Things to do in Hita

Torija Castle

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Royal Palace of Madrid

• Witness the history and royal anecdotes of Spain • Approx. 2 million travelers visit annually • Combining traditional Spanish royal architectural style with Baroque style, it covers a total area of approx. 130,000 m² with over 3,000 rooms △In the 9th century, this was once the castle of Arab rulers. After being recaptured by Christians, it became the residence of successive kings. A fire in 1734 destroyed the castle, and the royal palace seen today was rebuilt in 1764. △The Royal Palace of Madrid is an exquisitely crafted architectural marvel and one of the best-preserved palaces in the world. The entire palace is magnificent, with over 3,000 rooms in total, though only around fifty are open for travelers to visit. Particularly noteworthy is the palace's preserved set of five Stradivarius string instruments—two violins, one viola, and two cellos. △Adorned with golden ornaments, royal red velvet floors and walls, and chandeliers as magnificent as the room itself, while admiring the ceiling painted by Tiepolo. Marvel at the grand staircase designed by Sabatini, with over 70 steps in total.

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Prado Museum

The building that today houses the Museo Nacional del Prado was designed by architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785. It was constructed to house the Natural History Cabinet, by orders of King Charles III. However, the building's final purpose - as the new Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures - was the decision of the monarch's grandson, King Ferdinand VII, encouraged by his wife Queen Maria Isabel de Braganza. The Royal Museum, soon quickly renamed the National Museum of Paintings and Sculptures and subsequently the Museo Nacional del Prado, opened to the public for the first time in November 1819. Since it was founded in 1819 and over its multi-century history, the Museo Nacional del Prado has performed the important task of conserving, exhibiting and enriching a set of collections and works of art which, due to their close ties with Spanish history, are recognized as one of the most valuable compendiums of artistic expression known to humanity. Loans to temporary exhibitions are the Museum's most direct means of communication with society. They offer the opportunity of reinterpreting the collections while linking them to currentl issues. At the same time, they also provide an especially attractive scope for museography allowing for experimentation on new styles and technologies. They contribute to projecingt a new identity of the Museum by encouraging innovation, research and the public interest in its collections. With this intention in mind, the Museo Nacional del Prado offers its visitors a wide exhibition program while contributing to the promotion of its collections through the loan of works from its collection to exhibition projects organised by other cultural institutions, both national and international.

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Metropolitan Area and Henares Corridor

Las Ventas Bullring

Designed by architect José Espelius and built in the Neo-Mudéjar style, Las Ventas Bullring features red brick walls adorned with Arabesque carvings and arched windows, while its exterior walls are inlaid with ceramics depicting the coats of arms of Spanish provinces. Construction was completed in 1929, and the bullring officially opened in 1931. It has four tiers of circular stands and can accommodate approx. 23,000 spectators. Shaped like a Roman amphitheater, the bullring is covered with fine sand and surrounded by tiered iron fences that separate the spectator stands from the arena, with separate passageways for bullfighters, medical staff, and bulls to enter and exit. This is an important symbol of Spanish bullfighting culture. The San Isidro Bullfighting Festival held every May is a major bullfighting event of the year, when renowned bullfighters from all over gather here. The main entrance of the bullring is known as the "Puerta Grande" (Big Gate), and only victorious bullfighters are eligible to exit through this gate and receive the cheers of the audience. The venue has a total of 18 entrances and exits, and the ceramic decorations of provincial coats of arms on the brick walls make the main entrance area particularly striking. During your visit, you can overlook the entire venue layout from the upper spectator stands, then enter the bullring to experience the atmosphere firsthand. A bullfighting museum is located at the exit, divided into five exhibition areas that showcase the history and art of Spanish bullfighting, where you can admire prints by the painter Goya depicting bullfighting scenes.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Metropolitan Area and Henares Corridor

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

•It saves one of the world's most representative modern art masterpieces—Picasso's Guernica—along with other related works from the late 19th century to the present •Explore dedicated to showcasing Spanish expressionist and impressionist artNational Museum of China • ShockMarvel at the masterpieces of Spain's three great 20th-century masters: Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró △This is the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, one of the world's most significant contemporary art museums, showcasing works by Spanish and international artists. It is a pioneer in the art world and part of the beloved "art corridor" of Madrid.

Casa-Museo del Arcipreste de Hita

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Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is the home stadium of Real Madrid. Superstars such as Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, Raúl González Blanco and Zinedine Zidane are have all played on all Bernabéu's famous pitch. In case visitors come to Madrid in the off-season, tours of the stadium can be arranged. You can take a moment to sit on the sidelines, in the coach's seat or on the replacement players' bench. You can walk around the display case full of trophies and even take a look at the media center and locker rooms.

Parapente Sky aventura

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Metropolitan Area and Henares Corridor

Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol is the central square of Madrid, surrounded by many historic buildings. The square is now a venue for major parades and gatherings as well as a place for citizens and visitors to relax and entertain. Whether day or night, it is always crowded and full of vitality. Public square buildings Puerta del Sol is semicircular, surrounded by buildings, many of which can be called the essence of Madrid's urban architecture. To the south of Puerta del Sol stands the iconic old post office building (La Casa de Correos). This ancient building on the square is red and white, resembling a majestic palace. The clock tower in the center of the building is very famous. Every New Year's Eve, people in Madrid gather here. At the stroke of midnight, they eat 12 grapes symbolizing good luck to celebrate the arrival of the new year. "Zero starting point marker" On the pedestrian walkway in front of the post office building, there is a sign marked "0 starting point" (Kilómetro Cero). All highway milestones across Spain are calculated outward from here, and the street numbers in Madrid also start from this point. "Bear and raspberry statue" The iconic "Bear and Strawberry Tree" statue (Estatua del Oso y el Madroño) in Madrid is located in the eastern part of Puerta del Sol. This statue replaced the remains of the former Puerta del Sol gate and is now a highly popular city symbol of Madrid. The charming little bear stands upright with its front paws holding the strawberry tree in front of it, appearing remarkably lifelike. Today, this spot is also a meeting place for many locals. Statue of Charles III On the west side of Puerta del Sol stands the equestrian statue of Charles III (Estatua ecuestre de Carlos III), next to which is a large fountain surrounded by colorful flowers, with steps around it for visitors to rest. In addition, the Sol subway station building on the square is itself a highlight, its arched glass structure glistening in the sunlight, and its avant-garde shell-like shape stands out among the traditional classical buildings around the square. Public square events You can freely admire the sights and take photos in the square, or sit by the fountain, feed the pigeons, and enjoy wonderful street performer shows. The area around Puerta del Sol is also a commercial district, where you can find Sephora, Springfield, and the Real Madrid flagship store, and you can also see the building topped with the Tío Pepe sherry neon billboard. El Corte Inglés is also just steps away. The road to the north of the square leads to Gran Vía, while the Callao commercial area lies to the west, making it a great place for shopping. In addition, the alleys south of the square are home to many bars and cafes, which are very characteristic of Madrid and affordably priced. You might want to try the experience of beer paired with tapas (Madrid bar snacks). Midnight views Puerta del Sol is also particularly lively at night. As the lights come on and the crowds surge, Puerta del Sol at this moment perhaps better captures the essence of Madrid's nightlife. The street youths showing off their dance moves, the sentimental saxophonists, the whispering couples... all form a beautiful sight. If you happen to come here at midnight and face the still-crowded square and the waves of cheers, please don't be surprised. This city is telling you in its own unique way: Welcome to Puerta del Sol, welcome to the sleepless Madrid!

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