Chapter 226: A Sharp Turn

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Last time, I promised you that I would write a two-city travel account for you after I went to Spain. So today I'm here to make good on my promise!

Let's start with Madrid. The biggest impression I had about Madrid was its clear blue sky without a single cloud. Compared with the smog days in China, it is really a day and a land. Then there is the extremely long sunshine hours in summer, where the sun rises from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. So, wearing a pair of sunglasses with UV protection is essential to go to Madrid.

Okay, let's get down to business. Everyone knows that Madrid is the capital of Spain, the largest city in the country, the economic center, and the capital of the province of Madrid. It is also a famous historical city in Europe. The integrated economic center of Spain's central economic region, the center of transport, logistics, research and development, consumption and high-tech industries.

Madrid is also the commercial center of Spain and the center of the "headquarters economy". Its location is in the middle of Spain, with the Manzanares River running through it. It is located in the middle of the Meseta Plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, in the basin of the intermountain plateau at the southeastern foot of the Guadalama Mountains, at an altitude of 670 meters. It can be connected to the Strait of Gibraltar limited by the African continent in the south, and the Pyrenees can reach the hinterland of Europe in the north, so the geographical location is very important, and it is known as the "door of Europe" because of its strategic location in history.

Madrid is also the tourism and cultural center of southern Europe, rich in historical and cultural relics, modern tourism facilities and a well-developed service industry.

But in fact, in the earliest days, the capital of Spain was not in Madrid, but in Toledo.

During the Renaissance, the Kingdom of Castile, with its capital in Toledo, and the Kingdom of Aragon, with its capital in Zaragoza, were united by Charles I to form modern Spain. Although Charles favored Madrid, it was his son Philip II (r. 1527-1598) who was the first to move the royal palace to Madrid.

He moved the royal palace to Madrid in 1561. Although he did not officially announce the move of the capital, Madrid has been the capital of Spain ever since. Seville continued to control Spanish India, but Madrid controlled Seville.

For a short time, between 1601 and 1606, when Philip III established his royal palace in Valladolid, Madrid's wealth truly reflected the wealth of Spain. During Spain's 16th and 17th centuries' "Golden Century", Madrid was not similar to other European capitals: its population depended economically on the royal family's own business.

When you travel to Europe, you can actually see their various buildings and learn about their ancient history. Let's take a look at some of Madrid's most famous attractions.

The first thing you must see is the Roman Aqueduct, also known as the Aqueduct (pictured above), located in a small town called Segovia. More than 2,200 years have passed, and in 1985 the old town of Segovia and this aqueduct were inscribed on the World Heritage List.

The Great Roman Aqueduct in Segovia was built around 53 AD and it has been well preserved. It was the framework of the city of Segovia. The two-tiered arches of the Great Aqueduct are distinctive. The most amazing thing about it is that it is completely built of stone using mechanical principles, without the use of any binder.

There's also an 11th-century castle (Disney's Snow White Castle was pictured here, pictured above) and a 16th-century Gothic cathedral (pictured below), with a chapel next to it where Queen Elizabeth's coronation took place.

Segovia is located in the central part of the province of Castile, about 100 kilometers northwest of Madrid. It is a small, quaint old town, half mountain, half plain. Due to its unique charm, the narrow and winding streets of the town are almost always crowded with tourists. But if you can explore the city from a few trails, you can still get a sense of the tranquil and old-world atmosphere of Europe.

In addition, I would recommend again, there is a good roast suckling pig meal in this town, you can try it. But the rest of the dishes are pretty average.

One of the next must-see items is the Royal Palace of Madrid (pictured above). Although there are many different kinds of royal palaces or royal palaces in Europe, the Royal Palace of Madrid is not necessarily the most luxurious. But it is also the third largest royal palace in Europe after Versailles and Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.

Built in 1738 and completed over a period of 26 years, it is one of the best-preserved and most beautifully preserved palaces in the world. The palace is a palatial square with a palatial façade and a myriad of gold and silver vessels and paintings, porcelain, tapestries and other royal items. It is a representative cultural monument of the Bourbon dynasty and one of the most important royal palaces in Europe. Today, the palace has been converted into a museum for visitors to visit.

