City of Madrid
There is nothing like walking through the streets of Madrid: Madrid de los Austrias (Habsburg Madrid), The Retiro, Chueca, Malasaña... enjoying its monuments, its culture, museums, gastronomy and of course, its people.
These are the essential places on your visit to Madrid, it doesn't matter if you visit them on foot or using the fantastic public transport network that the city owns, the result is sure to be the same, you will want to come back to Madrid again and again.
What to see in Madrid

Landscape of Light: Paseo del Arte and Retiro Park
From Madrid to the sky of World Heritage. The Paseo del Prado, the Retiro Park and the stately neighbourhood of Los Jerónimos, three jewels of the capital's rich heritage, make up this luminous landscape. Do you know its secrets?
The small convents of San Jerónimo and Atocha, which appeared in the 16th century in the vicinity of the current ‘Landscape of Light’, would soon see their surroundings change forever. Barely a century later, around 1650, the construction of the palace and gardens of El Buen Retiro endowed this enclave with a monumental importance that would only grow and grow with the course of time.
The maximum expression of this wealth of heritage became evident in 2021 with the declaration of this ‘Landscape of Light’ as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the category of Arts and Sciences. The specific areas included in this candidacy are the district of Los Jerónimos, the Retiro Park and the Paseo del Prado, which runs from Plaza Emperador Carlos V to Plaza de Cibeles.

Sol and Gran Vía
The Sol-Gran Vía area is a place full of history and culture, which offers a wide variety of activities for all tastes.
Puerta del Sol is the nerve center of the city and a meeting place for Madrid residents and visitors. The famous Casa de Correos’ clock is a symbol of the city and is the place where Madrid residents gather to eat 12 grapes to the rhythm of the 12 strokes on New Year's Eve.
Puerta del Sol is also a place full of history. It was one of the entrances to the wall that surrounded Madrid in the 15th century and has been the scene of many important events, such as the uprising of May 2, 1808 against the French.
Gran Vía is one of the most emblematic streets in Madrid and one of the main commercial arteries of the city. There are numerous theaters, cinemas, department stores and fashion stores.
Gran Vía is also a place full of history. Its construction began at the beginning of the 20th century, during the city's heyday, and it is an example of modernist architecture.
Some of the most notable buildings on Gran Vía are the Metrópolis Building, the Carrión Building, the Telefónica Building and the Callao Cinema.
The Sol-Gran Vía area is a place that you cannot miss if you visit Madrid. It is a place full of history, culture and leisure that offers something for all tastes.
Here are some tips to make the most of your visit to Sol-Gran Vía:
Start your visit at Puerta del Sol. Take a photo with the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree and find the Kilometer 0 plaque.
Walk along Gran Vía. Admire the emblematic buildings and enjoy the shops and restaurants.
If you are interested in history, visit the Convent of Las Descalzas Reales (the Royal Discalced), which is located on Descalzas’ Square, near Puerta del Sol.
If you like theater, don't miss a show at the Teatro Real or the Teatro de la Zarzuela.
If you want to enjoy Madrid gastronomy, try a squid sandwich in one of the many bars in the area.
Enjoy your visit!

The Habsburg Madrid and the Royal Palace
Discover the Madrid de los Austrias (Habsburg Madrid) and the Royal Palace, the heart of the Spanish capital.
The Habsburg Madrid is a historic neighborhood that houses some of the most emblematic monuments of the city, such as the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace or the San Miguel Market. Discover everything this neighborhood offers on your next visit to Madrid.
Madrid has one of the most important historic centers in Europe, also known as Habsburg Madrid. This neighborhood is a must-see for any tourist who wants to discover the history and culture of the Spanish capital.
The Habsburg Madrid extends around the Plaza Mayor, inaugurated in 1620, and the Plaza de la Villa, seat of the old town hall. The Plaza Mayor is one of the most emblematic places in Madrid and has witnessed numerous events and celebrations over the years.
Between Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace are the streets, squares and buildings where the town was born. Calle Mayor, the main artery of the area, allows us to enjoy the nearby roads, lively at all hours.
