Madrid, Spain

May 2016

For centuries Toledo was the capital of Castile, until Philip II moved the royal court to Madrid in 1561 and made it the capital of Spain.

Madrid, Spain

Here are photos from the trip.

An elevated dusk view of Madrid, with the Royal Palace on the left flying the Spanish flag and the Almudena Cathedral in the center.
The Royal Palace of Madrid, at left with the Spanish flag, and the Almudena Cathedral at center. The exact viewpoint is uncertain.
The ancient Egyptian Templo de Debod in Madrid at dusk, lit and reflected in the pool, with two stone gateways in the foreground.
Templo de Debod at dusk, the relocated Egyptian temple and its gateways reflected in the pool.
The main façade of the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, with two towers, a central dome, and a rose window.
The façade of the Catedral de la Almudena.
A wider elevated view of the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid and the plaza in front of it, with people gathered at a distance.
A wider view of the Almudena Cathedral and the plaza in front.
An indoor flamenco performance at Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco in Madrid, with guitarists and seated performers on stage and the audience in the foreground.
A flamenco performance at Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco in Madrid.
A busy street in central Madrid, with a municipal police officer, a bike-lane warning sign, and a baroque church with twin slate spires in the background.
A street in central Madrid, with a municipal police officer and a baroque church with twin slate spires in the background. The exact church is uncertain.
The interior of the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid during a corrida, with a packed crowd, a matador in the ring, and a bull near the barrier.
Inside the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas during a corrida. This photo was uploaded with a Barcelona filename; the ring and the “Comunidad de Madrid” signs on the barrier place it in Madrid.
A matador with a pink cape facing a bull in the sand at Las Ventas in Madrid, with official boxes labeled Comunidad de Madrid behind the barrier.
A matador and bull in the ring at Las Ventas. The boxes along the barrier are labeled “Comunidad de Madrid” and “Delegado de Actividad.”

Next stop: check out Málaga.