The breakfast at my hostal is surprisingly very good. For me it is very important that they have eggs for breakfast, because I need protein for my muscles!
I have some time for morning strolling around the city before meeting my friends. Yesterday I did not have opportunity to see the city, but today I will try to use my free time to observe the beautiful corners of Madrid.
I am staying in a very central location, so the famous Plaza Mayor is just 7 minutes walking from my hostal.
Plaza Mayor, which is one of the most famous and architecturally harmonious squares in Madrid, was built in 1617. The rectangular square measures about 129 meters long and 94 meters wide and is surrounded by three-story buildings with 237 balconies overlooking the plaza. These numerous balconies surrounding the square create a visual enclosure that makes it feel both grand and intimate, like a huge outdoor room in the heart of the city. The square has nine entrances, including the well-known Arco de Cuchilleros.
There are no major government offices or political institutions here. These days the square is mainly used for tourism, culture and public events.
On the photos below you can see all four corners of this huge square. By the way, Plaza Mayor de la Hispanidad in Medina del Campo (Valladolid) with 14000 m2 is officially considered to be the largest classical main square in Spain, while the square in Madrid with 12000 m2 is on the second place.
Because Plaza Mayor is a large, open rectangular space, it can act like a wind tunnel, especially when the wind is funneled through the nine archway entrances or along the streets surrounding the square. It seems that on this windy but sunny day I have got a draft in my ear.
One of the prominent historical building on the square is Casa de la Panaderia, which currently houses parts of the Madrid city administration, including the Madrid Tourism Center. The name means “House of the Bakery”, because the building once served as Madrid’s main bakery, responsible for regulating and supplying bread to the city. Bread prices were controlled here, which was very important in earlier centuries when bread was a basic food for most people.
The building stands on the north side of Plaza Mayor and is easy to recognize thanks to its painted facade decorated with large frescoes showing mythological figures and symbols related to Madrid, which were added in 1992 by artist Carlos Franco. In the middle of the facade of Casa de la Panaderia in Madrid there is an important decorative element: the coat of arms of Madrid - with a bear reaching up to a strawberry tree (madrono).
In the center of the square you can also see a large equestrian statue of King Philip III that was placed there in 1848. It was installed there to honor the king’s role in developing the square and shaping the city during his reign. King Philip III of Spain (1578–1621) was the king of Spain from 1598 until 1621 and a member of the powerful House of Habsburg. He was the son of Philip II of Spain, one of the most influential rulers of the Spanish Empire.
I still have time to walk around the city. And I have seen so many cute and picturesque spaces here, including small squares, big bridges, tall towers, green parks and stylish resident houses.
Coming back to my hostal trough the Plaza Mayor. It is only 11 am, but there are so many tourists here now!
I go to the Prado museum with my friends now. It is the first experience for them, but I have already visited it some years ago. First of all, you should buy the ticket to the museum online (the cost is 30 euro), otherwise you would not enter there. But even with the ticket for the specific time slot we had to wait in the queue around 20 minutes.
It is still not allowed to make any photos at the museum, as it was while my previous visiting it. But I could not use an opportunity to memorize my impressions. As before, my favorite masterpieces here are the paintings of German artist Albrecht Durer (1471-1528): his self-portrait and "Adam and Eve" on two separate panels.
It is always emotionally exhausting to watch the art, so we need some fresh air and food four our body now.
Other friends also joined us later, and we continued spending time together. Lunch at Vietnamese restaurant, coffee, walking, talking.
We are on the Puerta del Sol, which is the bustling heart of Madrid and the symbolic center of Spain. The main landmark here which you cannot not miss is "The Bear and the Strawberry Tree" (El Oso y el Madrono), the 20-ton bronze statue on the east side of the square representing the city's coat of arms. They say, if you touch the bear's tail it will bring you a good fortune. Unfortunately, my friends told me about this statue only when we had left the square. So, now I should return to Madrid and polish my good luck!
Indeed, it was a very long day for me, with many activities and walks, with around 22500 steps. A bit worn out, but satisfied.
Tomorrow starts the second part of my Spanish journey. I cannot wait the morning..