The Habsburg Madrid hides treasures such as the Monastery of Descalzas Reales from the 16th century, with a Plateresque style façade and a magnificent Renaissance staircase, in addition to its valuable works of art. Also worth a stop on this tour: The Santa Cruz Palace, built in the 17th century and current headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Gaviria Palace, the Collegiate Church of San Isidro, the Basilica of San Miguel or that of San Francisco.
If you need to recharge your batteries, go to the San Miguel Market to have some tapas, shop for top-notch food, or even buy the best-seller novel of the moment.
Near the Plaza Mayor you can walk to feel like a king to the so-called “aristocratic center”: discover the beauty of the Royal Palace, the Plaza de Oriente, the Teatro Real, the Monastery of La Encarnación or the Cathedral of La Almudena, visit the Gallery of the Royal Collections and stroll through the Sabatini Gardens and the Campo del Moro. It is the Bourbons Madrid.
The Royal Palace, the largest in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world, is one of the few official residences of Heads of State that is open to the public. Although it dates back to the 18th century, it sits on the site of the old Alcázar of Madrid, a medieval fortress converted into a palace and which Felipe II converted, since 1561, into the official residence of the kings of Spain. The Main Staircase, designed by Sabatini and with more than 70 steps, the Throne Room, the Gasparini Room, the Royal Armory or the Royal Kitchen are some of the spaces that you cannot miss on this visit.
One of the most emblematic ceremonies that takes place in the Royal Palace is the Changing of the Guard and the Solemn Relay. Dressed in traditional uniform, the guards march to military music and perform precise, coordinated movements, creating an impressive display of martial skills. Every Wednesday and Saturday you can enjoy this spectacular ceremony that takes place in the Plaza de la Armería, in front of the Royal Palace. On the first Wednesday of every month (except January, August and September) the even more spectacular Solemn Relay is celebrated.

Barrio de Salamanca
Get inside Madrid's Golden Mile. The Salamanca neighborhood is one of the most elegant and exclusive districts in Madrid. It is located in the center of the city, and is distinguished by its tree-lined streets, its luxury buildings and its wide cultural and leisure offering.
Known by the name of its promoter, José de Salamanca y Mayol, Marquis of Salamanca; This neighborhood began to be built in the second half of the 19th century, in the urban expansion carried out during the reign of Isabel II. Designed to accommodate the Madrid aristocracy and upper bourgeoisie, today we can still find homes with large entrance halls for carriages and courtyards, chararcteristic of the architect Lecumberri Gandarias.
Luxury shopping and dining. In the district of Salamanca, internationally recognized for its Golden Mile - which includes Ortega y Gasset, Serrano, Lagasca, Velázquez, or Claudio Coello streets, among others -, we can find boutiques of great national and international designers. It is worth walking through the windows of its haute couture and accessories stores, shoe stores, jewelry stores and luxury watch stores.
Art collectors also find their place in this district, which concentrates several art galleries and auction houses around Villanueva Street, such as Espacio Solo -in Puerta de Alcalá-, a contemporary art gallery that represents Spanish and international artists.
Gastronomy also occupies a prominent place. On its streets you can find several Michelin star restaurants, such as Ramón Freixa Madrid, located in the Único Hotel; that of Ricardo Sanz Wellington, at the Wellington Hotel; or A'Barra, a cuisine focused on top quality products, and La Tasquería, which has managed to bring offal to haute cuisine without limiting itself to combining it with other products. We should also highlight restaurants such as Zalacaín, which has been committed to traditional haute cuisine since 1973; or those that offer high-quality gastronomic proposals, both international and from different Spanish regions. Finally, it is worth highlighting gastronomic markets such as La Paz and Platea, with a wide range of delicatessens for the most demanding gourmets.
Emblematic places and unique buildings. Plaza de Colón (Columbus Square) is one of the most emblematic squares in Madrid. There is the monument to Christopher Columbus, a work by Jerónimo Suñol that presides over the square. The Discovery Gardens, which surround the square, are an ideal place to walk and enjoy its brutalist sculptural ensemble.
Under the Discovery Gardens is the Fernán Gómez. Centro Cultural de la Villa, a cultural complex that houses a library, a theater, an auditorium and a cinema. Exhibitions, concerts, plays and other cultural activities are organized there.
