I’m planning a brief getaway to Madrid for the week after Christmas (leaving December 26 and returning January 1). Also, I may be taking the train down to Sevilla for one or two days. Does anyone have any suggestions, tips, favorite restaurants, must-see spots, etc.?
Thanks.
a bump before I leave work
The Prado in Madrid has one of the finest collections of paintings in the world. Definitely do not miss that. There is a museum of modern art as well, which has Picasso’s Guernica.
In Seville, see the cathedral, with the tomb of Columbus (though there’s some dispute over whether his remains are really there), and the attached Moorish tower.
The modern art museum spoke mentions is called the Reina Sofia, and it’s absolutely a must-see. The Thyssen-Bornemisza museum has some great modern art, too.
Otherwise – heck, just walk around, listen to the street musicians, drink lots of wine and coffee, and order a big ol’ plate of seafood. Spain is one of the coolest countries in the world, and is best enjoyed with an open mind and plenty of slack time. Wish I were going with you…
If you see a guy with long ears singing at you in a hairstylists salon in sevile, avoid at all costs! Especially if your initials are E.F.
http://www.cnn.com/TRAVEL/CITY.GUIDES/WTR/internat.profiles/ip.madrid.html
http://www.softdoc.es/
http://www.softdoc.es/madrid_guide/main/welcome.html
http://www.sispain.org/
http://www.okspain.org/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/eur/spa.htm
http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/spain/spainwhat.html
http://www.expedia.com/wg/europe/spain/p15822.asp
http://www.museothyssen.org/
http://museoreinasofia.mcu.es/e/default.htm
http://museoprado.mcu.es/prado/html/iinfogeneral.html
http://www.mcu.es/prado/villanueva.html
http://www.mcu.es/nmuseos/sorolla/ (Sorolla, Impressionist painter)
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm
http://www.andalucia.com/accommodation/home.htm
If you make it to Granada, I’d hightly recommend the Alhambra.
For a day trip in Madrid, I’d suggest a trip to El Valle de los Caidos where you can see that Franco is, indeed, still dead.
There’s so much to see, you can’t even scratch the surface.
Thank you, all!
Oh yes, and there are some really interesting Roman ruins on the outskirts of Seville, including a Roman coliseum. Check that out if you have time. I believe that the Roman Emperor Trajan was from there, and if you’ve seen the movie Gladiator, you’ll remember that the main character in that film was from Spain as well. Just something to think about as you’re walking around the ruins.