Spain and Portugal Customized Tours | Eatour Specialist
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Plaza Mayor Puerta del Sol and Royal Palace Walking Tour ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Half Day Madrid Price from: 1 User Review (Duration: 4h 60.00 euros approx.) On this private half-day walking tour our guide will show you the Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Royal Palace Highlights • English speaking local guide • Explore the Plaza Mayor, a grand arcaded square in the center of Madrid. • Discover the Royal Palace, official residence for the Royal family, and the Puerta del Sol, which houses three well- known symbols of Madrid. General Overview Country: Spain Type: Half Day Tour Private Region: Madrid Theme: City and Village Walks City: Madrid Group Size: 1 - 12 People Duration: Half Day (Duration: 4h approx.) Price from: 60 € Introduction Madrid is the capital of Spain and the largest municipality in both the Community of Madrid and Spain as a whole. The city has almost 3.2 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.5 million. It is the third-largest city in the European Union (EU), smaller than only London and Berlin, and its monocentric metropolitan area is the third-largest in the EU, smaller only than those of London and Paris. The Plaza Mayor, a grand arcaded square in the center of Madrid is very popular with tourists and locals alike. The symmetrical rectangular square features a uniform architecture. Before Madrid became a capital city, its footprint consisted of narrow streets, alleys and passageways, which today take us back to the times of swashbuckling swordsmen and medieval rogues. The foundations of Plaza Mayor were laid, when Philip II's court moved to Madrid, on the site of the former Plaza del Arrabal, where the town's most popular market was located towards the end of the 15th century. In 1617, architect Juan Gómez de Mora was commissioned to create a greater uniformity amongst the buildings in this location, which for centuries had hosted popular entertainments, bullfights, beatifications, coronations and the occasional auto de fe. Puerta del Sol (meaning The Sun's Gate in English) is one of the most renowned central squares in Madrid and it houses several of the citys landmarks. The plaza was built in different stages. During the fifteenth century, La Puerta del Sol was originally one of the gates of the city wall and three centuries later, the mid-eighteenth century, the Casa de Correos was established. Finally, between 1857 and 1862, the architects Lucio del Valle, Juan Rivera and José Morer gave it its definitive form. During the twentieth century, the fountain was placed in the center of the square and part of it was pedestrianized. The Puerta del Sol houses three well-known symbols of Madrid: El Oso y el Madroño (Statue of the Bear and Strawberry Tree Real Casa de Correos Kilometre Zero (KM 0): The Royal Palace is one of the top tourist attractions in Madrid. It is the official residence for the Royal family, but these days they only use it for state ceremonies. The rest of the time it's open to the public. Otherwise known in Spanish as the Palacio Real, the Royal Palace was built during the 18th and 19th centuries and is a monumental building. It replaced the former medieval Alcázar, which was burnt to the ground in 1794. The present-day Royal Palace of Madrid was decorated to the tastes of Charles III and is lavish inside. Visitors can wander through many of the rooms and banqueting halls. Day by day itinerary DAY 1: MADRID • Meet your private English-Speaking Official Local Guide at the Puerta del Sol Clock (Hotel meeting point available for hotels within walking distance of the Puerta del Sol) • A walking tour through Madrid city, visit Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, etc... • Detailed visit of the Royal Palace, where the tour will end. • We have reserved a table for your lunch at a recommended restaurant either before or after the tour LR END OF TOUR SERVICES Included • English Speaking Official Guide for Madrid tour • Entrance fees included when with guide • (LR) *Lunch Table Reservation in a recommended restaurant with fine cuisine (*Meal not included must order directly at the restaurant) • Local Taxes Excluded • Meals not specified in itinerary • Beverages not specified in selected meals • Personal & Travel Insurance • Transportation • Tip and Gratuities to Local guide Cancellation policy • Up to 48 hrs before: Fully Refundable • Under 48 hrs : 100% Non-Refundable Map Reviews ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Peter Casey (16 November 2019) Amor was our guide in Madrid, and we appreciated her flexibility in trying to get to us earlier than she expected to do. The visit was basically focused on the Alcazar, which we were delighted to see. We had the impression that Amor basically had her story to tell, from which she was not going to be deflected by any questions from us, but she did know that story. .