The National Library of Spain, created by Philip V in 1711, has been located on Paseo de Recoletos since 1896. Its function is to gather, preserve and catalog the bibliographic and documentary heritage of Spain and houses an important collection of incunabula, manuscripts, prints, drawings, photographs, maps, sound recordings, scores, etc., making it one of the most important libraries in the world.
Among the museums that this area houses, it is worth highlighting the National Archaeological Museum, one of the most important in Spain. It houses a collection of more than 1 million archaeological pieces, ranging from prehistory to the Middle Ages.
In the district of Salamanca we can also visit Las Ventas bullring, one of the most important bullrings in the world, the largest in Spain and the third largest bullring in the world, behind Mexico and Venezuela. The building, in neo-Mudejar style and with hand-painted tiles, has been an Asset of Cultural Interest since 1994. Its Bullfighting Museum, located in the Patio de Caballos, offers its visitors an attractive tour of the history of bullfighting, demonstrating the relevance of the Bullfighting in the history and culture of Spain.
In addition to the museums mentioned above, the Salamanca neighborhood offers interesting cultural proposals: the Lázaro Galdiano Museum, which houses a collection of art from the 14th to the 20th centuries. It houses works by artists such as Velázquez, Goya, El Greco and Renoir. The Casa de la Moneda Museum tells the history of currency in Spain and houses a collection of more than 400,000 pieces, ranging from ancient times to the present day. The Open Air Sculpture Museum, located under the overpass that connects Juan Bravo and Eduardo Dato streets, is a museum that houses a collection of sculptures by Spanish and international artists.
Several cultural foundations are located here, such as the Juan March Foundation, the Carlos de Amberes Foundation, or the Botín Foundation, and the Manuel Benedito Foundation. These foundations organize exhibitions, concerts, plays and other activities.

Barrio de las Letras
Barrio de las Letras, a quarter which represents the literary soul of Madrid, is located in the historic center of Madrid, in which vicinity there are monumental areas such as the Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor or the Paseo del Arte, is a magical place where the past and the present come together. A neighborhood full of history, culture and a varied gastronomic and leisure offer.
Some of the most important writers of the Spanish Golden Age lived and developed their creativity in this neighborhood. Today, the Barrio de las Letras continues to be a reference place for lovers of literature and some of their most famous quotes can be seen in golden letters, as a tribute to those famous writers on the pavement of its streets.
The Barrio de las Letras developed in the 16th century, when king Philip II made the decision to establish the court permanently in Madrid. This neighborhood has welcomed writers and artists to its streets, along with literature lovers who came to the corrales de comedias (theatrical courtyards) to enjoy the great works that were performed there.
It has numerous places of interest that are worth a visit, such as Santa Ana Square, the heart of the Barrio de las Letras and where some of the most emblematic buildings are located such as the Teatro Español, the El Parnasillo literary café or the Lope de Vega’s House Museum.
Stroll along Huertas Street or through Gato Alley, see the places where Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Francisco de Quevedo or Calderón de la Barca lived, or enjoy a performance at the Teatro Español, heir to the Corral del Príncipe -one of the six theatrical courtyards that once existed in the Golden Age Madrid-, and the oldest theater in the world in terms of continuous performance.
The location of the neighborhood is unbeatable for culture lovers, as it is home to the CaixaForum Cultural Center, and in its vicinity there are The Prado National Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
The Barrio de las Letras has a varied gastronomic offer: from traditional taverns or century-old restaurants - such as Casa Alberto -, to well-kept Michelin-starred spaces - such as Gofio -; or gastrobars with avant-garde touches and local cuisine or international cuisine.
Its varied nightlife offer makes it one of the best in the capital. From pubs with a markedly youthful atmosphere and discos that open all night, to small, quiet places where you can have a drink or listen to live music; or cocktail bars that combine with terraces that dot the small squares and alleys.
The nights in this neighborhood are marked by great heterogeneity, which allows you to find people of different ages, with different leisure habits. It is not only ideal to enjoy, but to get to know other tastes and cultures.

