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Cultural Activities
& Weekend Excursions
The following are Cultural activities
and sights available in Madrid:
- Madrid has a remarkable collection of
museums (the "Museo del Prado", the "Museo
Thyssen", the "Museo Reina Sofía",...)
and galleries.
- If you need relax, you can make a walk
or just lie on the grass in the most popular and authentic
Madrilenian parks: The Retiro Park (119 hectares and 15.000
trees).
- Nightlife is an essential part of the
city: you can find hundreds of pubs and bars, traffic jams
at 4 A.M., light shows,... There are several areas to go out,
each one with a particular style.
- You can find more than 54.000 shops in
Madrid, almost anything you would want to buy.
- In the province of Madrid, the famous
monastery "El Escorial" where are buried the Kings
of Spain cannot be missed.
- Due its central location, you can visit
a lot of Spanish cities without traveling during hours and
hours. In less than two hours, you can be in Avilla, Toledo,
Segovia, Aranjuez,...
- If you need relax, you can take a walk
or just lie on the grass in the most popular and authentic
Madrilenian parks: Retiro Park (119 hectares and 15.000 trees).
- Nightlife is an essential part of the
city: you can find hundreds of pubs and bars, traffic jams
at 4 A.M., and light shows. There are several areas to go
out, each one with a particular style.
- You can find more than 54,000 shops in
Madrid; you can buy everything you want there.
- Due its central location, you can visit
a lot of Spanish cities without traveling for hours and hours.
In less than two hours, you can be in Avilla, Toledo, Segovia,
or Aranjuez.
Please note that additional
info (prices, activities, etc) are found to the right of this
pages. 
Examples of Activities and Excursions
(In Madrid) offered by the school
- Tour of Old Madrid: The Austrian part
of Madrid. We'll learn about the history of Puerta del Sol,
La Plaza Mayor, La Plaza del Ayuntamiento, El Palacio Real,
and other sites.
- El Museo Municipal de Madrid: The history of Madrid and
its historical figures through paintings, drawings, sculptures
and other objects.
- El Palacio Real: Built in the 18th century by King Philip
V, the first Bourbon king of Spain.
- El Convento de las Descalzas Reales: A convent located
right in the heart of Madrid. It has been a place of solace,
prayer and art since the 16th century, when it was founded
by Princess Juana of Austria.
- El Convento de la Encarnación: Founded by Queen Margarita
of Austria-Stiria, the wife of King Philip III, in 1611. It
is noteworthy for its vial containing the dried blood of St.
Pantaleón.
- El Museo y la Fábrica de Tapices: Established in
1721 by King Philip V. Its weavers use the same techniques
today that were used in the 18th century.
- El Museo Lázaro Galdiano: A private art collection
donated by its founder. It displays jewels, paintings, sculptures,
furniture and many other objects.
- El Museo de Artes Decorativas: A collection of objects formerly
used in everyday life that are now considered objets d'art.
- El Museo del Prado: Spain's most important art collection
and one of the best in the world. We'll see paintings by Goya,
El Greco, Ribera, Zurbarán, Murillo and Velázquez.
- El Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: Modern Spanish art
featuring Juan Gris, Miró, Dalí and, of course,
Picasso (especially El Guernica, his most controversial and
renowned work).
- El Panteón de Goya: The San Antonio de la Florida
hermitage, which houses the remains of the genius painter
from Aragón. The chapel was decorated by Goya and depicts
the miracle performed by San Antonio.
- El Ayuntamiento: The city hall and the mayor's office.
- El Congreso de los Diputados: The history of the Spanish
constitution and the Parliament, created by Queen Isabella
II in 1850.
Parlamento
- El Rastro: The most interesting outdoor market in Madrid,
located in the old part of the city.
- El Planetario: A trip to the stars.
- Parque del Retiro El País: The production facilities
of the newspaper with the largest circulation in Spain.
- El Museo Arqueológico: Artifacts from the different
eras that make up Spanish history and culture.
- El Museo Romántico: Furniture, paintings and other
objects from this dark period in Spain's history.
- El Museo Cerralbo: A palace-museum located in the centre
of Madrid. It houses the art collections gathered by the Marquis
of Cerralbo during his lifetime in the 17th century.
- El Museo Sorolla: The former home of painter Joaquín
Sorolla y Bastida. His widow donated it to create the museum.
Excursions from Madrid
These
locations are offered as weekend and day trip excursions.
- Segovia: Offers amazing Roman architecture,
Castles, and beautiful scenery
- Ávila: See one of the finest remnants
of Europe's medieval era, the walled town of Avila.
- El Escorial and Valle de los Caídos:
Visit the resting place of many of Spain's most famous Nobles
at El Escorial and see the tomb of Dictator Francisco Franco
at the Valley of the Fallen.
- Aranjuéz: Relax the day away with
a stroll through this cities wonderful gardens, strawberry
fields, and amazing palaces.
- Toledo: This treasure trove of Spanish
history and culture is home to some of the most amazing architecture
from the Romans, Muslims, and Christians. Don't forget to
try the mazipan or buy a medieval sword just two of Toledo's
most famous products.
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