Modern Madrid walking tour - Puerta Del Sol Gran Vía Cibeles Retiro Puerta de Alcalá / Small groups

In this tour, we will focus on Madrid in the 19th and early 20th centuries, a time of great political and economic changes that gave the world a new image of Madrid, starting with the Puerta del Sol, which was the nerve center of 19th-century Madrid. Here, we will see the Royal Post Office, which, although not built in that century, is the most representative building of the square. We will also see the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, which represents the symbol of Madrid, before heading to Calle Alcalá with Calle Sevilla, where we will see what was the financial and social heart of 19th and 20th-century Madrid with its monumental buildings like the Equitable Building, now the Four Seasons Hotel, the former headquarters of the Bank of Bilbao, the Royal Casino of Madrid, La Unión and El Fénix Español. We will then move to Plaza de Canalejas, where we will see buildings with exquisite architecture such as Casa Allende or the Banco Hispano Americano. Additionally, we will make a brief stop at the Lhardy restaurant, a top restaurant in Madrid founded in 1839. We will then go down Carrera de San Jerónimo until we reach Plaza de las Cortes, where we will see important buildings such as the Congress of Deputies, which represents the highest legislative institution of the state, the Westin Palace Hotel, and Seguros Plus Ultra. We will then visit the Teatro de la Zarzuela, which was the favorite theater of the upper classes of the time, until we reach the Círculo de Bellas Artes, a must-stop as it has one of the most famous terraces in Madrid in summer, offering wonderful views of both a part of Gran Vía and the Palacio de Cibeles. We will talk about the first section built of Gran Vía, which offers impressive architecture and is currently the most important avenue in the center of Madrid. We will then arrive at Plaza de Cibeles, where we will see spectacular buildings surrounding the Cibeles Fountain, and despite their proximity, they are all in different neighborhoods. We will also talk about the origin of the Paseo del Prado to end our visit. So don't waste any more time and come to discover Madrid with the best guides who will make your visit to Madrid a unique experience.