Being the capital city of Spain, Madrid is a great display of magnificent historical buildings, palaces and cathedrals. A glorious historical background which perfectly co-exists with stunning contemporary architecture and lifestyle which converts Madrid into one of the most vibrant cities in Spain.
However, despite being a very modern city, Madrid has preserved the essence of the past very well. So, it stands out as one of the best places to uncover traditions: lovely centenary shops, artisans’ workshops, old streets which keep the flavors of the ancient times….
Madrid has wonderful artistic heritage. It is an artistic city with lots of galleries and vast museums such as National Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum or Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum . If you are an art lover, it is definitely a place to put on your bucket list.
And if there is a reason why Madrid stands out, it is because of its vast and gorgeous culinary scene, ranging from the most traditional taverns and oldest restaurants to the most trendy bistros and funky cafes…giving a special mention to its local markets and Michelin-Star restaurants and chefs.
Just one hour from Madrid, Toledo and Segovia, both UNESCO World Heritage cities, are the perfect city escape for a day trip.
We love describing Toledo as an open-air museum. There are two main reasons for its vast and rich heritage: it was the capital city of Spain before Madrid and the other reason is that Moors, Christians and Jews peacefully cohabited in this city for over 500 years and they all left their own architectural, cultural and historical legacy. This is why this beautiful town located on a hill surrounded by the river Tajo is known as the city of the three cultures.
Here, apart from learning about history and admiring its architecture, you will also be able to learn about Damascene Art and visit swords and knives’ artisan workshops, get a dose of adrenaline by riding the longest urban zip-line in Europe…
Segovia is home to two of the most beautiful sites in Spain. They are totally different architectural works, built in different periods and with different purposes…but probably this contrast makes this city so appealing.
One of the sites is the Roman aqueduct… one of the largest Roman aqueduct´s in the world; there are not enough words to describe this beautiful and impressive piece of architectural civil work.
The other is the romantic Alcázar (Palace)…It looks like a fairy tale castle. Indeed, it is said to have inspired Disney’s Cinderella Castle.
And of course, no one could leave Segovia without tasting its traditional roasted suckling pig…By the way, along with wine, it is also the legacy of the Roman invasion into the Iberian Peninsula!