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Madrid

Madrid centers on the Royal Palace, Europe's largest by floor area, its endless galleries hung with tapestries and crowned by frescoed ceilings, gilded thrones, and a banquet hall still set for state dinners. Just outside, an equestrian Philip IV rears up in Plaza de Oriente, and a short walk west brings the ancient Temple of Debod into view — a 2,200-year-old Egyptian gift, reassembled stone by stone in a city park. Nearby, Retiro Park holds its own quiet corners: the Fallen Angel, reputedly the only public monument to Lucifer anywhere, and the glass-domed Palacio de Cristal mirrored in its own pond. Gran Vía's grand hotels look almost as monumental: the Riu Plaza España fills the old Edificio España, and its rooftop bar gives the best vantage in the city, a sangria and passionfruit margarita in hand while the Palace and Almudena Cathedral spread out below. Nearby, the winged bronze crowning the Metropolis Building keeps watch over the boulevard, not far from Cibeles, Madrid's own goddess on her lion-drawn chariot, her fountain and palace lit gold at dusk. Down in the historic center, the produce stalls of Mercado de San Miguel spill fruit into the aisles, Casa de la Panadería's frescoed facade anchors Plaza Mayor, and Chocolatería San Ginés keeps the churros coming late into the night — best paired with a round of gin tonics and a walk through Plaza de Santa Ana, still lively well after dark.

The equestrian bronze statue of Philip IV in Plaza de Oriente — The equestrian statue of Philip IV in Plaza de Oriente

A gilded ceiling fresco inside the Royal Palace of Madrid — A ceiling fresco in the Royal Palace

A pair of gilded red velvet throne chairs flanked by bronze lion statues — A pair of gilded throne chairs flanked by bronze lions

The royal crown and scepter displayed on red velvet in the Royal Palace — The royal crown and scepter on display

A gilded clock and candelabra above a marble fireplace in the Royal Palace — A gilded clock and candelabra above the fireplace

The banquet hall of the Royal Palace set with chandeliers and flowers for a formal dinner — The banquet hall, set for a formal dinner

The stone gateways of the Temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple in Madrid — The Temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple relocated to Madrid

The Fallen Angel fountain, a bronze statue of a winged devil figure, in Retiro Park — The Fallen Angel, said to be the only public monument to Lucifer

The Palacio de Cristal reflected in its pond in Retiro Park — The Palacio de Cristal reflected in its pond

The Riu Plaza España hotel, housed in the former Edificio España — The Riu Plaza España hotel, in the former Edificio España

An aerial view of the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral from a rooftop in Madrid — The Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, from the rooftop

A glass of sangria and a passionfruit margarita on a rooftop bar table — A sangria and a passionfruit margarita, from the rooftop

The winged bronze statue crowning the dome of the Metropolis Building in Madrid — The winged bronze statue crowning the Metropolis Building

The Cibeles Fountain, with the goddess Cybele seated on her lion-drawn chariot — The Cibeles Fountain, with Cybele on her lion-drawn chariot

Cibeles Palace illuminated at dusk in Madrid — Cibeles Palace lit up at dusk

A produce stall overflowing with fruit at Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid — A produce stall at Mercado de San Miguel

The frescoed facade of Casa de la Panadería on Plaza Mayor in Madrid — The frescoed facade of Casa de la Panadería, Plaza Mayor

The neon sign of Chocolateria San Gines in Madrid — The neon sign of Chocolatería San Ginés

Two gin tonics garnished with orange and lemon in wine glasses — Two gin tonics, Spanish-style

Plaza de Santa Ana in Madrid, lively with restaurants and bars at night — Plaza de Santa Ana, lively at night

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