After the last few months that have passed us by, and with all the love for our amazing country, sometimes you need to take a moment off, get on a plane, drink some wine and see new landscapes to fill your soul and batteries, and come back to fight for the homeland strengthened and refreshed.
A great destination for the mission is the city of Madrid. This is a nearby destination, with delicious food and varied entertainment options. So great, that it is on the list of popular destinations among Israelis in the summer, so much so that Air Europe decided to increase the number of weekly flights on the Tel Aviv-Madrid route from five to seven.
The capital of Spain offers plenty of historical sites, museums, restaurants and bars and of course shopping, which will help you create the perfect vacation. With its stunning architecture and vibrant atmosphere that is felt everywhere, it has something to enchant every type of traveler. So that you don't get lost (although sometimes it's really fun) in everything the city has to offer, we've prepared a list of the things that simply must not be missed.
The streets
Let's start with one of the most famous streets in Madrid, "Garren Via Street", which is built in the form of a pedestrian street. The long street will offer you restaurants, clothing and souvenir shops and dozens of bars. You can wander for hours along it, enter the shops, stop for a cold wine or vermouth and enjoy the atmosphere.
Of course, it is impossible to travel in Madrid without stopping at least once in the Plaza Mayor, the city's large central square. The huge square is an important point from which many alleys and streets lead to bakeries, restaurants and small bars. In the square you can admire its beautiful architecture and fascinating history. It was designed in 1619 by Juan Gómez de Mora and over the years major events took place there, from bullfights, through royal weddings to executions. In 1790 a fire destroyed the square, but it was rebuilt under the supervision of Juan de Villanueva, the famous architect. The square is surrounded by buildings with iron balconies and murals. Today, it hosts festivals, exhibitions and the city's Christmas market, and it has an abundance of fine cuisine.
Another important square, which is the beating heart of Madrid, is Puerta del Sol. The square is designed in the shape of a semicircle, and it is a junction for the most historic and kicking streets of the city. Originally the square was used as one of the city's gates. In the square you can see the famous clock that all eyes turn to on the last day of December. For over a century there has been a nice tradition where people from all over Spain come here to start the year by eating 12 lucky grapes while the clock chimes 12 times. In the center of the square, on the sidewalk, you will find a plaque marking the zero kilometer of Spain, the starting point of all the main roads in the country.
A few steps away from the square, between Alcalá and Sevilla streets, is Galería Canalejas - an exclusive shopping center with more than 40 fashion boutiques of luxury brands such as Hermès, Cartier and Rolex. The center is inside a magnificent building that was used by some of the country's leading banks, and you can still see two heavy-duty safes in it. Inside there is also a food court with fancy restaurants and bars, and one of the perfect paella dishes you will taste.
Culture and royalty
The most famous park in Madrid is El Parque del Buen Retiro, which most people usually shorten its name to "Retiro". What was once a royal entertainment venue and destination for plays and concerts is now famous for its wide walkways, glittering palace, stone fountains and a (man-made) lake where rowing boats can be rented. It's a great place to stop for a picnic and enjoy the peace.
During the summer, free concerts and exhibitions of artists from all over the world are held in the park. Throughout the year, exhibitions are presented courtesy of the Reina Sofia Art Gallery in two spaces in the park.
And if we're talking about art, the Thyssen Museum is one of the three points that make up Madrid's golden art triangle, along with the Prado Museum - the largest in Spain - which mainly has classical paintings from the royal palaces; and Reina Sofia - where you will find the largest collections of Picasso and Dali.
The Thyssen Museum contains the art collection of Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, along with almost a thousand paintings by famous artists, such as Dali, Rembrandt, Degas, Van Gogh and others. It spans two floors, and is divided into several styles. Thiessen allows art lovers to see classic works alongside works depicting the history of Spain.
If you're more of a palace person than a museum person, there are two destinations you shouldn't miss. The Royal Palace of Madrid, the official home of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. It is in the center of the city, and even if you don't enter it - it is a building that cannot help but be impressed by it. The palace has a history that begins in the Middle Ages. In those days it was built as a fortress, but since then it has changed its purpose; Some of its wings have been expanded, and it is currently used both as the home of the Spanish royal family and as an open museum.
If you like to feel like royalty, and the visit to the palace in Madrid wasn't enough for you, about 40 kilometers from the city is the Aranjuez Royal Palace, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The palace is surrounded by well-kept gardens and the Taj rivers flow next to it. and Jarama. The palace served as a residence for the Spanish kings and queens, and is now open to visitors by car or train from central Madrid. The construction of the palace, along with its adjacent monuments, began during the reign of Philip II and was completed by Charles III of Spain, resulting in You can see a wide variety of styles. In the front of the palace you can see statues of the three kings who took part in its construction. Inside the palace there are different rooms that were used for entertainment or as a private space. Each of them is decorated in a different color, and in each of them there are many works of art. You can walk in the palace independently and get an impression of the personal taste of each member of the royal family, and then you can go on a tour of the nearby gardens.
A bit of cooking
Mercado de San Miguel is the food market that every culinary lover must be at. The market was opened way back in 1916, as a local food market. About 15 years ago, the market, located near the Plaza Mayor, became Madrid's first gourmet market. A few years ago, several famous chefs joined the celebration, which increased its value even more. The market is located in the heart of the area known as "Madrid de los Austrias" (El Madrid de los Austrias). In the market you can taste tapas, fresh fish and seafood, Spanish gourmet cheeses, meat, desserts and more. Also, at almost every stand you can sip chilled sangria.
Of course, you can't be in Madrid without visiting at least one cocktail bar, and if we have to choose one, it will definitely be "Salmon Guru". A designed bar and crazy drinks that will turn on any alcohol lover. Next to the central space of the bar, where you can find seating areas and a communal bar, there is a small, eye-catching aquarium-like room. The bar has an extensive cocktail menu with dozens of options for special cocktails, from sweet cocktails to spicy cocktails. Fans of Mexican cuisine can even find a cocktail inspired by tacos here. Next to the cocktail menu there is a snack menu, where you can find everything except salmon dishes.
A recommended restaurant with a club vibe is "Quinto Elemento", located on the seventh floor of the famous night club "Kapital". The restaurant space is carefully designed and surrounded by large screens that project clips and visual effects onto the sliding roof above.
The restaurant's menu is divided by theme (air, land and sea), so you can choose one theme and run the whole meal on it or combine it. The prices on the menu are relatively high, but you can go for a tasting menu that ranges from 90 to 110 euros per person. If you want to experience the place, but give up a full meal - their sushi will definitely do the trick.
In conclusion, Madrid is a nearby and wonderful destination to refresh yourself in. It doesn't matter if for the weekend or for a week or more, you can enjoy everything there.