And still haven’t told their best friends. Except, now-for reasons they’re still not discussing-they don’t. A paleontology exhibit in the Carpetana station displays the fossils of prehistoric animals the Chamberí station, which opened in 1919, is now closed to trains but open to visitors, and retains its original billboards and other period details.Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college-they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. The Ópera station houses an archeological museum showcasing 16th- and 17th-century artifacts unearthed during construction. Metro MuseumsĪs you zip around the city, take a moment to explore some of the unique displays within the transit system. Some of its unique features include what is believed to be the oldest tree in Madrid - a 400-year-old Mexican conifer - and the Palacio de Cristal, a glass and iron greenhouse repurposed as a modern art gallery. This 17th-century park is studded with ornate marble buildings, a placid boating lake, and shade trees. It’s within walking distance of two other heavyweight art museums, the contemporary Museo Reina Sofía - home to Picasso’s Guernica - and the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, which showcases works by European masters. Its vast collection includes works by only-last-name-needed artists such as Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco.

Housed in a circa-1785 palace (with some modern additions) the Museo del Prado is home to more than 7,000 paintings. Madrid’s artistic reputation is only rivaled by its gastronomic one - the food here, from traditional tapas to reservations-required upscale dining, is reliably excellent. Thanks to those privileged royals of yore, the city is a marquee arts destination, studded with world-class museums and galleries that still benefit from the largess of rulers who supported famous artists. In the evening Madrid’s vibrant nightlife awakens, as revelers flock to bars, clubs, and restaurants that stay open until the morning hours. The River Manzanares, which slices through the city, is crisscrossed by arched bridges and lined with walking paths and green spaces such as the modern Madrid Río Park, a landscaped stretch of riverbank activated with playgrounds, performance spaces, and the Arganzuela Bridge, which looks like an enormous metal spring. This is also a place that celebrates its abundant open spaces. Madrid’s streets teem with stately palaces, ornate Belle Époque buildings, and modern architecture, and its skyline is spiky with soaring slate spires. Spain’s capital city is an exciting meld of the old and new.

Happy place emile henry