A March 1998 trip to Madrid by CaitlinOH
Quote: I went to Madrid with 15 fellow students, and we had an amazing time. We started in Madrid and made a loop to the south, traveling through Toledo, Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada before returning to Madrid. We toured museums, public gardens, and phenomenal monuments. It was a great experience!
Overview
Toledo is in itself impressive, as it is a walled city with steep roads originally designed to protect it against invaders. It is famous for its gold, which can be purchased (in the form of jewelry) for reasonable prices.
The mosque in Cordoba is striking in its size alone; it covers several city blocks. The inside is quite beautiful as well, with many shrines and elegant architecture.
The true highlight of the trip, however, was La Alhambra in Granada, a completely breaktaking palace with gardens, fountains, and amazing rooms set high above the city.
Vegetarians should also be aware that meat is a prominent part of the Spanish diet, and the alternative (especially if you are working with a set menu for the tour as we were)is usually an omelette. Vegetarian dishes can certainly be found, but they take a little work.
Attraction | "La Alhambra - Palace and Dungeons"
When touring La Alhambra, you have the option of simply viewing the grounds for the beautiful sights or learning about the history of the palace through guide pamphlets and tours. There are on-site casual restaurants and giftshops selling memorabilia and disposable cameras for those who forgot their own! This is a great spot for those of all ages, with any amount of interest in historical sights. It is simply amazing.
Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 6, 2002
Alhambra Plaza Bib-rambla 27 Granada, Spain 958 523 929
Attraction | "Museo del Prado"
Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado) Calle Ruiz De Alarcón 23 Madrid, Spain 28014 +34 91 3302800
Story/Tip
Toledo is a great example of the three cultures that have been dominant/present in Spain throughout its history, Christian (mainly Catholic), Muslim, and Jewish. There are a number of small churches, mosques, and synagogues that can be toured, and the presence of all three in this city gives a nice sense of Spain's history. For those who are not interested in history, these sites are simply beautiful!
Toledo is famous for its gold, and our group took advantage of this fact to buy gold earrings, pill boxes, necklaces, and cufflinks for reasonable prices (this makes Toledo a good spot to buy travel gifts and mementos). There is a small open-air market near several casual eating establishments, providing a perfect place to sit, talk and relax while touring the city. In addition, the quiet history and untouched architecture make Toledo quite a romantic place to spend the day. In general, Toledo is a great spot for an overnight or day trip from Madrid. I recommend it!
CaitlinOH Boston, Massachusetts