Chueca and Salesas neighborhoods
Chueca and Salesas are two neighborhoods in Madrid that stand out for their open spirit, bold and vital personality. In them you will find a wide cultural, gastronomic and leisure offer.
Cosmopolitan and vibrant, you can spend a shopping day in Salesas, in the most avant-garde and alternative stores, and enjoy the night in Chueca, a reference for the LGTBI+ movement around the world.
The elegance and distinction of the Salesas neighborhood and the transgressive traditionalism of Chueca allow us to glimpse the history of a city full of multiple stories, in which creativity and tolerance come together.
While Salesas, with a bohemian and inspiring soul, elegant with a certain alternative air, has avant-garde art galleries, charming shops, international brands, etc., the Chueca neighborhood has proudly raised the flag of tolerance and modernity of one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant areas of Madrid and every summer the multicolored banner of the LGTBI+ community takes to the streets and squares up to celebrate the internationally recognized LGTBIQA+ Madrid Pride Festival.
In addition to walking through its streets full of life and enjoying its multiple leisure options, in this area we find interesting museums and buildings such as the Museum of Romanticism, which houses an interesting collection of paintings, furniture and decorative arts from the 19th century; the History Museum, located in the old Hospice of San Fernando -one of the great buildings of Madrid's baroque-; or the Wax Museum, which has more than 450 wax figures of well-known historical celebrities from sports and entertainment.
The Buenavista Palace, from the late 19th century; the Longoria Palace, one of the few examples of the modernist movement in Madrid; the Cervantes Institute, House of the Seven Chimneys, the San José church, the Santa Bárbara church, or the Monastery of the Barefoot Mercedarians are some of the must-see buildings. If you are interested in culture, visit the COAM Space, the Mapfre-Sala Recoletos Foundation, the Fernando de Castro Foundation, or come into Berkana, a symbol as it is the first bookstore specialized in LGTBI+ themes open in Spain.
The tour through its commercial streets allows us to distinguish the uniqueness and variety of businesses, its central location and the proximity to other important areas of the capital. In this area of Madrid we find young and modern fashion brands and some of the most relevant new designers, as well as tattoo shops, decoration shops, comic shops, art or antique and second-hand bookstores and retro-style establishments.
The gastronomic offer is wide, from gourmet shops to signature coffees or avant-garde cocktail bars. The San Antón Market in Chueca, with more than 70 years of history, has reinvented itself as a reference point for the acquisition of delicatessen products. In addition to offering first-class products, the market includes a tapas area and a terrace that provides the opportunity to enjoy views of the city all year round.
Among the many options that can be enjoyed in Las Salesas, Café Gijón stands out for its history and longevity. Opened in 1888, it has been a reference place for Madrid literary gatherings since the beginning of the 20th century. Ramón y Cajal, Pío Baroja, Pérez Galdós, Benavente, Valle-Inclán, Severo Ochoa and Ramón Gómez de la Serna are some of the intellectuals who frequented its social gatherings.

La Latina
La Latina is one of the oldest and most traditional neighborhoods in Madrid. Located in the Centro district, the neighborhood has a long history, great gastronomy and a rich cultural offering.
The Latina neighborhood owes its name to the writer and humanist Beatriz Galindo, popularly known as La Latina, one of the most relevant characters of the 15th century. She was tutor to Queen Isabella the Catholic and her children. Together with her husband, she founded an old hospital located on Toledo Street, next to Plaza de la Cebada, which was named Hospital de La Latina.
Its streets, of medieval origin, mostly have irregular, narrow and winding layouts that lead to squares. Many of these roads were located outside the walls that delimited the citadel, that is, they were the suburbs of old medieval Madrid and served as accommodation for many merchants who came to the city to sell their goods. This commercial tradition has given its name to many of its streets and squares such as La Cebada Square, where the food market was formerly held, Los Carros Square, La Paja Square or the Rastro itself, the most famous open-air market in the city.
