Madrid’s Historic Downtown

We took a self guided walking tour using the Rick Steves guidebook. Our three-hour route included these key sights:

Puerta del Sol. The bustling heart of Madrid and Spain, often called the Times Square of Spain. The Tío Pepe sign advertises the famous sherry brand.

Plaza Mayor. Madrid’s grandest and most architecturally cohesive square, built during the Habsburg era. Its origins trace back to the early 17th century.

Mercado de San Miguel. A historic and vibrant covered food market just off Plaza Mayor. It’s a popular stop, offering a mix of traditional Spanish tapas, fresh produce, seafood, wines, and gourmet treats in a lively, early 20th-century setting.

San Isidro Church (Iglesia de San Isidro), located near Plaza Mayor in Madrid. This church is dedicated to Saint Isidore the Laborer (San Isidro Labrador), the patron saint of Madrid and farmers.

Madrid’s Royal Palace is the largest functioning royal palace in Western Europe, covering 135,000 square meters and containing approximately 3,418 rooms. The Regular Changing of the Guard take place every Wednesday and Saturday. It is free, featuring soldiers in traditional uniforms, a military band, and synchronized drills.

After watching the changing of the guards, we went to Plaza de Oriente, located directly east of the Royal Palace in Madrid. The plaza is lined with statues of Visigoth and early Christian kings. The centerpiece of the plaza is the dramatic bronze statue of King Philip IV on a rearing horse. This statue is renowned for its engineering as Galileo Galilei calculated the balance needed to support the horse on its hind legs, a groundbreaking feat at the time.

Finally, we went to a nearby bistro and had Padron peppers, grilled squid and Iberian pork secreto.Read more