10 reasons to come to Madrid in Autumn

In our previous article , we discussed why the Autumn was a special time to come to Madrid. In this new article we detail what you can do with proposals for all tastes . Take a look and you will see how you can not resist!

Do you need reasons to encourage you to visit Madrid this fall ? Here are a handful of reasons why you will not hesitate in coming to know Madrid or rediscover it.

1. Madrid International Dance Festival
From 8 to 28 November Madrid in Dance celebrates its silver anniversary . And to commemorate thirty-three companies from Korea , UK, France, Belgium, Italy , Israel , Canada, Colombia , Finland , Poland, the United States and the Netherlands , along with Spanish artists show their proposals in the most diverse and impressive styles .

2 . MTV Europe Music Awards 2010
Over 600 million people around the world follow this event via their screens but if you want to live it live , this year's most spectacular awards MTV will be held for the first time in the capital of Spain . The date is November 7 in the fashionable Magic Box .

3 . Madrid Restaurant Week
Do you fancy to taste gourmet food for only 25 € ? Between October 22 and November 1, you can do it in some of the best restaurants in the capital . The luxury menus during these days will make you enjoy the best gastronomy of Madrid . It will be hard to choose .

4 . Passion for Renoir
With this suggestive title Prado Museum offers the first solo exhibition in Spain by the French artist . Between October 19 and February 6, 2011 one of the most important painters of impressionism awaits you in Madrid.

5 . A small Capricho
El Retiro , Casa de Campo, the Juan Carlos I ... , many parks of Madrid in autumn wear their best clothes , but if you want to discover one of the most beautiful and unknown city at this time , do not miss the Capricho Park . The colorful show their groves , ponds , labyrinth - a place designed for foreplay and the hiding -the temple of Bacchus , the palace of the Dukes of Osuna and its many nooks make this park a perfect place for the romance in fall.


6 . A chocolate feast 
Now that the summer heat is just , what better way to travel to Madrid and take the opportunity to get chocolate con churros in the most famous chocolate factory in the capital: San Ginés . Ummmmmm , irresistible!

7 . An autumn 1800
In one of the most chic and at the forefront of Europe you can still find a handful of unique shops proposals in more ancient city . Madrid City Council has developed a number of routes for visiting the oldest shops that are already part of the historical heritage of this modern city.

8 . A Day at the Races
A different plan for a fun weekend in Madrid with kids can be racing the Zarzuela Hippodrome scheduled for this fall every Sunday morning until 21 November. All children under 14 years have free entry .

9. The best places to eat mushrooms
What would an autumn without mushrooms ? An excursion in search of them in the vicinity of Madrid can be a perfect plan, but success is never assured. But if you prefer to taste how the mushrooms are cooked by thousand ways, be sure to stop by one of the restaurants that we suggest , are the best of Madrid to taste them : The Chamfer, El Cisne Azul ( C / Gravina , 19 ) , Maria Luisa cuisine or Viridiana .

10. A perfect apartment at a great price

And the last reason , but not the least, is that at this time of year , you will find great discounts in our apartments in Madrid as 30% off . And not only that , because, well, some of our downtown Madrid apartments offer the same price for 2 that for 4 people.

Are you convinced? If so do not wait. The apartments with the best deals are those that are firstly reserved .. So do not hesitate, Book your apartment in Madrid as soon as possible to enjoy the Fall in the capital!

Live Holy Week in Spain

The Holy Week or Easter in Spain is perhaps more rooted tradition and which may surprise those who have the opportunity to enjoy it.

Many are surprised at the different Holy Week which can be found depending on the area or region where it is celebrated in Spain. For though in all Spanish regions, the Holy Week is a religious event, the way how are "lived" and "sense" change enormously from one region to another.

So, in central and northern Spain, we find a sober Holy Week, it seems like people are  seeking penance and repentance. The processions are quieter, the music is more solemn, and feelings are more hidden.

By contrast, in southern Spain, in Andalusia, Holy Week is characterized by an explosion of feelings, much more spontaneous, which people often end up singing "saetas" ... and others in tears.

To the uninitiated, and for many of us, just see how the people feel, or suffer is at least surprising. It has not only to do with religion, but much more with a old tradition that is still alive, and worth seeing and enjoying.

And it is also curious that in major cities such as Madrid continue to maintain this tradition as old.

Yes, in Madrid are still celebrating the traditional processions in downtown churches. In Madrid this tradition as old lives with all kinds of cultural events and exhibitions. 

And if you are really interested in knowing in depth the Holy Week in other places of Spain we recommend you visit the Easter of Salamanca, where you will appreciate the solemnity of the steps nestled in a beautiful historic city, UNESCO heritage. Zamora and Valladolid are also highly recommended.

For those who have more time, I suggest visiting the Holy Week in Seville or Malaga, both also very popular and interesting.

And of course, for those who want to know the Spanish culture, or feel how live the locals live, we recommend, as always, stay in our short term apartments in Madrid, which are situated just meters from where the main religious and cultural activities are held.

Madrid Secrets: Tradition and Modernity

It's no secret that Madrid is a city that has the appeal of the big cities along with the charm of the towns.

So for those who want to know the Spanish culture and traditions and want to have also everything you get in a big city, Madrid is the ideal city, as the two aspects coexist.

For example, in summer, in the first weekend of July in Madrid is celebrated the Gay Pride in areas of Chueca and Gran Via and in August are celebrated the popular street festivals of La Paloma and San Cayetano.

Furthermore, the great advantage of Madrid is that you can explore on foot. Public transport in Madrid is excellent and cheap, but probably will not need it if you stay at one of our apartments, as most are located in the heart of Madrid and Madrid you can visit everything on foot. (Read the testimony of one of our clients regarding the location of the Gran Via Sol Apartment)

For more information about the different neighborhoods of central Madrid recommend you read our Guide to Madrid