We spent our last day in Madrid outside, trying to soak up the last of the sun before heading back to London in the evening.
Our first stop was the Buen Retiro Park, which used to belong to the Royal Family until the late 19th Century when the public were allowed access. The park is the largest and one of the most popular in Madrid.
Near the Northern entrance to the park is a large artificial lake, with a large monument of King Alfonso XII overlooking the lake. The monument was erected by his mother in 1922 and is one of the prettiest parts of the park.
Because we had mostly seen Madrid in the late afternoon and the dark, we spent the rest of the afternoon visiting some of the monuments and buildings we had seen the previous night. Everything looked so different in the daytime.
The Alcala Gate, looking a bit like the Arc du Triomphe in the middle of a roundabout at the Plaza de la Independencia.
The Palacio de Comunicaciones, or City Hall
We wandered along Gran Via, one of the most famous shopping streets in Madrid. The buildings were amazing, with so many Art Deco features, and also lots of statues and interesting additions on top of each one.
We ended up leaving Madrid feeling like it's a city you really have to work hard at to uncover its secrets, and that it has a lot of hidden gems that aren't apparent until you really wander round and explore the back streets, but that it's definitely worthwhile doing so.
You are both looking very stylish and a little thin. Love the photos.
ReplyDeleteLooks an interesting city to visit.
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