Madrid: Sights in Spain's capital

From stunning architecture to fascinating art and vibrant nightlife, Madrid is an explorer's paradise. The enchanting city is sometimes underestimated as a tourist hotspot. There are so many ways to explore Spanish culture. After all, we are in the heart of Spain. Unlike the cosmopolitan tourist city of Barcelona, ​​which is modern and marked by European influences, Madrid is a very traditional big city.

The Plaza Mayor is a historic square in the center of Madrid. On it stands an equestrian statue honoring King Felipe III . There are numerous restaurants dotted around the main square, where local specialties such as hearty paellas and sangria can be enjoyed whilst watching the hustle and bustle of the square. Numerous street musicians and the impressive architecture of the buildings give this place a charming atmosphere.

The Royal Palace is one of the most magnificent buildings in Europe and today serves as the official residence of the Spanish King. Opulent salons, sumptuous banquet rooms and beautiful gardens immerse us in royal history. The majestic baroque building is almost twice the size of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Versailles.

Art lovers: Indoors definitely don't miss out in Madrid. The Museo del Prado houses one of the world's most important art collections. These include masterpieces by Velázquez, Francisco de Goya and El Greco, among others. The museum is one of the largest in the world and, together with the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo Reina Sofia, forms Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.

Retiro Park is on the eastern edge of the city. It is spacious and offers an oasis of peace and relaxation with its picturesque landscape. Here you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy nature to the fullest. At the heart of the park lies an idyllic lake that tourists and locals alike explore by renting rowing boats.

Fans of the Netflix series "Money Heist" can follow in the footsteps of Tokyo, Rio and Co in Madrid. Many scenes of the series were filmed here. Especially for Seasons 1 and 2, shooting locations in Madrid and the surrounding area were mainly targeted.

Finca El Gasco served as the backdrop for Finca Casa de Toledo, where it all began and where the professor ( Álvaro Morte ) shared his plan with the team to prepare the greatest heist in Spanish history at Calle Tijuana, 6, 28250 Torrelodones , just outside Madrid.

The scenes in the Spanish banknote printing factory were not actually filmed in the real Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre at Calle de Jorge Juan, 106, Madrid, for security reasons, but are based on it. Several locations served as backdrops for this.

For the exterior shots, the building of the Spanish Economic Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC for short) was used as the facade for the banknote printing works. The CSIC is located at Calle Serrano, 117, Madrid and is guarded by a porter. From the street, however, you can catch a glimpse of the building through the gate.

The interior shots were shot in a studio. The science museum "Cité des sciences et de l'industrie" in Paris served as a model.

The money printing machine was made available by the Spanish daily newspaper "Diario ABC". The money for the series was of course only printed on newspaper.

The rain of money in the third season of "Money Heist" happened at Plaza del Callao . This square is located in the center of Madrid and is very busy. The billboards glow from all around the buildings, reminiscent of a small version of Times Square in New York.

Photos: Shutterstock