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This self-guided walking tour of Madrid combines the best of both worlds: the iconic, can’t-miss sites, plus the most delicious and emblematic madrile\u00f1o<\/em> dishes and drinks to sample along the way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Let’s get going!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You’re in for a long day of exploring, and you’ll want to fuel up before you get started. There’s no better place to do this than La Mallorquina<\/a>, an iconic Madrid institution right in the center of the city.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n La Mallorquina has been baking up Madrid’s favorite pastries since 1894. They’re known for their napolitana de chocolate,<\/em> a to-die-for, flaky, buttery, chocolate-filled pastry that makes for the sweetest and most satisfying breakfast. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can either take your pastry to go, enjoy it at the bar or take it to the upstairs parlor if you’d rather sit down.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Now let’s go see some sights! <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As you leave the bakery, take a moment to drink in the sights and sounds of bustling Puerta del Sol, Madrid’s most vibrant and thriving square. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n There’s a lot to take in here, but a few highlights are: <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n From Sol, head west down Calle Arenal toward the Royal Palace. On the way, you’ll pass by Plaza de Isabel II, where you’ll find the Teatro Real (royal opera house). Just on the other side of that, you’ll come to our next stop!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This big, beautiful plaza consists of a series of small gardens, with a giant equestrian statue and fountain as the focal point. The statue is of King Philip IV, one of the last Hapsburg kings of Spain, who wanted to show off with an elaborate and one-of-a-kind statue. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n At the time, a statue of a man on horseback with the horse’s two front legs reared up had never been done before. The sculptor in charge, Pietro Tacca, was so perplexed by the challenge that he wrote to a trusted friend of his, Galileo Galilei, who was on house arrest at the time. He agreed to help\u2014so now we have this statue thanks to Galileo himself!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Continue past the statue toward the palace, turn left and go down Calle Bail\u00e9n until you come to Plaza de la Armer\u00eda between the palace and the cathedral.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Madrid’s Palacio Real <\/em>is the largest still-functioning palace in the Western world, with approximately 2,800 rooms. The king and queen don’t actually live here, but this is where they host official events and welcome important figures. You can always tell when they’re at the palace, because a red flag will be flying right beside the Spanish flag.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The structure you see today isn’t the original palace. That building mysteriously burned down in 1734, and the one that was rebuilt was modeled after Versailles, as the first Bourbon King to ascend to the Spanish throne had grown up in the famous French palace.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This cathedral, located across from the palace, is dedicated to La Almudena, one of the patron saints of Madrid. While the building may look quite old, it actually wasn’t finished until 1993, after 114 years of construction! <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Because it took so long to build, it has two totally different styles; the exterior is neoclassical and the interior is Gothic Revival.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Insider’s tip: <\/strong>Backtrack a few steps to the stairs that lead to Calle del Factor. This beautiful little back street provides an incredible panoramic view of the palace, the cathedral and Casa de Campo, the King’s personal hunting grounds turned public park.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n From the cathedral, start heading east down Calle Mayor to continue along your self-guided walking tour of Madrid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Believe it or not, this quaint plaza was Madrid’s central city square at the height of the Spanish Empire! <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Being in this plaza is like stepping back in time. Here you can find the oldest standing building in Madrid, Casa y Torre de los Lujanes, which pays tribute to Spain’s Moorish past<\/a>. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The building at the back of the plaza was built shortly after Madrid became the capital of Spain in 1561, and the building on the right served as City Hall until 2007! It was built by the Hapsburgs, which explains its Austrian style.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Insider’s tip: <\/strong>Plaza de la Villa is one of Madrid’s best hidden gems<\/a> any time of day, but it’s especially beautiful when it’s empty and illuminated at night.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n From the eastern side of the square, continue down <\/strong>Calle del Codo, which is called “elbow street” due to its shape.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It’s easy to miss this place’s door, but once you find it, you won’t be disappointed! <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The building housing the Convento de las Carboneras dates back to the early 17th century. The cloistered nuns that live here, like many others in Spain, have a longstanding tradition of baking and selling cookies to the public. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here’s the twist: since they’re cloistered, you buy the cookies without having any physical contact with them. It’s a very curious and unique experience\u2014you’ll have to visit to see for yourself! Get the pastas de almendra <\/em>if available; they’re delicious!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Note<\/strong>: The convent is open from 9 a.m.\u20131 p.m. and from 4\u20136 p.m.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n After you’ve gotten your sweets, continue your self-guided walking tour of Madrid! Walk toward Plaza Mayor via Plaza Conde de Barajas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This bustling central plaza was constructed in 1619. It’s seen its fair share of action over the years as the site of bullfights, operas and markets. During the Spanish Inquisition, up to 50,000 people used to gather here to watch public trials! <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Today it’s a touristic focal point; here you can find the Tourism Office as well as a wide variety of souvenir shops and eateries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n While Plaza Mayor is lined with restaurants, we wouldn’t recommend having a meal here. However, there is one thing that can’t be missed: the bocadillo de calamares<\/a><\/em>, or fried squid sandwich. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Nearly every bar on the plaza sells them, but our favorite comes from La Campana (Calle de Botoneras, 6)<\/em>, a little hole-in-the-wall on a nearby side street just off the square. No tour of Madrid is complete without sampling this specialty!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Heading away from Plaza Mayor, follow Calle de la Bolsa to Plaza de Jacinto Benavente, then continue on to Plaza de Santa Ana.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1. Food Stop: Pastries at La Mallorquina<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Chocolate-stuffed](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/napolitana-chocolate-la-mallorquina-FCC-1.jpeg\")
2. Puerta del Sol<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"White](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tio-pepe-sign-puerta-del-sol-madrid-1.jpeg\")
3. Plaza del Oriente<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Large](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Philip-IV-statue-plaza-de-oriente-madrid-1.jpeg\")
4. The Royal Palace<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Group](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tour-group-at-royal-palace-madrid-1.jpeg\")
5. Almudena Cathedral<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"View](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/almudena-cathedral-madrid-U-1.jpeg\")
6. Plaza de la Villa<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Three](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Plaza-de-la-Villa-madrid-1.jpeg\")
7. Food Stop: Secret Sweets at Convento de las Carboneras<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
8. Plaza Mayor<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"View](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Plaza-Mayor-Madrid-2.jpg\")
9. Food Stop: Fried Calamari Sandwich at La Campana<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Tray](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bocadillo-de-calamares-la-campana-madrid-1.jpg\")
10. Plaza de Santa Ana<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Urban](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/plaza-santa-ana-madrid-1.jpeg\")
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