Madrid Cityscape: Catedral de la Almudena and Royal Palace

About the Picture

The Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, in Spain called “Catedral de la Almudena”, picture was taken in April, when the city is bathed in soft sunlight, and you can enjoy some many iconic landmarks.

The cathedral is located in the heart of the city, with Royal Palace next to it. A place very popular among travellers who also tend to visit Temple of Debod, which is really nearby.

Nice, 15 minutes walk away and that’s actually from where this picture was taken from, just from the back of the Temple of Debod, a spot filled with tourists and locals enjoying beautiful cityscapes, views, sceneries and… picnics. And so can you, too!

Let’s talk about the architecture we see on this Madrid’s cityscape picture and some facts but also unique information about the city in April.

When it comes to the Catedral de la Almudena, the main topic of the image, unlike most cathedrals in Spain, Almudena blends multiple styles: neo-Gothic interior, neo-Romanesque crypt, and a modern exterior influenced by Art Deco. Most probably because it took over a 100 years to construct it. Beginning in 1879 and completed in the year of 1993.

Do you know many cathedrals in the world that were consecrated by a Pope? Well, Almudena is among these few that were. Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1993, making it a significant event in modern religious history of Madrid. Even though, I’m not Catholic but I’m from Poland as Pope was, it makes me happy and proud.

Actually, I shared the above fact in the description of another image of the Cathedral, the closeup picture of Almudena’s front exterior.

Let’s give some love to the Royal Palace, the building on the left on the picture. If you decide to visit the Palace, there is a “secret” room you don’t want to miss while there, and it’s the Royal Pharmacy.

The palace is filled with many great rooms and places that will make you feel the culture and be wow-ed by the designs, however the Royal Pharmacy is hmm, another one of a kind places. Shelves with antique medicine jars, prescriptions, etc., provide a fascinating glimpse into the history of medicine and the health practices of the Spanish royals.

Did you also know, what’s the largest Palace in Europe by the floor area?
You guessed it right. The Royal Palace in Madrid! Over 3,000 rooms, make you want to visit it just for that reason alone, especially if you’ve already been to famous Buckingham Palace or Versailles – it’s biggest competitors.

Feel free to download this cityscape picture for free and use on your travel or any other blog post.