Today, La Latina is a vibrant and lively neighborhood, known for its typical taverns, bars, restaurants, and traditional shops. In addition, it is home to a series of historical monuments, such as the La Cebada Square, in the heart of the neighborhood, the La Cebada market, one of the oldest in Madrid; the San Andrés church, built using the ruins of a primitive church next to the albarrana tower in what was later the Palace of Laso de Castilla, residence of the Catholic Monarchs and Cardinal Cisneros when they stayed in Madrid; the adjacent Bishop's Chapel, built in the 16th century. It is named after Gutierre de Vargas Carvajal, Bishop of Plasencia, who is buried there; the Royal Basilica of San Francisco the Great, a spectacular baroque and neoclassic church from the 18th century; and the Toledo bridge, built in a Baroque style between 1718 and 1732 by architect Pedro de Ribera and spans the Manzanares River, linking the Pyramids roundabout on the east bank with Marqués de Vadillo Square on the west bank.

Lavapiés
Lavapiés is one of Madrid's most emblematic neighbourhoods. Located in the centre of the city, Lavapiés is a vibrant, traditional, but at the same time exciting neighbourhood, with a great multicultural atmosphere and a wide international gastronomic offer.
Lavapiés is a neighbourhood with vast cultural and leisure options where the traditions of Madrid coexist with the influence of cultures from different ethnic communities that have settled in this neighbourhood, such as Asians, Muslims and Africans. Lavapiés is a popular neighbourhood with locals and tourists alike, who flock to enjoy its unique atmosphere.
The neighbourhood is full of narrow streets, picturesque squares and historic buildings.
Some of the most popular places in Lavapiés include:
Mercado de San Fernando is one of the markets that has managed to combine its traditional neighbourhood market style with gastronomic shops and international cuisine.
Casa Encendida is a neo-Mudéjar centre, hub of culture, where the most avant-garde artistic expressions come together.
Valle Inclán Theatre of the National Drama Centre, where the most outstanding theatre performances are played.
Teatro Circo Price: the main example of circus variety shows, magic and acrobatics, with an extensive performance and a seating capacity of up to 1700 spectators.
Cine Doré that offers classic and auteur film screenings from all over the world.
Escuelas Pías de San Fernando which is a former school devoted to the poor and disadvantaged, which is now home to the UNED (Spanish Distance Learning University).
In addition to its history and architecture, Lavapiés is also known for its gastronomic diversity.
The neighbourhood is home to a wide range of restaurants, bars and shops representing the culture from all over the world.
Lavapiés is an essential place to discover the most exotic and multicultural side of Madrid.

Chamberí
The district of Chamberí was the residence area of most of the 19th and 20th century aristocracy. We find a large part of this residential legacy in the various mansions that are spread throughout the Almagro neighborhood, around Paseo de la Castellana and Génova, Almagro and Paseo de Eduardo Dato streets. Highlights include buildings such as the Santo Mauro Hotel, the College of Civil Engineers, the State Secretariat for Public Service, the headquarters of the Ombudsman, the Valencia de Don Juan Institute, Eduardo Adcoch's mansion and the American International Institute. In this same area we find one of the recently restored nineteenth-century jewels, the Beti Jai Fronton Court, designed by Joaquín Rucoba.
Chamberí is home to the Sorolla Museum, located in the house where the Valencian painter lived, and several cultural institutions such as the House of Mexico in Spain, the Korean Cultural Center, the María Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation and the Padres Escolapios Art Gallery.
At the intersection of Santa Engracia and Luchana streets is the Chamberí ghost station, a museum-station of the Madrid metro, closed in 1966, which was part of the first metro line inaugurated in 1919. Nearby is the plaza de Olavide, in the Trafalgar neighborhood, a cozy garden square with many terraces, a common meeting place and tapas.
Between the neighborhoods of Arapiles and Vallehermoso, on Cea Bermúdez Street, stands the modern complex of the Teatros del Canal, the work of Juan Navarro Baldeweg. The rooms incorporate the latest technological innovations and host everything from classical texts and modern pieces to concerts, dance, flamenco, zarzuela, opera, circus and cabaret.
The Abadía Theater, the Quique San Francisco Theater, the Luchana Theaters and the Amaya Theater are also located in the surrounding area, one of the most popular Madrid venues for its scenic variety and quality.
