A large park that somehow still remains quiet, Campo del Moro includes trails that lead through densely formed groves of trees and private gardens with benches and small lakes. Madrid luxury hotel guests might also bring a bottle of wine and some delectable cheese to enjoy this park in true Spanish style. Another popular park to visit on a Madrid luxury hotel vacation is the Parque del Buen Retiro, which is lively and thronged with vendors, palm-readers and sunbathers. This park is filled with locals and tourists alike, and is a must see on a Madrid luxury hotel vacation. The lake the park centers around is called the Estanque Grande, and the pathway around it features mimes and other street performers. Luxury hotel guests might find this park a little crowded, but it is a great way to soak in the local fun culture of Madrid.
Madrid Museums
Luxury hotel guests, with their erudite sense of art and culture, will find that, in Madrid, the museums are world class. Luxury hotel guests can get lost in the rich artistic and historic offerings of Madrid. The Museo del Prado is the most prestigious art museum in Madrid: specializing in 12th to 17th century Spanish art, luxury hotel guests will find paintings by Velazquez, Goya, and El Greco. One painting not to miss is Las Meninas, by Velazquez, which is considered the best painting ever made. Another Madrid museum that luxury hotel guests will enjoy is the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, which is a renovated hospital turned national museum: the focus of this museum is 20th century art, which includes works by Dali and the most famous Picasso painting, Guernica. Among many other museums, a last art museum that luxury hotel guests should see in Madrid is the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, which has a range of mediums and centuries. The Old Masters collection is the highlight at this Madrid museum: Caravaggio and Ribera line the walls of this elegant space. Luxury hotel guests will find themselves surrounded by the most exquisite and most important works of art in history when they discover the Madrid art museums. Luxury hotel guests can find all three of these Madrid museums on the famous Avenida del Arte.
Madrid Entertainment
The nightlife in Madrid is legendary, and luxury hotel guests who want to venture out into the scene will find that the streets of Madrid are as busy at 2 A.M. as they are at 5 P.M. There are many bars and clubs available in Madrid; the more upscale wine bars are plentiful, as well. Bullfighting is another popular Madrid entertainment option; for luxury hotel guests who are interested in this controversial sport, the Plaza de las Ventas is the most important bullfighting arena in the world. For luxury hotel guests who love shopping, Madrid has a wealth of options for every taste. The El Rastro flea market is popular with tourists and locals, and a great place to find that extraordinary or unique souvenir: everything from zebra rugs to handmade jewelry dot the main stands. Gran Via is one of the most important shopping areas in Madrid: this lively street is worth a visit by luxury hotel guests even if shopping is not on the itinerary. As the main thoroughfare in Madrid, Gran Via is a great place for luxury hotel guests to find a variety of entertainment options, from movie theaters to chocolate shops. For the most upscale of shopping, then luxury hotel guests should head to the fashionable Salamanca district, specifically Calle Serrano and the Ortega y Gasset district. Here, luxury hotel guests will find labels like Armani and Gucci, as well as Spanish designers. This beautiful, quiet part of the city will make luxury hotel guests feel right at home.
Madrid has been a vacation destination for luxury hotel guests for centuries: this vibrant, historically important city offers something for every taste. Madrid luxury hotels are elegant and special; service is prompt and personalized, and the whole city of Madrid is at your fingertips. Madrid it the kind of city that gets into your blood and never leaves your heart.
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