Madrid is an architectural open-air museum. On route between the airport and the centre, the cosmopolitan nature of the city becomes quite apparent as you ride along wide boulevards and verdant roads, passing majestic buildings and magnificent architectural masterpieces. Examples of such, are the main post office building shaped like a wedding cake, a host of buildings adorned with triumphal arches, bank buildings that rise like Renaissance castles, as well as postmodern skyscrapers such as the Puerta Europa twin towers that were built in 1996 and which slant towards each other.
Madrid’s history starts from its west end, where the Royal Palace is today. Plaza Mayor is the largest and most attractive square of the city. The aristocratic mansions around the open area are the perfect place for residents and visitors to Madrid to stroll, sit for a coffee or try traditional Spanish appetizers, tapas, sangria and paella. Centro Español with its noble classicism, is an incredibly elegant building, while the focal point of Plaza de Cibeles is the conspicuous building of the Bank of Spain.