On the stretch of Fuencarral street, which goes from the Bilbao roundabout to the Quevedo roundabout, is the Paz Movie Theater, inaugurated in 1943 and offering a selection of the best auteur and independent cinema of the moment. Almost opposite is the Proyecciones Movie Theater, an Art Deco building that dates back to 1932. The cinema also has other cultural centers in Chamberí such as the Sala Berlanga, of the General Society of Authors, the charming Little Cinema Studio and the Verdi Cinemas on Bravo Murillo Street.
Zurbano Street, which has been described in the New York Times as "one of the best in Europe", is dotted with charming palaces, boutiques, restaurants and museums, highly recommended for those looking to explore Madrid beyond conventional tourist circuits.
The main green area is the Santander Park, a large space on the old facilities of the Canal de Isabel II, which combines vegetation and modern sports facilities. Nearby we can find other constructions linked to the Canal de Isabel II, such as the Lozoya River Fountain or the First Elevated Depot, a temporary exhibition center.

Malasaña
Malasaña is one of Madrid's most popular and emblematic neighbourhoods. Located in the Centro district, it is bounded by Gran Vía to the south, Calle Fuencarral to the east, Calle Carranza to the north and Calle San Bernardo to the west. Malasaña owes its name to Manuela Malasaña, a popular heroine of the uprisings of 2 May 1808 against the French troops. In the 80s of the 20th century it was the neighbourhood where the Movida Madrileña was born. Today, Malasaña has established itself as a bohemian, alternative and multicultural neighbourhood, known for its vibrant nightlife, its rich history and its diversity of shops, bars and restaurants.
It is an ideal neighbourhood for culture lovers and is home to a number of museums, buildings and art galleries, such as the Museum of History of Madrid, the Museum of Romanticism, the Court of Auditors or the picturesque Church of San Antonio de los Alemanes. Malasaña is also a trendy neighbourhood, with a wide variety of independent and alternative design shops, vintage fashion shops, second-hand shops, junk shops and comic shops.
At night, Malasaña transforms into a lively and festive quarter. The neighbourhood is home to a wide variety of terraces, bars and rock, punk and indie music venues, offering a wide range of styles. Malasaña is the perfect place to spend a fun night out with friends and enjoy Madrid's nightlife with its heart in the popular Plaza del Dos de Mayo, where the uprisings of 2nd May 1808 took place. In the centre of this popular square stands the Arco del Triunfo, a monument commemorating the uprisings.
Other highlights include the Church of San Martín, one of Madrid's most emblematic Baroque buildings, and the San Ildefonso Market, a street food market that combines leisure and mingling around gastronomy.
If you are looking for a place in Madrid with the most alternative trends, Malasaña is the ideal place both for its varied cultural offer and its vibrant and bohemian nightlife.

Princesa y Conde Duque
The Princesa tourist area is one of the largest in Madrid. It is home to numerous attractions that make it an essential place to visit.
Its main thoroughfare, Calle Princesa, is one of the most important arteries in the capital. Along its more than 4 kilometres in length, it concentrates a great deal of commercial and leisure activity. From the Plaza de España it extends to Moncloa, where the Arco de la Victoria, the Air Force Headquarters and the Moncloa Lighthouse are located. The Plaza de España is a large green space for leisure and the celebration of festive, cultural, commercial and sporting events. It is home to the monument to Miguel de Cervantes, one of the city's most emblematic landmarks. The Torre de Madrid and the Edificio España, two of Madrid's most recognisable skyscrapers, also stand out.
In the vicinity of the square are the Fuente de la Concha fountain and the Cuartel de la Montaña Park, which houses the Temple of Debod, a 2nd century AD temple dedicated to Amun and Isis, donated by Egypt.
Calle Princesa contrasts with the tranquillity of other streets in the neighbourhood, such as Calle Ferraz and Paseo del Pintor Rosales. This area, with its nineteenth-century residential buildings, is bordered by the Parque del Oeste, a huge green space of almost 100 hectares with numerous monuments, the charming Rosaleda garden and the starting point for a ride on the Madrid cable car.
To the northwest is the Ciudad Universitaria, a huge campus that brings together most of the faculties and colleges of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia. Nearby are the Museo de América, the Museo del Traje, the Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de España and the Casa de Valázquez. The Palacio de la Moncloa, the seat and official residence of the President of the Spanish Government, is also located here.
