Routes through Madrid: the Madrid of the Habsburgs

Madrid is an ideal city for walking. Its historic center, although it is very rich in terms of artistic heritage, is not very extensive, so everything is very close at hand. In addition to the fact that in each corner you will find a bar where you can relax making a "technical stop" with a beer or vermouth.

So, if you want to get to know this historic town, I advise you to walk through it. Stroll through its legendary streets, visit the most important monuments, stop at the most famous taverns... And, above all, explore the Madrid of the Habsburgs.

Routes through Madrid de los Austrias

The Madrid de los Austrias leaves no one indifferent, as it exudes charm and history through the beauty of its cobbled streets and its Renaissance and Baroque buildings. We call Madrid de los Austrias Madrid from the time of the Habsburg dynasty, from the year in which the reign of Carlos I of Spain began, in 1516, until the end of that of Carlos II, in 1700.

Let's begin the tour of Madrid de los Austrias!

The door of the sun

Let's start with one of the most famous and emblematic points of the city, the Puerta del Sol. There we will not only be able to see the mythical statue of the bear and the strawberry tree, symbols of the city, we will also find the famous kilometer 0, the point from which the entire road network in Spain.

Main Square

Going up the Calle Mayor we find the Plaza Mayor. At first, it was called Plaza del Arrabal precisely because it was located on the outskirts of the city.

This urban nucleus was the center of commerce during the Golden Age. Today it brings together tourists, street artists, calamari sandwich lovers and merchants.

Bakery House

Before leaving the Plaza Mayor, we have to take a break to carefully observe the Casa de la Panadería, one of the most emblematic buildings in the city due to the beauty of its mythological frescoes.

town square

This square was one of the most emblematic centers of Medieval Madrid. It has some historic buildings such as the Casa y Torre de los Lujanes, the Casa de Cisneros and the Casa de la Villa, a building that once housed the Madrid City Council.

Almudena Cathedral

It is the main temple of the Archdiocese of Madrid, as it venerates Santa María de la Almudena, Patroness of the city. Neo-Gothic on the inside, Neoclassical on the outside.

orient palace

An essential building on all routes through central Madrid. The Royal Palace was designed during the 18th century to house the Royal Family. Today, it is used exclusively for receptions and ceremonies, in addition to receiving thousands of tourists every day. Leaving the palace, we recommend that you take a pleasant walk through the Plaza de Oriente and through the Sabatini Gardens.

Royal Theatre

To end the tour, we will go to the Plaza de la Ópera, where we will find the Teatro Real, whose stage has witnessed the most famous operas by Verdi, Rossini and Wagner, among others.

To return to the beginning of this route, go down Calle Arenal and you will again be at Puerta del Sol.

And don't forget to enjoy the hundreds of taverns that you will find along the way; In all of them you can try two of the delicacies of Madrid culture: the Calamari Sandwich and the Tortilla Pincho. Yes, with capital letters. And there is no self-respecting route through Madrid de los Austrias that does not have any of these ingredients.