Madrid just around the corner tour – TRYP Madrid Menfis

If you only have 24 hours to discover Madrid, we recommend a few places that are near the hotel.

PLAZA DE ESPAÑA PARK

Plaza de España is a large square and popular tourist destination in the historic quarter of Madrid. Before Gran Via was built, the square was known as Plaza de San Marcial. It is bordered by two of Madrid’s most prominent skyscrapers: La Torre de Madrid (1957) and the España Building (1953).It also features examples of the capital’s Modernist buildings: the Casa Gallardo and the Compañía Asturiana de Minas building.

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES MONUMENT

In the centre of the plaza is a monument to Spanish novelist, poet and playwright Miguel de Cervantes, built at the same time the plaza itself was being built. In front of the bronze statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza is a rectangular pond which creates one of the most famous images of Madrid with the Torre de Madrid and Edificio España in the background. Originally, the statues stood in the middle of what is now the pond as this feature was added later.     

TORRE DE MADRID TOWER

EThe Plaza de España is surrounded by some of the tallest buildings in the Spanish capital. One of them is the Torre de Madrid, which was the tallest building in the city until the construction of Torrespaña. Built between 1954 and 1957, it measures 142 metres in height and can be seen from the Royal Palace. It is located on one of the corners of Plaza de España (at the start of Princesa Street).

ESPAÑA BUILDING

The profile of the Edificio España, with its stepped gable in four heights located at the end of Gran Via, conforms with the neighbouring skyscraper Torre de Madrid, making the pair one of the most important architectural assemblies of the city. It was built in 1953 and is the 8th tallest building in Madrid.

CASA GALLARDO

On the opposite corner facing Casa Gallardo is the beautiful Real Compañía Asturiana de Minas building, which currently houses the Community of Madrid’s Culture Council. Built between 1891 and 1899, it was designed by Manuel Martinez Angel.

REAL COMPAÑÍA ASTURIANA DE MINAS

On the opposite corner facing Casa Gallardo is the beautiful Real Compañía Asturiana de Minas building, which currently houses the Community of Madrid’s Culture Council. Built between 1891 and 1899, it was designed by Manuel Martinez Angel.

TEMPLO DE DEBOD

The Templo de Debod can be found in the Parque de la Montaña. It is an ancient Egyptian temple over 2,000 years old which was rebuilt stone by stone in Madrid in 1972.

SABATINI GARDENS

Located opposite the north face of the Royal Palace, the Sabatini Gardens measure 2.5 hectares and were designed in the 1930’s in a neo classic style with the typical symmetry of French gardens. Worth visiting to admire the original and geometric shapes of the trees and shrubs.

PUERTA DEL SOL

The Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) originated as one of the gates in the city walls that surrounded Madrid in the 15th century and the name comes from the rising sun which decorated the entry. Although originally on the outer limits of the city, as the city grew towards the east it became a key exit point to the surroundings. Today it is the very centre of the city, symbolised by the “kilometre cero” plaque on the pavement at the entrance of the Post Office, which is the basis of numbering in the Spanish road system.