Paris1972-Versailles2003

We are back to my dear Spain again !! love it !! We came by car of course and took time to see new areas and old repeat as could not be in Spain without stopping in my Madrid! I came again with my boys and dog Rex, and it was a thrill as usual! I like to tell you more of Madrid to heaven and a hole in the sky to look down on it everyday !!! Let me take you to the curiosities of Madrid, part II !!! . Sit back and enjoy with me the next several posts ; and hope you enjoy it as I,

The city of Madrid is the capital of the kingdom of Spain, and located in the Comunidad de Madrid region From my latest escapes it is 211 km from Valladolid City , 198 km from our rental house in Velliza, 183 km from Tordesillas, 172 km from Rueda, 159 km from Medina del Campo, 199 km from Simancas, We made long walks all over the City , and took the metro when necessary, three times. I love to tell you of our latest escape to the wonderful City, for the memories of always and return, eventually.

In 1836, when a group of romantic and progressive young people, tired of such political exaltation, decided to open a Casino de Madrid currently at Calle de Alcalá 15, This after several venues, all of them located throughout various premises in the center of Madrid. On was name the Casino del Príncipe because located at Calle del Principe, until he finally adopts the name of Casino de Madrid in 1910 and at the current location in Calle de Alcalá, At the end of the 20C it suffered a period of decay that was resolved with a rethinking in the management of the company: currently putting together the activity of the partners with private social activities that manages a concessionary society called great circle. Among the current services, it has a restaurant inside and was inaugurated in 1998, called the Casino terrace (holder of a Michelin star). The terrace has a kitchen that has an international renowned cuisine, offered by Ferran Adrià (acts as a gastronomic advisor), being its head of cooking in this new stage Paco Roncero. In the banquets and congresses the Bulli Cáterin attends with its service.

The official Casino of Madrid : https://www.casinodemadrid.es/casinoa/index.html

The Plaza de Españahas undergone a complete renovation project to make it more pedestrian friendly, For info, is is located in the Argüelles neighborhood, in the extreme southeast of the Moncloa-Aravaca district. In its center is a monumental fountain dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes. It acts as a continuation axis joining the Gran Vía with Calle de la Princesa.

The Madrid tourist office on the Plaza de España: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/new-plaza-espana

The Plaza de la Villa (formerly Plaza de San Salvador) is located in the historic Centro of Madrid, next to Calle Mayor. It has its origin in three small streets, corresponding to the primitive medieval layout of the city: the Calle del Codo appears on the east, the Calle del Cordon for the south and Calle de Madrid on the west. The houses here are : Casa y Torre de los Lujanes , These two buildings, built in Gothic-Mudejar style, are the oldest, among those of a civil character, which are currently preserved in the city Casa de Cisneros ,  It is a house-palace, built in Plateresque style in the year 1537, at the behest of Benito Jiménez de Cisneros, nephew of Cardinal Cisneros, from whom it takes its name Casa de la Villa  , occupies the old lands  of the houses of the Marquis de Vallecerrato, Don Juan de Acuña, president of the Councils of Treasury, Indies and Castilla successively, until his death in 1615, moment in which it is acquired by the Madrid’s City Council .

The Madrid tourist office on the House and Tower of the Lujanes : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/torre-y-casa-de-los-lujanes

The Madrid tourist office on the House of Cisneros : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/casa-de-cisneros

The Madrid tourist office on the Villa house : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/casa-de-la-villa

The Puerta del Sol is one of the most famous and lively squares in Madrid.  It was originally one of the gates to cross the wall that surrounded Madrid in the 15C. Its name comes from the fact that at the front of one of its buildings was once a sundial.  The Casa de Correos (post office) was built between 1766 and 1768 ,and today is the seat of the Presidency of the Community of Madrid. A plaque represents the zero kilometer point (Kilómetro cero) of the Spanish roads, and represents the symbolic center of the country, from distances are measure. The streets that are born in the Puerta del Sol are ten now. The rotation of them from Calle de Alcalá (clockwise) are: Calle de Alcalá,(mine) Carrera de San Jerónimo, Calle Espoz y Mina, Calle de las Carretas, Calle del Correo, Calle Mayor, Calle del Arenal, Calle de Preciados, Calle del Carmen and Calle de la Montera.

The Madrid tourist office on the Puerta de Sol : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/puerta-del-sol

A peek of wonderful architecture at least is the Four Seasons Hotel opened in September 2020. The 200-room hotel is one of the largest and most expensive hotel in Madrid’s history, It is located steps away from the Puerta del Sol on Calle Sevilla, The building was originally constructed from 1887 to 1891 as the headquarters of La Equitativa insurance company, and was known as the Palace of La Equitativa. From 1920 to 2004 was the headquarters of Banesto , a bank. The official Four Seasons Hotel (not stayed): https://www.fourseasons.com/madrid/

There you go folks , another wonderful nostalgic, sentimental trip to my dear Spain, Madrid is always nostalgic sentimental words cannot describe it ! This is a vibrant cosmopolitan cities of friendly faces and smiles to share in long conversations about life and more ; I love it, We will be back ,eventually!, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the curiosities of Madrid, part II !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!