Summer nights in Madrid
Date: 08/13/2007
A growing number of madrileños now choose to remain in the city during August when Madrid recovers its true origins of villa y corte (town and court), becoming a tranquil, romantic city again, emptied of commuters and the buzz of business.
Hopeless Romantics
The Royal Palace is one of the most romantic settings. Despite the name, the Palacio de Oriente sits on the edge of a hill facing west--perfect for watching sunsets. Take a leisurely stroll through the adjacent Jardines de Sabatini and you may be treated to one of the fountain water and light displays in the evening. If you have a regal budget, sip a glass of chilled wine on any of the outdoor terraces overlooking the palace in the Plaza de Oriente.
The esplanade facing the Palace hosts the sunset classical music concerts, organized as part of Madrid's Veranos de la Villa (Summer in the City) festival. Despite the acoustic difficulties in performing outdoors, this is a magical musical event. Get there early if you want a seat. Otherwise bring your own cushion and join the majority who sit on the ground to listen.
Royal Palace esplanade and Jardines de Sabatini; Open 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. from May - September, free entry. Entrance through Calle Bailén.
Veranos de la Villa: full program available online as of May - June. Search under www.munimadrid.es
Recipe for Té Moruno (4 cups)
Hot mint tea is consumed by the bucket in the high temperatures of Arabic countries as it combines the cool, refreshing taste of peppermint and spearmint leaves with the warmth of tea to raise your body temperature and reduce the feeling of outdoor heat.
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Recipe for Té Moruno (4 cups) Hot mint tea is consumed by the bucket in the high temperatures of Arabic countries as it combines the cool, refreshing taste of peppermint and spearmint leaves with the warmth of tea to raise your body temperature and reduce the feeling of outdoor heat.
Recipe for Té Moruno (4 cups)
1. Warm an empty teapot with a little hot water. |
Spanish under the stars
Take a friend or go alone to the Cine de Verano, which screens films under the stars. If you're still learning the language, this is a great way to train your ear and practice, as the films are dubbed into Spanish. Head out to La Pipa (the original venue) in the heart of the Casa de Campo park, or for a city option, there's Parque de la Bombilla.
Outdoor Cinema: La Pipa, Casa de Campo subway station, or Parque de la Bombilla, in San Antonio de la Florida, Norte subway station.
Arabian nights
Spain has always had its own version of Operetta or Musicals, known as Zarzuela. The Teatro de la Zarzuela is devoted to this genre year-round, but in the summer, Veranos de la Villa brings you this light entertainment in a privileged outdoor location-the ruins of the Muralla Árabe, the Arabian wall that encircled the town back in the 9th century.
Madrid's Arabian origins are a refreshing discovery. Madrid, or Al-Mayrit, as it was called back in the 9th - 16th centuries, is home to a restored underground cistern, the Medina Mayrit. Here you can soak with other bathers in waters of varying temperatures, get a massage in an ambiance of peace and quiet, and then enjoy couscous in the restaurant. For a well-prepared cup of Té Moruno, or hot mint tea, head to Madrid's only white marble mosque or mezquita to sample this delicious and refreshing drink. You will also find a restaurant serving mouth-watering culinary delights from Morocco to Pakistan.
Medina Mayrit, Atocha, 14; tel. +34-90-233-3334; www.medinamayrit.com. Madrid's mosque (mezquita): Just off the M-30 inner-city motorway.
Rooftop Terraces
For a premium view of Madrid, the rooftop terrace and pool at the Hotel Urban has the best cocktails in town. This hotel set the standard in tasteful and stylish boutique hotel design a little over two years ago. The Meliá chain followed suit and recently refurbished the ME Reina Victoria in one of Madrid's most happening pedestrian plazas. If you want something more laid back where you can eat, drink, or party overlooking the "township" side of Madrid, look no further than El Viajero.
Hotel Urban: Carrera de San Jerónimo, 34, Banco de España area. ME Reina Victoria: Plaza de Santa Ana. Terraza El Viajer Plaza de la Cebada 11, La Latina area.
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