Business travel
Transcripción
Business travel
Business travel The magic of Madrid The Spanish capital abounds in history, heritage and artistic treasures, as Travelzoo Asia-Pacific CFO and Institute member Honnus Cheung discovers M adrid might not be as beautiful as Seville, as romantic as Barcelona or as historical as Valencia, but it’s the hippest city in Spain as well as the country’s arts and culture capital and a paradise for foodies. The landlocked capital is notorious for its dry, baking summer heat. By November, however, the autumn chill (by Spanish standards) has set in and visitors will need at least one layer of warm clothing such as a jacket or pullover. Fortunately, Madrid has plenty of cosy attractions for the off-season tourist. The capital is laid out in an accessible way for walking 56 November 2012 and public transport, such as the 300 kilometre Metro de Madrid underground rail system, which is excellent. Central Madrid lies roughly between two notable pieces of parkland: Campo de Moro in the west and the much larger Parque del Buen Retiro in the east. Two key arteries – Gran Vía in the north and the Manzanares River in the south – form the remaining boundaries. Much of the city’s cultural life is centered on its plazas, or squares. Deserted during the traditional daytime siesta period, Madrid’s open spaces come alive with activities as evening draws. In the centre of the city is Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid’s key meeting places (recent anti-austerity protests have been held there) and an ideal landmark from which to begin walking tours. East of Puerta del Sol is the museum district. The Museo Nacional del Prado is one of the world’s greatest repositories of art. Its treasures include masterpieces by Velázquez, El Greco, Goya, Raphael, Rubens and Bosch. Nearby is the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Spain’s premier privately owned museum. This month, the museum highlights works by Paul Gauguin, Wassily Kandinsky, Henri Matisse, Paul Klee and August Macke. PHOTO: GEORGE W. RUSSELL Previous page: Locals and tourists throng Puerta del Sol, Madrid's historic central square This page (from top): The Manzanares River; Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas; Plaza Mayor; Museo Nacional del Prado Further south is Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Spain’s national museum of 20th century art, which turned 20 years old in September. It is home to Guernica (1937), Pablo Picasso’s expression of the brutality of the Spanish Civil War. All three museums can be accessed using a single Paseo del Arte (Art Walk) ticket that enables visitors to bypass the sometimes formidable queues. Other world-class museums in the area include the CaixaForum modern art museum and the Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas. The western side of Puerta del Sol is not without its charm. Just to the southwest lies the even larger Plaza Mayor, which echoes with Spanish history: everything from bullfights to executions have been held there. Today there are street performers, open-air markets and restaurants and cafés of varied quality. Further west lies Palacio Real, the official home of King Juan Carlos and his family. It is open to the public when the king is not in residence and also houses The Royal Armoury, which this month features a collection of weapons and armour from members of royalty and the nobility in the 13th century. For a more modern attraction, visit Madrid Río, an area of parkland featuring sports, leisure and cultural facilities opened in 2011, along an old motorway beside the Manzanares River. There are worthwhile sights outside the central area. To the north is Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, site of a museum of the history of bullfighting. Not far away from there is Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, where the venerated Real Madrid football team plays. Forthcoming Primera Liga home matches will usually be held on Sundays. All that activity will work up an appetite and, fortunately, Madrid caters to wide-ranging tastes. Try traditional Madrileño dishes such as besugo (baked sea bream), callos (ox tripe) and cocido (chickpea stew) as well as sweet treats like huesos de santo (made with egg yolks and marzipan) and torrijas (bread pudding). Madrid’s classic street snack is bocadillo de calamares, a fried squid sandwich. Don’t forget that Spaniards eat dinner late – even at midnight or beyond – and many Madrid clubs and bars are open until the early hours, so business visitors shouldn’t schedule too many breakfast meetings. Where to eat •B otín Serving old world culinary charm since 1725. Calle de Cuchilleros 17. 366-42-17. •C erveceria La Campana Best bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich) in town. Calle Botoneras 6. 364-29-84. • E l Brillante Hectic café with unforgettable pinchos morunos (spiced lamb). Plaza del Emperador Carlos V 8. 539-28-06. • L a Venenci Iconic 1950s bar with sherry and tapas. Calle de Echegaray 7. 429-73-13. •M arisquería Ribeira do Miño Galician-style seafood. Calle Santa Brígida 1. 521-98-54. • P uerta 57 Tapas inside the Real Madrid stadium. Calle de Padre Damián 4. 457-33-61. Where to stay •H otel Intur Palacio de San Martin Cheerful comfort in great location. Plaza de San Martín 5. 701-50-00. •H otel Urban Trendy high-concept luxury with fab rooftop bar. Carrera de San Jerónimo 34. 787-77-70. • InterContinental Madrid Sophisticated business elegance. Paseo de la Castellana 49. 700-73-00. •M E Madrid Reina Victoria Renovated 1920s landmark. Calle de Santa Ana 14. 701-60-00. What to see •M ercado de San Miguel Cast-iron temple to retail gastronomy. Plaza de San Miguel. 542-49-36. •M useo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía Home of Guernica and other great artworks. Calle de Santa Isabel 52. 774-10-00. •M useo Nacional del Prado Impressive collection of masterpieces. Paseo del Prado 1. 330-28-00. •M useo Thyssen-Bornemisza Glorious art collection in historic building. Paseo del Prado 8. 276-05-11. •R eal Jardín Botánico de Madrid Terraces, greenhouses and a herbarium amid eight hectares. Plaza de Murillo 2. 420-30-17. November 2012 57