The Center
This forms the traditional sphere of the city with plenty of attractions awaiting the visitors. It features churches, historical landmarks, museums and many more. Madrid’s majestic spirit is most evident at Plaza Mayor, the town square designed in 1619 by Juan Gomez de Mora. A must visit for travelers; it is a vast expanse with iconic structures and plenty of entertainment at hand. Located in the east of the Plaza Mayor, the semicircular way is famous for its variety of shops and cafes. Known to be one of the busiest places in the city, it often experiences throngs of visitors who come here for a feel of history. The Sol features the Capital building of the community of Madrid. The giant neon Tio Pepe post over the plaza is a famous icon of this site. New Year celebrations usually herald from this point. Gran Via forms the city’s main street offering an array of cinemas, department stores, banks and corporations. It winds up at the Plaza de Espana, where bronze figures of Don Quixote and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, are displayed.
Located close to Plaza Espana is Arguelles, a dense section of narrow, crisscrossing lanes in between promenade-like Pintor Rosales and the shop-filled Calle Princesa, which leads up to Moncloa.
