Spain Trip 2008

Open Hours
Tu-Su 9a-8p
http://museoprado.mcu.es/ihome.html
Considered one of the world's most important art galleries, it exhibits paintings by Goya, Velázquez, Murillo, Zurbarán, El Greco, Ribera, Titian, Boticelli, Tintoretto, El Bosco, Rubens, Van Dyck, Poussin and Durer. Carlos III commissioned Juan de Villanueva to design this beautiful building, which was converted into an art gallery in 1819. In July of 2005 the Council of Ministers approved a EUR44.6 million expansion plan which increases the museum's total space by 50%, and allows for 500 more works of the permanent collection to be showcased. On October 30, 2007, the annex opened with a collection of 19th-century Spanish artwork which enabled the Prado to reclaim its glory as a crown jewel of Europe. Come for the art; stay for the architecture.

Built of granite, glass and metal, the angle at which these towers lean is simply spectacular. They're 27 stories high and a shining example of how dynamic and modern Madrid has become. Their official name is Puerta de Europa (Gateway to Europe), though locals call them the KIO Towers after the business group in charge of their construction. They were eventually completed in 1996 by the banking group Caja Madrid. Architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee (famous for New York's AT

Open Hours
24 hrs

The capital's largest parkland area attracts thousands of madrileños during sunny weather. It's the closest some of them get to a day out in the country and a great picnic spot. As for entertainment, there's the Zoo Aquarium , an amusement park , a boating lake, and a cable car . You'll find some good restaurants here, and the trade center usually has some sort of exhibition going on. To get to the park, head down Cuesta San Vicente from Plaza de España and cross Puente del Rey.

Open Hours
Apr-Sep: 10a-2p, 6p-8p M-Su, Oct-Mar: 9:45a-1:45p, 3p-6:15p M-Su
http://www.munimadrid.es/templodebod/

Dating from the second century BCE, this small Egyptian temple covered in fascinating drawings, hieroglyphics, and religious inscriptions was a gift from the Egyptian government to Spain in 1970 in recognition of Spain's assistance in saving historical remains during the construction of the Aswan Dam. You will find it located in a peaceful and pleasant park, but you are advised not to come here after dark.

Open Hours
10a-6p M-Sa, 10a-4p Su

Madrid hosted an exhibition on the Philippine Islands in 1887 and the same architect who created the nearby Palacio de Velázquez was hired to design this greenhouse to hold all the flowers brought over from the islands. It's an attractive steel and glass design that now houses temporary exhibitions of contemporary art organized by the Museo Reina Sofía . Admission is free.

Open Hours
24 hrs

Plaza Mayor is another popular tourist spot in Madrid. It was built during the reigns of King Felipe II and his son King Felipe III, at the turn of the 17th century, when it was deemed that Plaza de la Villa, the former city square, had become too small for the city's growing population (Plaza de la Villa still exists, it is located nearby on Calle Mayor). Plaza Mayor served different puposes: on top of housing the city's public market, royal and religious celebrations were held in the square, as well as bullfights and public executions.

Today, public executions and bullfights have given way to street performers and all sorts of entertainment, ranging from Mexican mariachis to chair massages. Plaza Mayor is also home to the tourist office (at No. 27 Plaza Mayor), different souvenir shops, and several restaurants where tourists gather to enjoy a meal or a drink out on the sunny patios. Those interested in architecture won't want to miss the Panaderia, the oldest building (1590) of the Plaza Mayor. Out of the nine doors leading to the plaza, the most famous one is called the "Arco de Cuchilleros" and it leads down to La Latina.

Open Hours: Winter: 9a-9p M-Su, Summer: 10a-1p
Madrid's cathedral took over 100 years to build, due to political conflicts, wars, and a lack of financial resources. According to legend, it's named after the Virgen de la Almudena, whose icon was found during the Reconquest hidden in a house that the Arabs called al mudena. The building's exterior is an example of eclectic 19th-century design. The doors are bronze and there's an image of the Virgen (now Madrid's patron saint) on the façade. The interior is full of light, benefiting from the stained-glass windows and multi-colored ceiling. Its grand Grezing organ gets played on Sundays, holidays, and the day before holidays.

Mass: 10am

Open Hours
10a-7p Tu-Su
http://www.museothyssen.org

The Thyssen-Bornemisza family collected what became one of the world's finest private art collections over a number of generations. The Spanish state bought it from them in 1993 for USD 350 million and converted the early-19th-century neoclassical Villahermosa Palace into a fabulous art gallery. You will see masterpieces by Van Dyck, Durer, Caravaggio, Rubens, Picasso, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse and Kandinsky among others. The collection follows a chronological order running from the 13th to the 20th Century. There is a cafeteria-restaurant, free cloakroom and a conference room. Admission: EUR6; students, senior citizens: EUR4; under-12s: free. Temporary Exhibitions: EUR5; students, senior citizens: EUR4. Combined Admission: EUR9; students, senior citizens: EUR5. Group bookings: taquilla@museothyssen.org, or call 34 91 369 0151.