One of the palaces in Madrid that impressed me the most was that its roofs were painted with several characters from the legend of the Eight Immortals of China. It is customary to see famous figures from Greek mythology painted on rooftops, but this scene is rarely seen in the interiors of European buildings. So I was particularly impressed. It's a pity that most of the palaces inside don't take pictures of visitors, otherwise I would love to take a picture as a souvenir.

There is also the Armory Hall opposite the palace (pictured above), with two bell towers on it, which you can visit if you have time. If you don't have time, it's also nice to take two photos in the square in front of it.

Madrid's Puerta del Sol (pictured above) is also worth a visit, located in the heart of Madrid, in a semi-circular shape with 10 streets radiating outward, and is the center of Madrid's political activity and business. It is a historic square and the place that best reflects the character of Madrid. Because it is the starting point of the highways leading to the whole country of Spain, there is a 0 km sign where you can take a commemorative photo. There is a statue of a bear eating raspberries in the square, which is said to be because the place was originally a forest and was often infested with bears.

Originally, there was a Puerta del Sol next to Puerta del Sol, which used to be the east gate of Madrid and lasted for a century with signage. Because it faces the east where the sun rises, it is named the Puerta del Sol. Later, due to the development of the city and the need for transportation, the Puerta del Sol was demolished in 1570, but the people of Madrid have not forgotten this ancient gate and have always called this site Puerta del Sol or the Sun. Hence the name of the square.

The Security Bureau Building is a prominent building in the square, a palace-like building in the neoclassical style of the late 18th century. After its completion, it served as the central post office of Madrid, the headquarters of the Army and the political department.

Nearby is a tourist favourite market with seafood, cocktails, Spanish ham and cheese, as well as a stroll bar. You might as well go inside and have a look, and it's also good to have afternoon tea.

In addition, there is a nearby Plaza Mayor that is also worth visiting, and its buildings and the statue in the center of the square are also quite distinctive, as shown in the picture above. This square was built by Philip III in 1619 and has a unique square style. It is 128 meters horizontally and 94 meters longitudinally, and is surrounded by a 4-storey building. In the center of the square is an equestrian statue of Philip III. In the long years since it was built, it has been rebuilt after three fires until it was completed in 1953 and is now what we see today. There are some souvenirs selling local souvenirs in the surrounding shops, so you might want to go and browse them.

Another famous attraction is the Plaza de l'Evilles and its statue in the heart of the city (see photo above). Plaza de la Civeles is the end of Via Alcalá. The square is surrounded by several notable buildings, including the Bank of Spain, the General Headquarters of the Army, the Linares Palace, and the Communications Building, all of which are very characteristic of local architecture.

In the heart of the square is Madrid's most famous street sculpture and the most beautiful spring, the Civelles Spring. Severes was the goddess of the earth in ancient Roman mythology and the mother of the main god Jupiter. All wild animals are at her disposal. The sculpture, designed by Bentura Rodríguez and sculpted by Roberto Mitchell and Francisco Gutiérrez, appeared in 1781. The Springs of Chivelles rightfully became a symbol of Madrid, and for this reason, the square in which it is located was also named Plaza de Madrid. The famous Real Madrid football team comes here to celebrate the victory with the fans when they win.

Since the Real Madrid team is mentioned, it is impossible not to mention Real Madrid's home stadium, the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (see picture above). With a capacity of 80,354 spectators, it is also a UEFA five-star football stadium and a must-visit for fans visiting Spain! However, there is a Chinese restaurant next to it, and you can directly see the inside of the stadium from the box, so you don't have to buy a ticket to enter the stadium. However, the restaurant will be closed during the event.

If you have more time, you can also visit the ancient city of Toledo, the former capital mentioned above. Located 70 km south of Madrid, it is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Castilla La Mancha and the capital of the province of Toledo, with the Tagus River surrounding most of the city.

The old city is home to the largest cathedral in Spain (pictured above), although it doesn't look as majestic as the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

If you are more interested in Cervantes's Don Quixote, you can also go to the windmill town where Don Quixote once fought (see the picture above). But apart from a few windmills for grinding wheat, there wasn't much to see.

Well, that's it for you in Madrid. Next time we'll talk about Barcelona. Stay tuned!

(To be continued)