Madrid, founded by the Moors in the 9th Century, is currently a modern, active city offering innumerable attractions to the visitor. Its architectural heritage is immense. The medieval village has been preserved around the Plaza de la Paja. The quarter known as Madrid of the Austrian, near the Puerta del Sol, the traditional city centre was built in the Golden Age. In this area are the Plaza Mayor, which is colonaded and considered to be one of the finest in Spain, and the Plaza de la Villa, with its beautiful City Hall Building, both Baroque in style and dating from the 17th century.

The royal Palace, surrounded by gardens that are now partially open to the public, is a magnificent example of 18th century palatial art. The city also has numerous interesting treasures from the 19th and 20th centuries and a large number of parks and gardens, among them el Retiro, the Botanical Gardens, crafted by royal decree in the 17th Century, the Parque del Oeste and the Casa de Campo. Among its many museums and art galleries are the Prado Museum and its annexe, El Casón del Buen Retiro, the Archaeological Museum, with collections representing practically all the different cultures that have flourished n Spain, and the Reina Sofia Art Centre, which displays among its many treasures Picasso´s "Guernica".

26.The Cathedral of La Almudena is being built to the left of the palace and has a façade in the same Neoclassical style as the latter.

27. Church of San Francisco el Grande.

28.Los Jerónimos Reales. This 15th century monastery was considerably restored during the 19th century. Here, in the Gothic nave, the heir to the Spanish throne has traditionally received his title of Prince of Asturias.

29.The Convent of La Encarnación, standing in the Plaza of the same name, is also open to visitors, and was founded by the wife of Philip III. The architect who built the church was Gómez de Mora (1616).

30.Church of Saint Marcos ( XVI-XVII centuries)

31.Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola ( XIX century) 32.Church of Our Lady of Montserrat ( XVII century)