Aranjuez

Just 48 km south of Madrid, Aranjuez is another UNESCO world heritage site you must see. Home of the Royal Palace, Aranjuez is the spring residence of Spanish kings on the late 1880s. Don't miss its watercourses and magnificent gardens.

Madrid bookshops

Madrid, being the cosmopolitan place it is, has many places to go and get something interesting to read. Either brand new books or second hand, the city will offer you a wide range of stores to choose.

El Escorial

Just 60 km north-west Madrid,  once the Spanish Royal Family's home the Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial is now declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, and was considered the eighth wonder of the world.  It is an amazing place that includes a monastery, a palace and a basilica as well. Gifted by nature, El Escorial is a great place to go hiking and do other outdoor sports.

RENFE

How to get the best of it.

Renfe is the company which operates cargo and passenger train services in Spain. It has three different types of passenger trains called Ave, Avant and Cercanias.

Toledo

Just 70 km south of Madrid; known as the city of the three cultures for having been populated for many centuries by Christians, Jews and Arabs, Toledo has a history that goes as far as back as the Bronze Age.

Atocha Railway Station

Madrid Atocha (also named Madrid Puerta de Atocha) is the largest railway station in Madrid. It is the primary station serving commuter trains (Cercanías), intercity and regional trains from the South, and the AVE high speed trains from Barcelona, Zaragoza, Sevilla and Valencia. These train services are run by the Spanish national rail company, Renfe.

At this site, Madrid's first railway station was

Tapas

"Tapa" means lid

What are tapas?

Cortes & Don Quixote

Centro (downtown Madrid) is one of the 21 districts of the city and Cortes is one of its 6 neighborhoods.  Also known as Las Letras, this was the area in which four of the greatest spanish authors used to live: Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Francisco de Quevedo and Tirso de Molina.

If you are staying at our Costanilla's flat, just walk left towards Atocha Street, then right 20 meters and you'll find a building with an amazing story behind its walls: it is the place where Miguel de Cervantes's novel Don Quixote was printed in 1604.

Calle Atocha 87, imprenta del Quijote

Don Quixote , as well as the Bible, is one of the most

"Placas" of Madrid

One of the things I most enjoy during my walks on the streets of Madrid are

The beginning of this project.

48 hours: that's the time it took me to adore Madrid.

During March 2010 my husband and I travelled for three weeks visiting family in Louisiana, USA, with a two days stopover in Madrid. On our way back home