viekeo don't go by the book

The Carnival is much like a permanent fixture in the Madrid events calendar, celebrated in the city every February since the medieval times. Held as a pre-Lenten festivity, its culminating feature is the Entierro de la Sardina or the Burial of the Sardine held at Paseo de la Florida. This tradition pokes fun at the ancient practice of burying fat to mark the start of Lenten fasting. Members of the Burial of the Sardine Brotherhood and a raucous crowd participate in the procession and partake on a hefty feast as the event signals the arrival of Lent.

The quaint Prado Museum has what is considered the world’s greatest collection of Spanish paintings, foremost among them the works of Velázquez and Goya. While Spanish art from the 12th-19th centuries is represented here, there are also impressive foreign collections of Italian and Flemish masterpieces. 

Built in the 17th century as a royal park, Parque del Retiro is considered “the lung of Madrid” as the largest park in the center of the city. A sprawling 118-hectare site, it has a large boating lake and three art galleries: Case de Vacas, Palacio de Cristal, and Palacio de Velázquez. This tree-lined district witnesses a lovely congregation of jugglers and performers, fortune-tellers and painters every weekends and holidays.

Take a morning tour in Madrid as we go to the most exciting places around the city. See the buildings and monuments and take an opportunity to stop at the Hard Rock Cafe with welcome drink

Go around Toledo, a World Heritage Site and considered the city of the three cultures: Christian, Moslem and Jewish. Admire its beauty through the architecture from practically all periods of Spain's history.