Walking Tour in Madrid with Audio and GPS Guide

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Plaza Mayor

  The Plaza Mayor used to house the exceptionally luxurious rooms of the monarchy. From here, the royal families watched the people. Now the square has been transformed into one large pedestrian area where there is always something to do. You can listen to street musicians and enjoy local delicacies on the terraces.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Mercado San Miguel

  The Mercado de San Miguel is one of Madrid’s oldest markets and is known for its vibrant atmosphere and elegant Beaux-Arts design. The original market, which opened in 1916, was inspired by Les Halles in Paris. The market’s modern renovation has preserved its iconic architectural style.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Plaza de la Villa

  The Plaza de la Villa is one of the best preserved historical monuments of Madrid. It is located in the heart of the capital, next to the Puerta del Sol. The Plaza de la Villa houses three buildings of great historical and artistic value. The square was therefore an important centre in the medieval city. The oldest of the three is located on the east side of the square and consists of the 15th century house and the Lujanes tower, built in the Mudejar style. This was once the residence of mayor Gonzalo Garcia de Ocaña; today it is the headquarters of the Royal Academy of Moral and Political Sciences. In the centre of the square is the 16th century palace Casa de Cisneros, and on the west side is the beautiful 17th century baroque Casa de la Villa, the former town hall.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4

  The Iglesia San Pedro el Viejo is a smaller but special church. A mosque once stood on this site. The church is a bit of a mix of everything: mainly built in the 14th century, the entrance door is from the Renaissance period (1525), the vault is Gothic, and the brick tower is a typical example of the Mudejar style

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5

  Museum about the history of Madrid in an old palace. You can see how Madrid has grown over the years into a big city, from prehistory to the 17th century.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  Plaza de la Paja is a somewhat ‘forgotten’ square that was the heart of Madrid, especially during the Middle Ages. For four centuries, important events from Madrid’s history took place here. During the Islamic occupation, this was the most important square. Later, during the conversion to Christianity, beautiful large houses were built around the square.

  Admission ticket free
• 6

  The monument in the middle of the Plaza de Oriente is a memorial to Philip IV of Spain. The equestrian statue of the king, made by the Italian sculptor Pietro Tacca, dates from the 17th century. The statue, on top of an intricate fountain composition, forms the centerpiece of the façade of the Royal Palace. The audacious stability of the statue was calculated by Galileo Galilei: the horse rears up and the entire weight of the statue balances on its two hind legs and tail

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Plaza de Oriente

  The palace was built in the early 19th century, during the reign of Joseph Bonaparte, elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. Here the people gathered to listen to what kings had to say from the balconies of the palace

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  Plaza De Espana

  The Edificio España, which is in the center, was built in the mid-20th century. At 117 meters, it was the tallest building in Spain for a long time. There were many plans for the 25-storey building, but many of them were shelved. Part of it is now a hotel. The other tall building is called the Torre Madrid, built in 1957 and 142 meters high. Both skyscrapers were designed by the Otamendi brothers. The most beautiful thing about this square is the fountain and the impressive monument in honor of Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), the author of the comic 'Don Quixote de La Mancha'. Right in front of the monument you can see the bronze statues of Don Quixote on his horse and Sancho Panza on the donkey. Like many other artists, Cervantes died a poor man, here in Madrid.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9
  Puerta del Sol

  The Puerta del Sol is the central square of Madrid. Nowadays you come here to shop, go out, people watch and be watched. But now we are standing in the square to see the standing bronze bear eating from a mulberry tree. This statue, called Oso y Madroño, is considered the symbol of Madrid and has been there since 1967. Osa means bear and madroño means mulberry tree. There are different theories about the meaning. One is that the region of Madrid was once a favorite place for bears that hid in a forest. In this forest there were madroños, trees that bore fruit that looked like mulberries. Another explanation is that it refers to the fertility of the land around Madrid and the possessions of the aristocracy. The bear can be found on the official flag of the city, which also features seven stars that refer to the constellation of, yes, the Big Bear.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchair accessible

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