For first time visitors to Madrid no visit would be complete without a few day trips to some of the small historic country towns in easy reach from the centre of Madrid.
The Ritz Concierge will be delighted to make the arrangements for your excursions, either by chauffeur driven limousine, a self drive rental car or you could even join one of the many official tour companies who organise visits to these fascinating destinations.
For more information, please contact the hotel on +34 91 701 67 67 or email concierge@ritz.es.
Toledo (60 km from Madrid)
A writer once said that anybody who had never been to Spain before and wanted to get the flavour of the country in a single day should visit Toledo!
At the bank of the river Tajo, at only 60 km from Madrid, it offers its visitors such riches of culture and history that nobody remains unaffected by it. But Toledo is certainly no Museum, but a lively small town where one of the many delights is to stroll through its winding streets taking in ambience and architectural marvels.
2000 years of history have left a rich heritage: City walls and gateways in moorish style, a majestic gothic cathedral, the Jewish quarter and its exquisite synagogue Santa Maria le Blanca, considered one of the masterpieces of Mudejar architecture, the Salazar, mediaeval fortress on the highest point of the city, offering a spectacular view, the Santa Cruz Museum, once a hospice for abandoned children and the sick, today one of the most important museums and picture galleries in Spain, exhibiting among many unique treasures several El Greco master pieces.
Segovia (90 km from Madrid)
Just as beautiful and just as old is Segovia to the north of Madrid. Its superb Roman Aqueduct, 728m long and 28m high, is the most majestic piece of roman engineering in the area. Segovia’s 16th century cathedral, the striking Salazar fortress seen from far, the unique 12 side construction of the Vera Cruz Church built by the Kings Templers, its lively “Plaza Mayor”, its cool Tapa Bars and excellent restaurants beckon to try the local speciality of oven roasted suckling pig or baby lamb, make sure that your visit to Segovia remains unforgettable.
La Granja de San Ildefonso (60 km from Madrid)
La Granja is a romantic summer residents of Spanish Kings at just a short distance from Segovia and in the foot hills of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range.
It was built by Felipe V, a grandson of French King Luis XIV and is a palace inspired by the French Chateau de Versailles in whose gardens the king had spent happy childhood days. Today it is open to the public and apart from its splendid public rooms, delights its visitors with its wonderful garden with an abundance of fountains, waterfalls and statues.
La Granja is also the name of the local glass works founded in 1770, one of the few surviving examples of early industrial architecture and open today as National Glass Museum with exhibits of early examples of La Granja Cristal The modern factory next door still produces good reproductions of La Granja glass ware.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial (50 Km. from Madrid)
The spectacular granite Monastery of San Lorenzo El Escorial to the north of Madrid, considered by some as the 8th wonder oft he world, was conceived by religious King Felipe II as a monastery, palace and royal burial place. The king looked at this master piece of harmony and classical solemnity as his crowning achievement.
The Monastery and crypt, where the majority of the Spanish kings are buried , is one of the most visited monuments in Spain but San Lorenzo itself, is a pleasant small country town surrounded by hills and in the past a well known summer retreat for “Madrileños “who wanted an escape from the hot Madrid summer.
On the way to El Escorial visitors can observe from away the giant cross of the memorial to those perished in the Spanish Civil War, the “Valle de los Caidos”, a basilica carved into the mountain side and the burial place of Francisco Franco.
Aranjuez (45 km from Madrid)
Visiting Aranjuez one cannot help thinking of the wonderful “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Rodriguez, who let him be inspired by the impressive gardens of Felipe II’s summer residence.
The Palace displays some unique features such as the Sala de Porcelana, a small room completely bedecked with exquisite porcelain or the Sala China which boasts 200 fragile Chinese paintings on rice paper, a present from the Chinese emperor to Queen Isabel II.
The Museum for Royal launches near the river Tajo exhibits impressive boats and barges used by the king and his court for festivals and excursions.
During the summer months Aranjuez can be visited by steam train. The "Tren de la Fresa" departs from Madrid and during the journey travellers will be spoiled with Strawberries from Aranjuez.
Avila (113 km from Madrid)
Avila, mediaeval city especially known for its impressive city wall, perfectly preserved and unique in Spain .It dates back to the 11th century and is a total of 2kms, long, 12m high with 88 towers and 9 city gates.
Chinchón (50 km from Madrid)
Chinchón, which in size is more a large village than a town, is proud of its magnificent “ Plaza Mayor” the best preserved in the whole community of Madrid and with its ancient houses and wooden balconies one of the most attractive in Spain. During the local festivals in the month of August, this square becomes a bull ring just as it has done ever since it was built.
Chinchón is also known for its typical and unusual restaurants, some of them in historic wine cellars and its anise liqueur.
