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10 Must-See Historic Sites to Visit in Madrid
Spain’s capital is full of historical places and iconic sites. From Moorish ruins to Victorian monuments, the city’s landmarks have been at the center of some of Europe’s most significant events. When you visit Madrid, there are a few monuments and sites that stand out. They are easy to get to and full of information and opportunities to explore further. To add to their richness, other cultural and historical landmarks surround them. Below are Madrid’s top 10 historic sites you should check out.
1. Madrid’s Famous Plaza Mayor
Aerial view of the Plaza Mayor after the Spanish Civil War. Source: Google Arts and Culture
For centuries, Madrid’s Plaza Mayor has been at the center of the capital’s economy and culture. Originally called Plaza del Arrabal, King Philip III opened it for the public as an official capital square in 1620. Several reconstructions followed several fires. The current plaza was designed by the architect Juan de Villanueva, who is most revered for his work on the Prado Museum.
Since its inception, the square has been the center of many historic events, from victory celebrations and public bull fights to public trials during the bloody Spanish Inquisition. During the Spanish Civil War and eventual siege of Madrid, the square was the location of the now famous sign displaying the slogan no pasaran, meaning “they will not pass.” Since the beginning, the plaza has been home to some of the city’s most well-known taverns. Today, you can visit historical eateries and cultural landmarks, many of which were frequented by artists, writers, and influential historical figures.
2. Royal Palace of Madrid
The fountain and entrance of the Royal Palace. Source: Spain.info
The site of the Royal Palace of Madrid was once a fortress for the Moorish city of Mayrit. The fortress was built by Mohammed I, the Emir of Córdoba, who wanted a northern outpost to guard his kingdom and its trade routes through the Iberian Peninsula. After the capital of Spain moved to Madrid from nearby Toledo in 1561, a new castle was built. In 1734, the castle burned down, and King Philip V built a palace on the castle grounds. The Royal Palace was finally completed in 1764, with frequent renovations during the following century. The palace has over 1,400 rooms and holds some of Spain’s most prized artifacts and treasures. Many visitors and historians praise the palace for its royal armory, which houses a collection of Spanish military arms dating back to the 16th century.
3. Basílica de San Francisco El Grande
Facade of the Basílica de San Francisco El Grande. Source: spain.info
This 18th-century neoclassical masterpiece has one of the largest Christian domes in Europe. It was built on land granted to Saint Francis of Assisi after he visited Madrid in the 13th century. Since his visit, two temples were built on the grounds before the current basilica was constructed over them.
The basilica is known as one of Madrid’s first architectural wonders. In addition to its design, the paintings inside make up a small but historically significant exhibit. You’ll see masterpieces from Spanish artists such as Goya, Zurbarán, and José del Castillo.
When you visit, you’ll also see the smaller Baroque exterior of the chapel of Cristo de los Dolores de la Venerable Orden Tercera. It’s located in the city’s oldest hospital, which was built in 1697. Inside are collections of precious artworks and historical artifacts dating back to 17th-century Madrid.
4. El Sobrino de Botín
Inside of El Sobrino de Botín. Source: Insider’s Travel
If you’re hungry, stop at one of the world’s oldest restaurants. El Sobrino de Botín opened in 1725. It was once the employer of a waiter named Francisco de Goya, who went on to become one of Europe’s most famous painters after quitting his restaurant job and studying at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. The American writer Ernest Hemingway wrote about the restaurant in his 1926 classic The Sun Also Rises. In it, he writes about the restaurant’s popular suckling pig. To visit this iconic restaurant, walk down the cobblestone C. de Cuchilleros street, just outside of Madrid’s central Plaza Mayor. On the way, you’ll pass some of the city’s oldest buildings.
5. Medieval Moorish Walls
Outside of the Moorish Walls. Source: The Wildlife Diaries
In the 9th century, the Moorish Kingdom controlled the Iberian Peninsula, and its power and influence extended to its northern frontiers. King Emir Muhammad I of Cordoba ordered the walls to be built to protect the Moorish city of Mayrit, the former name for Madrid. Ancient Mayrit was a thriving city at the northern periphery of the Moorish Kingdom. It was a strategic point for a city and military stronghold. The city lasted for several hundred years until King Alfonso VI of Castile and León captured the city and leveled its walls.
