ť Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales

Address: Plaza de las Descalzas Reales s/n
Phone: +34 91 454 88 00 - Fax: +34 91 542 69 47
Location: Downtown
Hours: Sat and Tues-Thurs 10:30am-12:30pm and 3-5:45pm; Fri 10:30am-12:30pm; Sun 11am-1:15pm
Website: Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales

Its majestic facade, in the traditional Madrid combination of red-brick and granite, is one of the few examples of 16th C. architecture which have been preserved in the city. The interior of the "Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales" is notable for the richness of the decoration and the fine works of art which it contains. Founded by Juana de Austria, sister of Felipe II, this Monastery is a building with a religious, enclosed character. Its interior houses paintings by famous artists such as Titian, Sánchez Coello, Brueghel, Luini, Paolo de San Leocadi, Gaspar Becerro and Pompeo Leoni, amongst others.

ť El Palacio Real

Address: Calle Bailén 2, E-28071 Madrid
Location: Plaza de Oriente
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 9am-3pm

Madrid's Royal Palace, "El Palacio Real", is an impressive example of classisistic italian baroque style. This place is the most visited landmark in all of Spain. The construction of this palace was begun under Philip V by the architects Juvara, Sabatini and Sachetti. In 1714, Charles III was the first king to have his residence here. In the Armory of the palace, you'll see today the finest collection of weaponry in Spain (i.e. powder flasks, shields, lances, helmets and saddles).

Massive foundation walls support the building on the steep slope down to the Manzanares which is laid out in gardens (the Jardines de Sabatini to the north, the Campo del Moro to the west). The "Palacio Real" can easily take 15 minutes to walk around to the other side and though you shouldn't miss this view, the other side is much closer to downtown and to everything else there is to visit.

ť A night on the tiles

The people of Madrid are known as "gatos" (cats) because they have the ability to literally stay out on the tiles all night. However, no night on the tiles is complete without a churro on the way home. This is the perfect way to soak up a night of beer before work the next day. Start late at a bar, then on to a club and try to make it into the early hours before collapsing over chocolate con churros.

There are many places to start your "night on the tiles". Some of them are: El Confidential (open 11pm-5: 30am), which can be found on Calle de Eduardo Dato, 8 (nearest Metro: Ruben Dario) and Independencia (open 8am-6am) on Calle de Salustiano Olozaga, 11 (nearest Metro: Retiro).

ť El Rastro

Located across the barrios of La Latina, Embajadores, and Puerta de Toledo, the Rastro is Madrid's largest open-air flea market (also known as the thieves' market). Here you'll find everything you can imagine; from single second-hand shoes, gaudy door knockers and hippy paraphernalia to dog-tooth castizo cloth cap. There are several antique shops as well that merit popping your head in. "El Rastro" sprawls into most of the surrounding streets, with certain areas specializing in particular products. The market spreads around a two-kilometer area, and it's open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you don't fancy shopping, it's a great place to find a terraza where you can have a beer or a gigantic ice-cream cone or eat something in one of the tapas bars or hearty restaurants.

ť A visit to the Prado

Website: Museo del Prado
Location: Paseo del Prado
Hours: Tues-Sat 9am-7pm; Sun and holidays 9am-2pm

With more than 7,000 paintings, this museum is one of the most important in the world. No other museum offers such an outstanding overview of Spanish painting from the 12th to the early 19th C. as the Prado. This museum began as a royal collection and was enlarged by the Hapsburgs, and later the Bourbons. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculpture, it also contains important collections of more than 5,000 drawings, 2,000 prints, 1,000 coins and medals, and almost 2,000 decorative objects and works of art. This museum has the world's finest collections of works by Spain's Diego Velázquez and Francisco Goya, as well as of Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch (a personal favorite of King Philip II of Spain).

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ť Best of Madrid