Madrid, the Capital of Spain, is one of my favorite cities in Europe. It felt like home...
The Plaza de Cibeles located in the Paseo de Recoletos is the iconic symbol of the city of Madrid. At the center is the Cibeles fountain named after Cybele or Ceres, the Roman goddess of Nature. The fountain depicts the goddess sitting on a chariot being pulled by two lions.
Puerta de Alcala is Madrid's version of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It is located at the Plaza de la Independencia near the city center.
Palacio de Cristal is a spectacular glass palace located at the center of Parque del Buen Retiro Park in Madrid. It was built in 1887 to house exotic flora and fauna from the Philippines which was then a colony of Spain. Today, the palace is used for contemporary art exhibitions.
Statue of Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colon) at Columbus Square (Plaza de Colon) in Madrid. The plaza originally called Plaza de Santiago (St. James Square) was renamed in 1893 to honor and commemorate one of the greatest explorers of all time, Christopher Columbus.
Statue of Francisco Goya at the Prado Museum in Madrid. Goya, a romantic painter is one of my favorite Spanish painters. He was considered as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the Modern Masters.
This is the entrance to the Jardines del Buen Retiro or Parque del Buen Retiro (Gardens of the Pleasant Retreat). It is the largest and most popular public park in Madrid. Originally a royal park for the Spanish monarchy, it became a public park in the late 19th Century.
The Congreso de los Diputados (Congress of Deputies) is the lower house of the Cortes Generales, Spain's legislative branch of government. This neoclassical building was completed in 1850.
The Museo del Prado (Prado Museum) in Madrid is one of my favorite museums in Europe. It features some of the finest collections of European Art. It boasts the best works of art by Velasquez, Goya, Titian, and Rubens.
Aerial views of Madrid. These photos were taken from the penthouse of one of the modern skyscrapers that were recently completed.
The cityscape of Madrid is fascinating. The architecture of the buildings varies from from one district of the city to the next.
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