Today, you can find the remaining sections of the original city near the Royal Palace. The walls are made from red brick and limestone and are now designated as the Parque de Emir Mohamed. To visit, head to the historic center of the city or get off at the Opera metro station. From there, it’s a short walk to the site. Parque de Emir Mohamed is open on weekends and holidays.
6. La Puerta de Alcalá
La Puerta de Alcalá roundabout. Source: Madrid Tourism
One of the first triumphant arcs in Europe was Madrid’s La Puerta de Alcalá. The renowned Italian architect Francisco Sabatini built the arc in 1778 as the entry point to the city for visitors and returning kings from France, Aragon, and Catalonia. The 63-foot-high granite gate features designs chosen by King Charles III. It is carved with intricate sculptures, masks, and reliefs. The gate sits in the center roundabout of Calle de Alcalá, one of the most significant roads leading to Madrid’s historic center. Nearby, you’ll find the 18th-century Cibeles Fountain and the expansive Retiro Park.
7. Spanish Civil War Monuments
Bunker in Parque del Oeste. Source: Traces of War
Spain endured a brutal civil war that lasted from 1936 to 1939. It started when fascist forces committed a failed coup of the Republican government, which led to both parties taking up arms. As a result, around 500,000 people died, and the Spanish economy crashed. Madrid was one of the Republic’s last strongholds before the fascist forces took over the country. The forces put up a long fight near Parque Oeste before the siege of Madrid ended in the Republican forces’ defeat.
Today, remnants of the bloody conflict can be seen throughout the city. One of the most prominent landmarks of the war is the Civil War bunkers in the expansive green spaces of Casa de Campo and El Capricho Park. These former bunkers, hidden amongst the trees, were the locations of the final front before the city fell.
8. Museo Nacional del Prado
Museo Nacional del Prado courtyard entrance. Source: Spain.info
The Prado is one of the world’s most beloved art museums and one of Madrid’s most important historical monuments. In 1785, the architect Juan de Villanueva designed the building to be King Charles III’s Natural History Cabinet. It was built to replace the Buen Retiro Palace, of which only two sections survive today, including the original ceiling mural painted by artist Luca Giordano. After changing uses, King Ferdinand VII finally ordered it to become the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. In 1819, its name was officially changed to Museo Nacional del Prado, and it officially opened to the public. Inside the historic building, you can find several levels of art history on display. From Spanish painters such as Salvador Dalí and Francisco Goya to other European artists such as Rembrandt.
9. Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol and King Charles III statue. Source: Madrid Tourism Department
Madrid radiates out from its central plaza, Puerta del Sol. Here, the original main entrance gate, adorned with an emblem of the sun, stood in the 16th century. In the early years of the city’s history, it was the space where celebrations, victories in battle, and other national events were commemorated. The city developed around the square, which served as a central point of commerce for the new capital. When electricity and cable cars came to the city, the Puerta del Sol became the first place where the technology was established.
Today, the square is one of the city’s most exciting public spaces. It features popular landmarks such as the El Oso y el Madroño statue and the equestrian statue of King Charles III. The most prominent historical landmark in the square is the Real Casa de Correos. This beautiful building was once the royal post office in the 18th century.
10. Madrid’s Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena
View of the dome and minarets of the cathedral. Source: Living Madrid
The Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena is one of Madrid’s most impressive monuments. On the site, many historians believe there was a mosque during the time of Mayrit. After Spain’s capital moved from nearby Toledo to Madrid, a new cathedral was scheduled to be built. However, this didn’t happen for many centuries because Spain focused on building cathedrals in the Americas. Then, in 1883, workers laid the first stone of the new cathedral. Construction lasted for decades and paused during the Spanish Civil War. It was finally finished in 1993 and became an official cathedral of the Catholic Church. On the back side of the cathedral is the popular St Mary Royal of the Almudena crypt. Here, you can walk through the tunnels underneath the cathedral.
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