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The grand Art Walk

It may only be two kilometres long, but you need a few hours to get from one end to the other. There's a whole world between Círculo de Bellas Artes and La Casa Encendida. A world devoted exclusively to culture, known as Paseo del Arte (The Art Walk) well beyond Madrid's city limits.

The best starting point is probably La Pecera, the glazed café in the Círculo de Bellas Artes, one of the most prestigious cultural centres in Europe, with galleries that are always displaying the latest artistic trends. Opposite stands the Instituto Cervantes, occupying the Caryatides building, a genuine emblem of Madrid. Exhibitions, conferences and debates are usually on its programme, which focuses on the dissemination of Spanish and Latin American culture.

The same goal encourages the task of the Casa de América (House of America), located in the Linares Palace, a construction loaded with stories and legends. The ghost stays hidden away, but the Parisian bronzes, Antwerp crystals and the carpets from the Royal Tapestry Factory, among other marvels, are still on show. The restaurant, with an outdoor terrace, is one of the liveliest in this area, which leads onto the Paseo del Prado. At number 8 stands Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, the best museum in the world, according to a recent survey by the French Tourism Ministry.

The Thyssen offers a complete analysis of the history of European painting, the ideal complement to Museo del Prado, the most important painting museum in the world which has stepped into the 21^st century with a spectacular enlargement, designed by Rafael Moneo. The brand new CaixaForum is another architectural wonder, with a vertical garden by its entrance that competes with the beauty of the Royal Botanical Garden, which boasts 30,000 plant species from all over the globe.

The last building on the Art Walk is Museo Reina Sofía, which displays its treasure-Picasso's Guernica- alongside artworks by Juan Gris, Miró, Tàpies... The deep red enlargement was designed by Jean Nouvel and accommodates the restaurant Arola Madrid, with designer tapas on the menu. The Art Walk borders with other cultural locations, such as La Casa Encendida, Teatro Circo Price and La Fábrica, the art publishing house-gallery which organises PHotoEspaña every year.

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