| Madrid |
Culture
& Entertainment |
Museums
& Galleries
Music
Bullfighting
Flamenco
 Madrid
is one of the major capitals of the arts. Its galleries and museums
are among the finest in the world. Set aside a significant amount
of time if you want to capture the full flavour of what Madrid has
to offer.
There's lots of music and dance of various styles and origins. And
of course, there's the famous, or infamous, Madrid nightlife - if
you are not content with the regular bar scene, where you can dance
all night long.
Many people won't want to leave Madrid without experiencing the thrill
of a bullfight, still a major tourist attractions despite its "non-pc"
label.
Museums & Galleries:
 Madrid's
museums and galleries can be divided into four sections:
* Golden triangle - the city's three most important
museums.
* Other museums - lesser known, but highly charming museums.
* Exhibition halls and Foundations - temporary exhibits.
* Commercial galleries - for those interested in purchasing
art, viewing avant guard etc.
The Golden Triangle
If you're not stopping over for very long, you'll probably find that
you have more than enough to keep you busy in Madrid's three most
important museums:
 *
The Prado Museum (http://www.mcu.es/prado):
Paseo del Prado, s/n Tel: 91 330 28 00, Metro: Banco de
Espana / Atocha
* The Thyssen-Bornemisza (http://www.museothyssen.org/):
Paseo del Prado, 8 (Villahermosa Palace), Tel: 91 369
01 51, Metro: Banco de Espana / Sevilla.
 *
The Reina Sofia National Art Centre (http://museoreinasofia.mcu.es/):
Santa Isabel, 52, Tel: 91 467 50 62, Metro: Atocha.
These three museums are located near the centre, all within walking
distance of one another, forming what is known as the 'golden triangle'.
Although it is possible to visit all three museums in a single day,
those who try will no doubt end their tour with sore feet.
For art lovers, a single visit to any of these three will certainly
be insufficient.
Admission to the Prado Museum and Reina Sofia is free of charge on
Saturdays from 14.30 and Sundays morning.
Music:
 Teatro
Real http://www.teatro-real.com/
Plaza Isabel II, s/n.
Metro: Opera 28013 Madrid.
Tel: 91-516.06.60
Fax: 91-516.06.51
Auditorio Nacional de Musica (National Concert Hall) http://ocne.mcu.es/
Principe de Vergara, 146.
Metro: Cruz de Rayo.
Tel: 91.337.01.40.
Teatro Lirico Nacional de la Zarzuela
(National Lyrical Theatre)
http://teatrodelazarzuela.mcu.es/
Calle Jovellanos, 4.
Metro: Banco de Espana, Tel: 91.524.54.00
Bullfighting:
 Bullfights
in Madrid take place in the Las Ventas bullring, often referred to
as the Mecca of bullfighting.
The season in Madrid is from March to October, with bullfights at
Las Ventas every Sunday at 7:00 PM. During the Feria de San Isidro,
(from about mid-May to mid-June) and the Feria de Otoo (which begins
toward the end of September) there are bullfights everyday, often
with well known bullfighters. Tickets can be purchased at Las Ventas
itself, with tickets going on sale two days before the bullfight.
Tickets can also be bought at a small outlet (indicated as such in
English) on calle Victoria.
Las Ventas
Calle Alcala 237
Tel: 91 356 22 00
Metro: Ventas
Flamenco:
 Flamenco
is without doubt one of Spain's great contributions to the musical
art form. While its roots are in the gypsy culture of Andalusia, and
the bulk of the important Flamenco artists are still of Gypsy decent,
it is receiving more and more international attention.
'True' flamenco is an art form, which can happen spontaneously whenever
a group of people gathers, and in which the audience forms an integral
part of the performance. In Madrid it would be unrealistic to expect
things to be quite that spontaneous, but a good pena (club at which
flamenco is performed) can still offer an intimate atmosphere in which
the audience becomes thoroughly involved. |
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