The Royal Palace stands on the site of the former Alcázar of Madrid, a medieval fortress transformed into a lavish palace by Juan II, Carlos V and Felipe II who in 1561 made it the official residence of the Spanish Monarchy. The Alcázar was destroyed in a fire on Christmas Eve 1734. Felipe V then decided to raise a new Royal Palace on this site, employing the best architect in Europe at the time, Filippo Juvarra. When Juvarra died in 1736, his pupil Giambattista Sacchetti made various changes to his grandiose project. The entire building is made of a series of domes built without a single piece of wood and it has multiple floors to accommodate all the administrative offices, Crown officials and servants. - Patrimonio Nacional, Gobierno de España

The narrow and winding streets of this irregularly laid-out area, mostly dating back to the Middle Ages, usually lead onto a square. Most of them lay outside the Medieval walled village and provided accommodation to a great many merchants who sold their goods at the market. This commercial tradition still echoes in several street and square names, such as Plaza de la Cebada (Barley Square), where the farmers’ market used to be held, Plaza de los Carros (Carriage Square), Plaza de la Paja (Straw Square), or even El Rastro (owing its name to the blood trail of the old slaughterhouse), the city’s best-known flea market. - Official Tourism Website, Madrid

In the seventeenth century, the Golden Age of Spanish Literature, Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo, Tirso de Molina and Góngora, among other authors, had their homes here – hence the name. Some of the streets in this neighbourhood pay tribute to this and other brilliant chapters of Spanish history, culture and art. - Official Tourism Website, Madrid

Paseo del Arte (Art Walk in English) is also known as the Golden Triangle of Art. Along a 2 kilometre stretch, three of the world’s finest art collections are to be found. This includes the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Collection, and the Reina Sofía Museum. Paseo del Arte runs along the wide, tree-lined boulevard of Paseo del Prado and some of the streets that come out onto it. Together with Paseo de Recoletos and Paseo de la Castellana, Paseo del Prado forms a long line that flows north to south through the city. Once an open green space close to the San Jerónimo el Real monastery – ‘prado’ means ‘meadow’ in Spanish –, the area of the long avenue that we can see today witnessed the construction of the Buen Retiro Palace, commissioned by King Philip IV. - Official Tourism Website, Madrid

The Retiro park is one of the most beautiful sites in central Madrid, a former royal garden built in the 17th century. We bicycle along the French parterre towards the Estanque, lake and further to the Crystal palace an elegant glass and iron construction where they first exposed exotic plants and flowers from the Philippines. An optional break at the lake for a refreshment makes it a memorable experience. Later we exit the Retiro park through the main entrance at Alcalá gate another important symbol of the Spanish capital.

Most of Madrid most fashionable shops are located on calle Serrano in the Salamanca district. One of the best food markets is the mercado de la Paz. Another interesting spot is the food market and tapas place of Platea on calle Goya 5-7 opposite Plaza de Colón.

This neighborhood owes its name to Manuela Malasaña, one of the heroines and victims of the historical events that took place in Madrid on 2 May 1808. Plaza del Dos de Mayo, at the heart of the neighbourhood, commemorates the rebellion against Napoleon’s occupation led by captains Luis Daoíz and Pedro Velarde, officers at the headquarters of the Monteleón Artillery Regiment. In the festive 1980s, Malasaña witnessed the birth of the movida madrileña, an underground movement that revolutionised the arts, culture and Spanish society at large. - Official Tourism Website, Madrid

Chueca became one of the liveliest districts after the Franco dictatorship with many boutiques and bars. San Antonio international food market attracts many visitors. From Chueca square, you will find Augusto Figuorea street with many, shoe shops, cafés and traditional taverns.

An ancient temple, a donation by the Egyptian government and reassembled at the beginning of the 70's in the Parque del Oeste park with excellent views towards the Casa de Campo parklands and the Sierra Guadarrama mountain range in the distance, one of the best sites for watching spectacular sunsets.