Another majestic work of art commissioned by King Carlos III to ennoble the city. This time his architects chose to create an image in white stone of the goddess Cibeles driving a carriage drawn by lions. Ventura Rodríguez came up with the design while Roberto Michel and Francisco Gutierrez carried out the work. It's surrounded by some of the city's most important historic buildings and it has become a favorite symbolic landmark for madrileños. The fans of Real Madrid football club gather here to celebrate their team's victories.

CÓRDOBA lies upstream from Sevilla beside a loop of the Guadalquivir, which was once navigable as far as here. It is today a minor provincial capital, prosperous in a modest sort of way. Once, however, it was the largest city of Roman Spain, and for three centuries it formed the heart of the western Islamic empire, the great medieval caliphate of the Moors.

It is from this era that the city's major monument dates: the Mezquita, the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever constructed by the Moors in Spain. It stands right in the centre of the city, surrounded by the old Jewish and Moorish quarters, and is a building of extraordinary mystical and aesthetic power. Make for it on arrival and keep returning as long as you stay; you'll find its beauty and power increase with each visit, as of course is proper, since the mosque was intended for daily attendance.

The Mezquita apart, Córdoba itself is a place of considerable charm. It has few grand squares or mansions, tending instead to introverted architecture, calling your attention to the tremendous and often wildly extravagant patios. These have long been acclaimed, and they are actively encouraged and maintained by the local council, which runs a "Festival of the Patios" in May. Just 7km outside the town more Moorish splendours are to be seen among the ruins of the extravagant palace complex of Medina Azahara which is undergoing fascinating reconstruction.

If you see only one town in Spain it should be GRANADA. For here, extraordinarily well preserved and in a tremendous natural setting, stands the Alhambra – the most exciting, sensual and romantic of all European monuments. It was the palace-fortress of the Nasrid sultans, rulers of the last Spanish Moorish kingdom, and in its construction Moorish art reached a spectacular and serene climax. But the building seems to go further than this, revealing something of the whole brilliance and spirit of Moorish life and culture. There's a haunting passage in Jan Morris's book, Spain, which the palace embodies: "Life itself, which was seen elsewhere in Europe as a kind of probationary preparation for death, was interpreted [by the Moors] as something glorious in itself, to be ennobled by learning and enlivened by every kind of pleasure."

The city on Seven Hills, the birthplace of fado, a maze of dark and narrow streets that date back for centuries.From Alfama, to the Parque das Nações, to the historical district and the new and thriving business district, Lisbon is one of Europe's most beautiful cities.

Alfama The oldest part of the city is Alfama, which has many tourist attractions. A leisurely tour on the old trams in this part of the city, steeped with an old world charm is an experience of a lifetime. The Castelo de S.Jorge , which was won back from the Moors in 1143, is a must in the itinerary for history buffs. This area of the city, with typical narrow streets and traditional architecture, has a unique and friendly atmosphere. Those who do visit Portugal will certainly notice and enjoy the hospitality of the Portuguese people, which in itself is an attraction of the city.

Barrio Alto Bairro Alto is one of the areas of the city with great nightlife. Here you will find a large number of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Belem In Belem, near the Tagus River, there is a variety of monuments and leisure areas. The Torre de Belem is the point from where many expeditions departed, in search of new worlds in the 14th and 15th Centuries. Other beautiful monuments dedicated to Portuguese explorers can also be found in this vicinity such as the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos , both of which are definitely worth a visit. Another attraction of the area is the Centro Cultural de Belem, otherwise known as the CCB, which accommodates many international art exhibits and events with the largest auditorium in the city. Also located at the CCB is the Museu Berardo, which has some of the world's most renowned pieces of modern art. Just some of the artists whose works are on display are Dali, Picasso, Warhol, Pollock, and countless others, making this a must see.

City Center The center of the city, apart from being the business and commercial core of the city, also contains many landmarks and shopping locations.

Lisbon also has an Underground network that can take you anywhere in a matter of minutes.

Outside the City The towns near Lisbon are just as interesting to visit, and provide for a change of scenery and sights that cannot be found in the city. In around twenty minutes you can go to the beach or to the countryside. West of the city is beautiful Cascais, a town whose rich history is evident in its wealth of historical landmarks and attractions. It also has a large number of beaches. To the south, Costa da Caparica, a fishing village, also has wonderful beaches and allows you to see what a traditional Portuguese fishing village is like.
Top 10 SIGHTS
See these sights first
1. JERONIMOS MONASTERY
A World Heritage monument; Vasco da Gama's resting place.
2. BELEM TOWER
The city's icon; a symbol of the Age of Discovery.
3. GULBENKIAN MUSEUM
Treasures from the East and the West.
4. BERARDO MUSEUM OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
One of the world's greatest modern art collections.
5. OCEANARIUM
An odyssey of sea creatures in a state-of-the-art building.
6. ST. GEORGE'S CASTLE
Overlooking the city from millennium-old walls.
7. ANCIENT ART MUSEUM
Fascinating Oriental and European art.
8. MuDe - DESIGN