OK: ​17 MAY 2017.DAY 11 : MOROCCO,SPAIN,PORTUGAL TRIP. MADRID - DAY TWO.

​17 MAY 2017.DAY 11:PART I.MADRID, DAY TWO.

MOROCCO,SPAIN,PORTUGAL TRIP.

We reached Madrid yesterday16 May,saw only Prado Museum.

Today's,Madridsight seeing will be covered in three parts ,Part I,II & Part III. 

Part I:Madrid Sight seeing done upto lunch. 

Part II:Toledao sightsightseeing.Done After lunch at Curry Masala.

Part III:Madrid sightseeing after return from Taledo.

  This is screen shot of Map of Day 11 of Part I of Madrid sightseeing(Pre lunch)

our Morocco,Spain,Portugal Trip

Screen shot of map, above, gives limited information. On the other hand "Interactive Map" gives much more information. For interactive map GO HERE..

OR go to link :  https://goo.gl/uKZL77

With this URL,Interactive map should open in a new window

To navigate through this map use the left vertical panel on the map :

1. The size of this map can be increased or decreased as with normal maps.

2. The panel gives contents of the map which are self explanatory.Placing the cursor  on any item,say Mayor Square,in this panel mayor square will be highlighted by a white circle.in the interactive map.Go to Mayor Square,Zoom if you want to see details of Mayor Square. 

3. Click on Mayor square in panel it will open an information window in the interactive map giving information about Mayor square.Up to 10 photos can be loaded about that place in this information panel. Photos about that place have been uploaded in this information panel.To know about the captions and other details of photos, you will have to visit album for day 9(You will have to see all the photos of that day.)For this GO HERE 

or copy paste this link in URLaddress bar  : https://goo.gl/sXxwUF

4. Similar action can be repeated for information on all other places given on interactive map.

We started from our Hotel in around 0800 h.Our first destination of the day which was Plaza de Oriente.

En route, came across plenty of interesting and historically important buildings and Monuments.Took photographs of whatever I felt was interesting .All from the moving coach.Of the many some are : Bull fighting stadium.,TV Tower,Catalina Suárez Foundation for Residence of elderly,Ministry Of Agriculture Office,Monument to Cladio Milano,One of the Gate to Real Jorden Botenical garden,National Museum of Prado.,cervecerla la surena which is a restaurant.(photographed it only because of beautiful statue on the roof.),Monument to Cervantes(surname of  Spanish dramatist, poet, and prose writer, most famous for Don Quixote (1605), The Torre de Madrid Senete Palace of Spain.All very beautiful.See them in album at https://goo.gl/RJbB6Q 

Finally reached  Plaza de Oriente around 0930.

PLAZA DE ORIENTE SQUARE FROM THE EAST.

 

Plaza de oriente, Photo Courtesy www,spain.info 

The literal translation of the name in English is "Square from the East".Visitors are often puzzled to discover that the Plaza de Oriente is located in the west of Madrid, while its name suggests an eastern setting. However, it lies on the east side of the Palacio Real( Royal Palace ),and that is why it is so named.

Without a doubt this 1.6-hectare garden, one of the most monumental and stunning architectural sites in Madrid due to its ideal location next to the Royal Palace and Royal Theatre..Since then, they have undergone significant restoration work. Miguel de Oriol directed the most important restoration work in 1997.

It was brain child of Joseph Bonaparte who proposed a large grassy area in front of the Palace. A few years later, in 1817, Fernando VII commissioned a new construction project but this could not go ahead. The final design was conceived when Isabel II came to the throne, by architect Narciso Pascual y Colomer.

The square was opened in 1844. In the same year an equestrian statue of Felipe IV was erected, the work of by the Italian Pedro Tacca in 1640, which stands at 12 metres tall and 17 in diameter.

With its perfectly-designed gardens, the Plaza de Oriente has become a museum of sculptures due to statue of King Felipe IV and 44 statues of spanish monarchs lining the square. They range from the Gothic period up to the time when the country was reunified following the defeat of the Moors in 15th century. They also seem a little out of proportion, but this is simply because the statues were originally designed to be installed on top of the palace. However, the architects felt that the statues were too heavy and they were left at ground level that surround the area.Since then,The garden & plaza have undergone significant restoration work. Miguel de Oriol directed the most important restoration work in 1997.

On the way back from Royal Palace to underground coach parking we saw statue of king Felipe IV and took photos . Included here,

Some more photos of Plaza de Oriente,To see all the photographs GO HERE.

