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Madrid, Spain
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ABOVE: Madrid is a great city for street
music, and you won't find a better busker than singer-guitarist Willy García.
INSET BELOW: The Puerta del Sol at night.
Entertainment
First, a confession: I may be the world's dullest man, and when
it comes to entertainment, I'm usually satisfied with a good book, a DVD, or a
snuggle with the señora. So don't count on me for advice on clubbing and
carousing in Castile.
However,
I can tell you that isn't uncommon to see Madrileños pushing strollers
through the downtown entertainment district at 11 p.m., and Sunday night in
Madrid looks busier than a Friday or Saturday night in most European cities.
Even the promenade by the Royal Palace is often busy after dark, when couples
are out enjoying the romantic atmosphere.
For
many locals and visitors, entertainment means bellying up to a tapas bar
for conversation, cerveza, and little plates of edibles.
For others, it means heading for the Gran Vía with its movie palaces and live
theatres. (Want to practice your Spanish? Attend a
film in the local lingo--either a Spanish movie or the latest dubbed release
from Hollywood.)
Tourists often want to see flamenco in Madrid. The
Corral de la Morería tablao
flamenco restaurant is a long-popular venue near the Royal Palace; it's
listed in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.
Opera mostly takes place at the
Teatro Real, which also stages other
types of concerts. For a more authentically Spanish experience, you can attend a
performance of zarzuela (Spanish operetta) at the
Teatro de la Zarzuela, which has
been entertaining Madrileños and visitors since 1856. If you'd rather listen to
orchestral music and the occasional choir concert, try the
Auditorio
Nacional de Música
or the Teatro Monumental.
For entertainment
guides and articles about culture, shows, clubs, and events in Madrid, see
Madrid Links: Entertainment.
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Shopping
Tapas photo copyright © Fundación Destino
Madrid.
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