Roca Madrid, Barcelona & Rome

 

The Group arrived at Madrid airport at 5:30pm and after collecting the luggage we took the coach and headed towards the hotel Ibis. Once there we took a short time to check-in into our rooms and left the hotel to go down town. We arrived at Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s most popular meeting places; huge crowds converge on this famous square on their way to the shops and sights in the old part of the city. Shaped like a half moon with the equestrian statue of Carlos III in its center, the “Gateway of the Sun” has been called that after a sign painted on the Eastern Gate of the city that was in this location. We continued towards the restaurant were we had a buffet dinner near Gran Via, This main street is the Broadway of Madrid, built in the early years of the 1900 it crosses the center of the city, lined with beautiful buildings some of which are the best examples of modern architecture in the city. We had a great dinner and after we walked a bit to reach Plaza Mayor were we assisted to a fantastic Easter Procession. The Plaza Mayor forms a splendid rectangular square. Complete with balconies, pinnacles, dormer windows and steep slate roofs. The square, with its theatrical atmosphere, has a noticeably Castilian character. Much was expected to happen here and a great deal did – bullfights, executions, pageants and trials by the Inquisition- all watched by crowds, often in the presence of the reigning king and queen. We saw this incredible procession with the statue of Jesus Christ on the cross carried by several men and a band playing music to accompany it. Also a group of hooded men belonging to a religious brotherhood and a group of women all dressed in their typical black dresses with the “mantilla” and “peineta” over their heads. After the procession we were a bit tired and we decided to head back to the hotel for a good night rest. Buenas noches a todos!