Madrid’s three world-class art museums and two royal palaces alone would set the pulses racing, but there is more to this exciting and diverse capital than its tourist sights. The fashion boutiques of the Salamanca district showcase Europe’s top designers and are just the tip of a shopping iceberg, perfectly complementing the informality of the fascinating El Rastro market, while Madrid’s world-famous tapas bars vie for attention with gourmet restaurants and humble tabernas in a city which never sleeps. To simply watch the world go by, head for the supremely elegant Plaza Mayor.
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The main transport hub, has a surprising tropical forest inside it complete with terrapins. Have a relaxing drink at the cafe for a ringside seat. Like the rest of Madrid it was very reasonably priced.
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Close to the trendy Mercado de Fuencarral and all its fashionable stores, this bar stands out with its classical decoration and cool ambient. People gather here from midday to midnight for a quiet beer and a chat with the friends or a quick break in the shopping frenzy. If this is not enough, they hold a competition: La Ardosa Guinness Record of beer drinking. dont you fancy giving it a try?
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The Campo del Moro is a pleasing park, rising steeply from the Rio Manzanares to offer one of the finest views of the Palacio Real. The park has a varied history. In 1109 a Moorish army, led by Ali ben Yusuf bivouacked here, hence the name. In the late 19th century it was used as a lavish playground for royal children. It was reopened to the public in 1931 under the Second Republic closed again under Franco and not reopened until 1983.
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Dedicated to the city's patron, the cathedral of La Almudena was begun in 1879 and completed over a century later. The cathedral which stands to the south of the Plaza de la Almeria, held the first royal wedding between Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz in May 2004.
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Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra ( September 29?, 1547 – April 23, 1616) was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. Cervantes is one of the most important and influential people in literature and his magnum opus, Don Quixote, is considered a founding classic of Western literature and regularly figures among the best novels ever written. His work is considered among the most important in all of literature. He has been dubbed el Príncipe de los Ingenios (the Prince of Wits). Cervantes' novel Don Quixote has had a tremendous influence on the development of prose fiction; it has been translated into all major languages and has appeared in 700 editions. The first translation was in English, made by Thomas Shelton in 1608, but not published until 1612. Shakespeare had evidently read Don Quixote, but it is most unlikely that Cervantes had ever heard of Shakespeare. Carlos Fuentes raised the possibility that Cervantes and Shakespeare were the same person (see Shakespearean authorship question). Francis Carr has suggested that Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays and Don Quixote.
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Spain's thriving film scene has gained international exposure in recent years. The country makes around 100 feature films a year and the film "Alatriste", which stars Viggo Mortensen, is the most expensive Spanish-language film ever made in Spain (about €24 million – US$30 million). It portrays Spain of the 17th century using both fictional and real characters. The most famous Spanish directors are Pedro Almodovar, Alejandro Amenabar and Agustin Diaz Yanes. Most foreign-language films are dubbed in Spanish, but non spanish movies can be seen in their original language versions at theatres of "Luna", "Ideal", "Alphaville" and "Renoir". Screenings will be found listed in newspapers and listings magazines. For those with a gasp of the language, Spanish film is a rewarding experience, especially enjoyed at one of the grand film theatres along Gran Via, such as "Capitol", which has screened films since the early 1900s.
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The Nuns belong to a closed order. They sell home-made biscuits, a tradition that dates back to the 16th century.The biscuits are sold through a serving hatch, whereby you can hear the nuns speak but not see them.This place is situated at or near Plaza Conde de Miranda 3, then go into Calle del Codo and the door is on the right, difficult to find . Te. 91 548 3901
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With an interior decorated like a typical Valencian country house and divided up into several small, cosy dining rooms, it's an ideal choice for groups of friends, family dinners or business lunches. It's a busy restaurant that's full every day and night with people ordering from the 20 different varieties of paella on offer. Despite being so busy and so popular with tourists, it still retains its original charm. Foreigners tend to order jugs of sangría whilst locals stick to wine or beer.
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Lope de Vega (also Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio or Lope Félix de Vega Carpio) (25 November 1562 – 27 August 1635) was a Spanish Baroque playwright and poet. His reputation in the world of Spanish letters is second only to that of Cervantes, while the sheer volume of his literary output is unequalled: he is estimated to have written between 1,500 and 2,500 fully-fledged plays – of which some 425 have survived until the modern day – together with a plethora of shorter dramatic and poetic works.
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Around the square Plaza de Cibeles rise four magnificent buildings. The most impressive is the main post office, the "Palacio de Communicationes", designed by Joaquin Otamendi during 1905 and 1917. Its appearance is often likened to a wedding cake style with Art Nouveau features. It is worth looking into the building to see the palatial main hall.
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