Palacio Real

The Royal Palace marks a decisive break with the austere tastes of Spain’s Habsburg rulers. Felipe V had been brought up at Versailles where the International Baroque style was in vogue. Architect Filippo Juvara died two years into the project, but his successor, Gian Battista Sacchetti retained the Baroque spirit (see Palacio Real).

Plaza Mayor

The inspiration for the square was El Escorial’s courtyard. But the plans of architect Juan de Herrera were only realized 30 years in 1619 later by Gómez de Mora (see Plaza Mayor).

Palacio de Comunicaciones

Home of the Madrid Town Hall from 2007, this extraordinary building was the first major commission of Galician architect Antonio Palacios and his partner, Joaquín Otamendi. The style of this palace (1905–19) has influences ranging from Spanish Plateresque to Art Deco. The most striking feature of the interior is the stained-glass roof.

• Plaza de Cibeles

Palacio Longoria

Art Nouveau is usually associated with Barcelona rather than Madrid and, in fact, this superb example is by the Catalan architect José Grases Riera. Bold and original in design, take a close look at the florid sculptural detail, the sensuous curves and the balustrade – all typical Art Nouveau features (see Palacio Longoria).

Círculo de Bellas Artes

The Fine Arts Club dates from the 1920s and is Antonio Palacios’ Art Deco masterpiece. The crowning feature is the statue on the roof, representing the goddess Minerva, patroness of the arts. Pay the one day membership fee and you can take in the other highlights – the staircase, theatre, ballroom and the Salón de Fiestas, with its painted ceiling (see Círculo de Bellas Artes).

Metrópolis

One of Madrid’s signature buildings, Metrópolis was designed in 1905 by the French architects Jules and Raymond Février. The high point literally of this lovely Neo-Baroque confection is the bronze wreaths garlanding the cupola, which glint in the sunlight (see Metrópolis).

Iglesia de San Jerónimo el Real

Though much altered over the years, this 16th-century church is an important architectural monument. It has also been a place of refuge for Spanish kings and queens through the ages. The current king, Juan Carlos I, was crowned here in 1975 (see Iglesia de San Jerónimo el Real).

Residencia de Estudiantes

Founded in 1910 as a liberal college, early alumni here included artist Salvador Dalí and poet Federico García Lorca. Designed by Antonio Flórez, the main building was nicknamed “transatlantic” by students because the balustrade resembled the rail of an ocean liner.

• Pabellón Transatlántico, Calle del Pinar 21

• Metro Rubén Darío

• Closed to the public

Torre Picasso

The tower’s main claim to fame is that, at 157 m (515 ft), it is the tallest building in Madrid. Opened in 1989, it is the work of Japanese architect Minoru Yamasaki, designer of the ill fated World Trade Center in New York.

• Plaza de Pablo Ruíz Picasso, Paseo de la Castellana

Puerta de Europa

The “Gateway to Europe” is a modern version of a triumphal arch. Twenty-six storeys high, the leaning towers of glass and metal were completed in 1996.

• Plaza de Castilla

• Metro Plaza de Castilla

Las Fatigas Del Querer

The interior of this 1920’s tavern is decorated with Andalusian tiles and murals.

• Calle de la Cruz 17

Taberna la Dolores

Tiled mosaics adorn the façade of this taberna dating from 1908 (see La Taberna la Dolores).

Viva Madrid

Tiled inside and out; look for the Cibeles fountain on the façade (see Viva Madrid).

Villa Rosa

Fantastic ceramic decor dates from the days when this bar was a flamenco club (see Villa Rosa).

Antigua Huevería and Farmacia Juansé

Two tiled frontages. The pharmacy advertised “inoffensive cigarettes”, while the painted hens next door are a clue that this bar was once an egg shop (huevería).

• Calle de S Vicente Ferrer

Bodega de Angel Sierra

Stunning tiled façade and interior, dating from the early 20th century (see Taberna de Ángel Sierra).

Fábrica de Churros

Pop inside this shop and check out the traditional tiled interior (see Fábrica de Churros).

La Fontana de Oro

Pretty old café converted into a Guinness pub.

• Calle de la Victoria 1

La Quinta del Sordo

The tiled façade here features scenes from Goya’s paintings.

• Calle del Sacramento 10

Taberna la Daniela

Ceramic motifs cover the bar and façade of this classic Madrid taberna (see Taberna La Daniela).