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1. Spending the Weekend in Madrid: Site Seeing Tips
2. Accomodations: Some Top Picks on Places to Stay in Madrid
3. Ground Transportation
4. About: Madrid the Capital, Spain the Country
5. Getting in Touch: Who to Contact for Assistance
1. Spending the Weekend in Madrid: Site Seeing Tips
Below we've provided some top places to check out in Madrid. The Historic Sites and Museums listings also include a brief description and a link to more information as provided in English and Spanish, by Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia.
Historic Sites
i) Palacio Real (Royal Palace)
The official residence of Spain's monarchy.
ii) Plaza Mayor (Grand Square)
Madrid's central square, a great place to grab a bite to eat or a mid-afternoon refreshment.
iii) Templo de Debod (Temple of Deblod)
Visit an Egyptian temple brought to Madrid in 1968.
iv) Catedral Almudena (Almudena Cathedral)
One of the more recently built cathedrals in Spain, this is a must-see while in Madrid.
v) Puerta de Alcalá (Alcala Gate)
Located in Independance Square, this is a must-see local landmark.
vi) Puerta del Sol (Sol Gate)
The geographical center of Spain, and the epicenter of Madrid, Puerta del Sol is also the site of the famous bear statue: "Del Oso y Del Madroño."
vii) Plaza de España (Spain Square)
This square features many important monuments, and is flanked by landmark buildings. A short walk from the Royal Palace.
viii) Estación Atocha (Atocha Station)
You'll see the station if you travel to places like Valencia or Sevilla, but it's also worth checking out this historic landmark and its indoor garden.
ix) Plaza Cibeles (Cibeles Square)
Located on the Paseo de Recoletos, Plaza de Cibeles features an impressive fountain and the Palace of Communications.
x) Teatro Real (Royal Theater)
Housing the city's Opera and Symphonic Orchestra, the Royal Theater facilities can also be toured daily.
Museums
i) Museo del Prado (The Prado)
Spain's most important art museum, sometimes referred to as Spain's Louvre. A must see.
Official Web Site: http://museoprado.mcu.es/ihome.html
ii) Museo Naciónal Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (The Reina Sofia)
Dedicated to 20th century art, this museum also features a unique architecture that melds an old hospital building with a ultra-modern addition designed by the famed Jean Nouvel.
Official Web Site: www.museoreinasofia.es
iii) Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (The Thyssen)
The third of the main art museums that make up the golden triangle, this lesser-known center for art is well worth the visit.
Official Web Site: www.museothyssen.org
iv) Museo Lázaro Galdiano (Web site only available in Spanish)
You'll want to make sure you've prepped ahead of time if you're going to check out the Lázaro-Galdiano Foundation's museum, but it is well worth the visit.
Official Web Site: www.flg.es
Other Sites of Interest
i) Gran Via
Gran Via, along with the Castellana and Alcalá, are the three main arteries in central Madrid. Gran Via has much to offer in the way of shopping, dining and entertainment.
ii) El Rastro
A large street market that happens every Sunday near the La Latina neighbourhood, this is a Sunday morning must-see site.
iii) Jardin de Sabatini
Gardens located behind the Royal Palace, and on route to the Templo de Debod.
iv) Casa del Campo
Check out this huge park, known as Madrid's "lung". As an alternate to driving into the park, you can also take the hanging cable car/tram (See Teleferico).
v) El Retiro
Madrid's Hyde/Central Park, check out the central lake for a quick row boat tour before catching lunch at one of the local eateries on nearby Alcalá or Valasquez streets.
vi) Las Ventas Bullring
For the adventurous tourist looking to experience this traditional Spanish sport, check out Las Ventas. Keep in mind that by November, most activities are over for the season, but you can usually tour this historic structure.
vii) Mirador del Faro
Also known as the Faro de Moncloa, a futurist-looking lookout tower that provides excellent views over Madrid.
viii) Sporting Sites
Check-out the Santiago Barnabeu (home of Real Madrid FC) or Vincente Calderon (Atlético de Madrid FC) stadiums.
ix) Universities and Institutes
Madrid has many top national and international educational institutions. Check-out some of the following places if this tourist activity peaks your interest: Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Universidad CEU-San Pablo, or Insituto de Empresa (IE). Also, you may want to check out the new home of the Instituto Cervantes, a short walk from Plaza Cibeles.
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2. Accomodations: Some Top Picks on Places to Stay in Madrid
Madrid has many choices when looking for places to stay, with hotels ranging from the Ritz or Palace Hotel to basic hostal accomodations, with a large variety of options in-between. While you'll want to choose a place to stay that suits your preferences and budget, here is some information about hotels and neighbourhoods to keep in mind when choosing your accomodations:
i) Prestige Hotels
If you're looking for top hotels, you'll want to consider one of Madrid's best: The Ritz, The Palace Hotel, Hotel Avenida de America, Tryp Reina Victoria, or etc.
ii) Good Mid-Range Hotels
Consider one of the NH Hotels or Hotel Emperador. There are many 3-4 star hotels in Madrid, priced reasonably if booked in advance.
iii) Hostals
If you're looking for Hostals, most are located in the center, near Puerta del Sol. La Latina also has places to offer, and the neighbourhood is a lively one on Saturdays and Sundays.
Overall, Madrid is a safe, clean city, and so you should be fine with whatever hotel and neighbourhood you choose while in Madrid. Keep in mind that the Gomez-Pardo Foundation (where SAICA 2007 will be taking place) is a little north of the center, so you might want to choose hotels that are on the Castellana or near the Ciudad Universitaria (University City).
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3. Ground Transportation
Taxis are reasonably prices and can be obtained by simply flagging one down on a major street. To book a taxi ahead of time, ask your hotel to call for you or call yourself. Check out Tele-Taxi or other companies for both telephone and online bookings.
Metro de Madrid is very efficient and runs from early in the morning to late in the evening. Since there is a Metro station (Rios Rosas) close the Foundation Gomez-Pardo, it might make sense for you to take the Metro to all SAICA 2007 proceedings.
Buses are also an effective way to travel in the city, just make sure that you catch the right colour! Red and blue buses are for in-city routes, green buses for regional service. Check out the official site here for more information.
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4. About: Madrid the Capital, Spain the Country
Madrid
Having been the capital since 1561 when it took over from Toledo and Zaragoza as the location of the royal court, Madrid's fortunes have largely mirrored those of Spain's as a whole. Madrid (city) is located in the Automous Community of Madrid - one of 17 such communities in Spain, and is the the modern-day seat of both the monarch and central government. Madrid is similar in population and geographic size to London, Paris and Berlin, and has a cosmopolitan population.
Spain
Spain, having seen incredible levels of development over the past 30 years, is an important member country of the European Union. Spain is also in the European Monetary Union, and so the local currency is Euros (€). Spain's most important cities are: Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Granada, San Sebastian, Tenerife, Palma de Mallorca, and Marbella. Spains GDP in 2005 was measured at US$1.12 trillion, and the country currently has a population of about 45 million residents.
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5. Getting in Touch: Who to Contact for Assistance
Dr. Juan Martín Sánchez
Chairman/President, SAICA 2007
Email: juanms@ieee.org
Joël McConnell
Communications Coordinator, SAICA 2007
Email: jmcconnell@adexcop.com
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