Statues of the Gothic kings in the Plaza de Oriente.

 

Some more Statues of Gothic Kings.

 

 Slightly better view of same Gothic Kings.

Our visit to Plaza de Orinte was over by about about 0930. After this we went to next destination which was right close just across the road. 

ROYAL PALACE

View of Royal Palace from the courtyard(Plaza de la Armeria).

The origin of Royal Palace dates back to the 9th century when the muslim Kingdom of Toledo built-in defence that was later used by the kings of Castile, who during the 16 century built former alcazar Castle.

The current Royal Palace was built on site of old alcazar which was destroyed by fire on Christmas eve of 1784. The work for new palace was commissioned by King V in 1734.The new palace is said to be based on drawings of Louvre in Paris and palace of Versailles in France. It is built in the form of a square and looks out ovr large courtyard with galleries and parade ground.The decorations of the palace rooms and their layout has gradually changed over the years as the building has been adopted to suit the need of its residents. New Palace was built in granite and stones to avoid fire Hazard in future.The first occupant of the Placae was Charles III. It was the home of kings of Spain from Charles III alfanzo XIII.

Nowadays the Royal Palace he is not the residence of kings of Spain but is used for State ceremonies official banquets and other state functions.

The Palace comprises over 3000 rooms.Most striking feature of the interior is the imposing staircase with70 steps, at the entrance hallway, with a fresco of The Triumph of Religion and the Church, that leads up to the main floor. 

King Charles III Apartments are among the beautiful rooms in the palace. A masterpiece of Rococo style, the Salon de Gasparini features graceful chinoiserie, an intricately patterned marble floor, and carefully matched silk wall hangings.The Salón del Trono (Throne Room) is adorned with frescoes by Tiepolo including The Greatness of the Spanish Monarchy, one of his finest works. Still used for State ceremonies, the Throne Room is clad in sumptuous red velvet and decorated with valuable tapestries, mirrors, furniture, and chandeliers. Throughout the palace masterpieces of art decorate the walls: paintings by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, El Greco, and Caravaggio, and exquisite Flemish and French tapestries. History buffs will want to visit the palace's Royal Armory, which contains 3,000 exhibits dating back to the 16th century.

It was really worth a visit. 

Some more photos of Royal Palace.To see all the photographs GO HERE.

Selfie with Royal Palace.

Impressive Main Staircase in the hall.

The frescoes on the ceiling above the staircase.is by Corrado Giaquinto and depicts Religion Protected by Spain.

Frescos on main staircase Ceiling.

Statue on the first floor depicting Charles IV

Madrid view from Royal Palace Balcony.

After visit to Royal Palace we were taken to see The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.is the home stadium of Real Madrid since its completion in 1947, with a current seating capacity of 81,044.Santiago Bernabéu is one of the world's most famous and prestigious football venues.

Even than I really do not know why we were taken all the way to the other end of town as we just got down from the coach, stood around and as nothing else was happening took couple of photos.

Of course one unexpected bonus was that during the coach ride saw many wonderful sights.Most notable amongst them was is the home stadium of Real Madrid since its completion in 1947, with a current seating capacity of 81,044

Of course one unexpected bonus was that during the long coach ride saw some wonderful sights.Most notable amongst them was Fountain Of Cybele.Even though taken from coach during the drive got a beautiful photo of the fountain.

FOUNTAIN OF CYBELE

Fountain of Cybele. Photo taken from moving coach.

The Cibeles Fountain, created in 1782 and situated in its current location since 1895, has ended up lending its name to one of the most emblematic squares of Madrid. It has also become a symbol of the capital. The Fountain depicts the Roman goddess of the same name (Cybele in English), symbol of the Earth, agriculture, and fertility, atop a chariot drawn by lions.

It is located in the centre of the Plaza de Cibeles and is surrounded by the grand buildings of the Buenavista Palace (the Army’s General Headquarters), the Linares Palace (Casa de América), the Palace of Communications (previously the Post Office headquarters and currently the Mayor of Madrid’s Office) and the Bank of Spain. The goddess and the lions were sculpted in purple marble from the town of Montesclaros (Toledo), and the rest in stone from Redueña, an area 32 miles to the north of Madrid, close to the La Cabrera mountain range.

After passing through Square of Fountain of Cybele we seventually reached Curry Masala restaurant where we were to have lunch. After lunch we left for Taledo.

To see all the photographs of Madrid visit  GO HERE.

Visit to taledo is covered in next blog, Madrid Part II.