Conde Duque is a bohemian and daring neighbourhood, with an emerging and modern commerce but with a vintage air. Its narrow streets and squares hide old-fashioned taverns and shops with a personal touch.
The Real Cuartel de Guardias de Corps, better known as the Conde Duque barracks, built in 1717 by Pedro de Ribera, is the largest building in the area, where its Churrigueresque style façade stands out. It is one of the city's great centres of cultural expression. It houses the Town Archives, the Municipal Newspaper Library, the Municipal Historical Library, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Víctor Espinós Music Library. Next to it is the palace of Liria, a sumptuous 18th century building, the residence of the House of Alba in Madrid and the main seat of its art collection and historical archive, both of which are of extraordinary value. The area is also home to some of the most important examples of Baroque religious architecture in Madrid, such as the convent of Las Comendadoras, the church of Montserrat, by Pedro de Ribera, and the church of San Marcos, by Ventura Rodríguez.

Castellana
This tourist area unfolds around the Paseo de la Castellana, the backbone of the city of Madrid, a grand avenue that begins at Plaza de Colón and ends beyond Plaza de Castilla and the North node. A new extension of this axis, which forms part of the Madrid Nuevo Norte project, promises to expand this emblematic thoroughfare, generating new green spaces, commercial and business areas, thus outlining Madrid's promising future.
Originally, the Fuente Castellana stream ran through this area, which in the mid-19th century was converted into the Camino de las Exquisiteces de la Princesa, a new residential area for Madrid's nobility.
The first section of the Paseo de la Castellana, starting from the Plaza de Colón, preserves palatial buildings, today occupied by embassies, ministerial offices, banks and cultural foundations. Further north we find the Open Air Sculpture Museum, located under the flyover that joins the streets of Juan Bravo and Eduardo Dato, which contains an excellent collection of Spanish abstract sculpture. Not far away, the historic headquarters of the ABC newspaper, converted into the ABC Serrano shopping centre, and the Plaza de Emilio Castelar, where the monument of the same name by Mariano Benlliure is preserved.
As we move forward, the Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz welcomes us with the National Museum of Natural Sciences, the Residencia de Estudiantes and the imposing complex of official buildings of Nuevos Ministerios, erected on the grounds of the old Hippodrome de la Castellana. Nearby are gems such as the Geominero Museum and the Hospital de Maudes, by Antonio Palacios and Joaquín Otamendi.
To the north of Calle Joaquín Costa is the AZCA complex, the financial heart of the city, presided over by skyscrapers built between the 1970s and 1990s. The Torre Picasso, the Torre Europa and the Torre Castellana 81, formerly BBVA, stand out. One of the city's most important shopping areas is concentrated around Nuevos Ministerios station, especially Calle Orense and the El Corte Inglés department store complex.
Opposite the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones, whose façade is decorated with a mural by Joan Miró, stands the legendary Santiago Bernabéu football stadium, a world sporting landmark and home of Real Madrid, a large, recently renovated coliseum where its matches are played and major events are held.
This is followed by the Plaza de Cuzco, with the symbolic Cuzco IV Building, and finally the stretch that leads to the Plaza de Castilla, presided over by the unique Puerta de Europa Towers, the world's first leaning skyscrapers, and other elements such as the Canal Foundation, a centre for temporary exhibitions of art, history and archaeology; the monument to Calvo Sotelo and the Obelisk of the Caja, by Santiago Calatrava.
The Castellana ends, at present, with the CTBA, a business centre made up of five skyscrapers that are the tallest buildings in Madrid and Spain. These are the Torre de Cristal, the Torre Cepsa, the Torre PwC, the Torre Emperador Castellana and the Torre Caleido, which also houses a shopping centre. Nearby, and next to Chamartín station, is the EMT Museum.
In this last area of the Castellana, the Madrid Nuevo Norte project has been launched, a colossal urban expansion project that will extend this great thoroughfare, creating new green areas, new business and commercial spaces, among others, which will house the new roof of Madrid.
Discover Castellana, a melting pot of history, culture and modernity waiting to be explored!