We started our day with a walk through El Retiro park, very much like Central Park in NY. Booksellers have stalls along one edge of the park, reminiscent of bookstalls in Paris.
booksellers on the edge of El Retiro park
Crystal Palace, 1887, modeled on the one in London
chocolate and churros, a treat not to be missed
Monumento Alfonso XII
Puerto Alcalá
From Puerta de Alcalá, we walked down Calle Alcalá past the Palacio Cibeles (gov’t building) with a huge Welcome Refuges banner
to Puerta del Sol (always busy square) and on down Calle Arenal to the Palacio Real (Royal Palace).
We arrived around 1:30 and there was no line (when we left at 4, the line was several hundred long). Facing the Palacio is the Catedreal de la Almudena.
Palacio Real
Catedral de la Almudena
fresco on the ceiling of entrance staircase
The palace is well worth the entrance fee (11 E +4 E for audio guide). It was completely different from any other royal palace I’ve seen. Each room was uniquely decorated, many with frescoes by Tiepolo, Giaquinto, and Mengs; most of the walls covered in tapestries, silks, or velvets.
Although photographs are not allowed in the Royal Palace, I bought a book that will give an idea of the varied and elaborate decorations.
Gasparini room
grand dining room
Porcelain room
After the palace, we wandered back towards Plaza Mayor and the Mercado San Miguel where we enjoyed a variety of tapas for 1E each.
salmon, octopus, smoked fish and caviar tapas
selection of sausages
On our way home we passed a pastry shop with a Star Wars themed display.
Star war pastries
That evening we met with the Gate 1 group and visited the Raina Sophia art gallery where admission is free from 7-9 on Mondays. Lots of works by Dali and Picasso (including Guernica). We had diner at Taverna Mas al Sud (our neighborhood restaurant).