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sights & monuments

a monday in MADRID

Madrid never rests, not even on Mondays. Although a number of museums and landmarks in the city do take a break on the first day of the week, many others remain open so there is no excuse not to make the most of every day of your stay. The following is a selection of everything you can see on Mondays in the city: from monuments and exhibition to all kinds of shows.

• Royal Palace: Built in the 18^th century, it boasts magnificent rooms, a large armoury and a music room which houses five Stradivarius violins. Don't leave without first talking a walk in the Jardines del Moro and Sabatini Gardens.
• Temple of Debod: Not far from the Royal Palace you will find a genuine Egyptian construction which is over 2000 years old and was given to the capital by the Egyptian government. It stands in a public park so you can admire it at any time of day (the inside however only opens from Tuesday to Sunday). We definitely recommend you make your way here to watch the sun set.
• Royal Tapestry Factory: This institution, established in 1721 by Felipe V, preserves and exhibits textile goods, including carpets, tapestries and historical cloths that are true relics.
• Royal Botanical Gardens: Designed in the 18^th century, it is a peaceful retreat separated into three terraces, which together with a greenhouse, exhibit over 30,000 plant species from all over the world. Its beautiful rose garden and century-old trees make it one of the most romantic spots in Madrid.

• Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: The museum, one of the cultural institutions which form the famous Art Walk, only closes on Tuesdays, so you can marvel at such treasures as Picasso's Guernica or enjoy the temporary exhibitions of leading contemporary artists. You can also stop by the stunning Palacio de Cristal in El Retiro Park which also belongs to the Reina Sofía.
• CaixaForum Madrid: On the Art Walk you will also find this cultural centre belonging to Fundación La Caixa that stages interesting temporary exhibitions and other cultural activities. Located in a very striking edifice built by architects Herzog & De Meuron from an early 20^th-century factory, its entrance boasts a stunning vertical garden, designed by French artist Patrick Blanc.
• Fundación Cultural Mapfre Recoletos: On another corner of the Art Walk, lie these exhibition rooms which host leading temporary exhibitions.
• Centro de Exposiciones Arte Canal: Situated in the former pumping station at Plaza de Castilla, this cultural centre also stages regular exhibitions of renowned works, recommended for all publics.
• Fundación Juan March: This centre regularly stages significant temporary exhibitions, generally of contemporary art, and also offers regular concerts of chamber music.
• Museum of Public Art: Among Madrid's least known museums lies this hidden treasure for lovers of abstract sculpture. Situated in the open air on Paseo de la Castellana, under the shelter of a flyover, it exhibits a total of seventeen sculptures by great Spanish artists, including Joan Miró, Gerardo Rueda, Eduardo Chillida, Martín Chirino, Julio González and Pablo Palazuelo.

• Wax Museum: This museum, one of the most visited attractions in Madrid, offers hundreds of replicas of famous characters, both fictitious and real, including protagonists from horror films and books.
• Zoo-Aquarium de Madrid: Situated in Casa de Campo and opening its door to the public every day, it is home to around 6,000 animals belonging to over 500 species from all over the world. Visit them in the zoo and aquarium as well as in the aviary and dolphinarium.
• Parque de Atracciones: If you can go there at Easter or during the summer, from the middle of June to the middle of September, you will find it opens all week in Casa de Campo.
• Warner Bros Theme Park: In San Martín de la Vega, just 22 kilometres from Madrid, lies this theme park which also opens on Mondays in July, August and the first fortnight in September. It offers a type of ticket that includes the train ride on Cercanías, the regional train which will drop you off at the gate to the park.
• Teleférico de Madrid cable car: Offering unbeatable views over Madrid, the city's cable car crosses Casa de Campo and arrives at a station with a café where you can have a refreshing drink. It also opens on Mondays in April and May.
• Auditorio Nacional de Música: The national auditorium has two halls, Symphony and Chamber, in which it stages a wide array of concerts all year round starring Spanish and international orchestras, chamber music groups, choirs and soloists.
• La Casa Encendida: This cultural centre stages fine arts exhibitions, audiovisual shows, films, concerts and dance performances, often on a Monday.
• FNAC Callao: FNAC shops open every day of the week and the branch on Calle Preciados boasts an exhibition hall and a special area where they regularly host concerts and presentations.
• Instituto Cervantes: The official institution in charge of disseminating Spanish culture and the language, has its main headquarters on Calle Alcalá and is an important centre of exhibitions, debates and other cultural events.
• Ateneo de Madrid: Since the first half of the 19^th century, this symbol of Madrid's intelligentsia has been a fundamental spot for sharing knowledge. Its members have included Mariano José de Larra and Miguel de Unamuno, and its building, which was declared open in 1884, is now home to an important cultural centre offering concerts, poetry recitals, conferences and audiovisual shows on a daily basis.
• There are many other institutions which also organise exhibitions, musical shows, conferences and film showings, such as: Casa Árabe, Casa Asia and Casa de América, in charge of disseminating their respective cultures, and Blanquerna Centre Cultural, representing Catalan culture. Goethe Institut, Institut Français and Istituto Italiano di Cultura work to promote the German, French and Italian languages while the school of design Istituto Europeo di Design stages various events throughout the week, including Mondays.

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