5718 = Madrid Spain

The capital of Spain, located in the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the Castillian plain 646 meters above sea level, has a population of over three million. A cosmopolitan city, a business center, headquarters for the Public Administration, Government, Spanish Parliament and the home of the Spanish Royal Family, Madrid also plays a major role in both the banking and industrial sectors. Most of its industry is located in the Southern fringe of the city, where important textile, food and metal working factories are clustered. Madrid is characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife.

Some places that should not be missed when visiting Spain:

Ávila:

Magnificently preserved medieval walls surround this somber city, birthplace of St. Teresa.

Segovia:

Its impressive Roman aqueduct, the majestic Alcazar castle, the Cathedral and numerous churches are attractions not to be missed. La Granja de San Ildefonso, a lovely palace and gardens with monumental fountains some 11 km. from Segovia is another interesting spot.

Toledo:

Fascinating monumental city, center of the Visigoth reign, Imperial capital, and residence of Moors, Jews and Christians. El Greco's adopted town has some of his masterpieces.

El Escorial:

Felipe II ordered construction of these startling austere, grandiose, granite structures. The monastery, church and palace melt in a framework of courtyards, corridors and rooms farming a rectangular block crowned by four towers with pointed spires on each one of the corners, offsetting the horizontal lines. Also noteworthly is the Basilica, topped by a 92 meter dome and paintings on the vaults by Lucas Jordán. Along the walls there are 43 altars with painted altarpieces and the main chapel of the nave concentrates the greatest decorative treasure of the church. The Patio de los Reyes, which precedes the basilica, is a solemn rectangular courtyard where the bareness of the walls contrasts with the truly royal grandeur of the front façade.
- Palaces: In those occupied by the Hapsburgs, the Sala de las Batallas decorated with frescoes is worthly of special mention. Outstanding among the palaces are the sumptuous rooms belonging to the Bourbons, decorated with luxurious tapestries and Pompeyan ceilings.
- Chapterhouses: Works by El Greco, Velázquez, Ribera, Titian and Bosch, along with paintings from the 16th century Venetian School, can be admired.
- Biblioteca: The library preserves more than 40.000 volumes from as far back as the 9th century. It also has a museum of paintings with works by Titian, Veronese, Zurbarán and Tintoretto among others and an Architecture Museum which contains documents pertaining to the construction of the monastery.
Outside the complex a special visit is warranted by the Casita del Príncipe, a small palace erected by Carlos II, and the Casita del Infante, built for Prince Gabriel, brother of Carlos IV. Both are designs of Juan de Villanueva.
The Monastery is located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 50 km. northwest of Madrid on the N-VI highway.

Aranjuez:

Poised on a fertile plain bothed by the Tagus River, this royal retreat boasts beautiful jewels such as the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) and the magnificent gardens which surround it. It was a residence of Kings since the 15th century. In the 17th Century the Bourbon kings built the palace and its gardens. Although plagued by fires and subsequent reconstructions, the Royal Palace continues to maintain authentic architectural unity. The Jardín del Parterre garden is adorned with numerous sculptures, the Jardín de la Isla stands out for its fountains and the Jardín del Príncipe is an English-style garden. The Casa del Labrador is a neoclassical hunting pavilion constructed by order of King Carlos IV and located in the Jardín del Príncipe.
The town of Aranjuez was built starting in the 18th. King Fernando VI ordered the structures to be erected according to a design of streets and dwellings that responded to ideas of the Enlightenment movement. Various aoutbuildings of the palaces and other monuments of interest can also be admired.

Museo del Prado:

Located in an 18th building designed by Juan de Villanueva, the Prado is considered one of the most important art galleries in the world. It houses masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Zurbarán, Ribera, Titian, Raphael, Botticelli, Fra Angélico, Rubens, Bosch, Van der Weyden, Poussin, Lorrain, Watteau, Rembrandt, Dürer and Mengs, among others.

Palacio Real:

The royal palace is no longer used as a residence, but it has been kept intact since it last functioned as home to the king, primarily serving as a tourist attraction. The entire palace is not open to the public, but most of the more important rooms can be visited. The palace is interesting in its own right, in particular its architecture and gardens (there are two, the Jardines del Moro and the Sabattini gardens). There are also some excellent frescos inside the palace by Tiépolo, and paintings by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, El Greco, Juan de Flandes and Caravaggio, among others.