Mandarin Oriental Ritz (Reviews, page 86), which has pride of place in the Retiro neighbourhood, a stone’s throw from the Prado Museum. Its restored palace exterior sets the scene for what’s inside: 167 elegant rooms, a sensational spa and a Michelin-starred dining venue. lÃiÜhiÀi] ÛiÃiÌoÀà Üill wn` Ìhi Óää-Àoom (QWT|5GCUQPU *QVGN /CFTKF, housed in a historic bank building that’s also home to a raft of upmarket boutiques, and an outpost of 'FKVKQP *QVGNU, which, >lon}Ãi`i Óää Àoomà >n` ÃÕiÌiÃ] h>à >n oÕÌ`ooÀ pool, rooftop terrace and cocktail bar. 4QUGYQQF 8KNNC /CIPC is another impressive


property, its standout feature being two extraordinary «inÌhoÕÃià Lo>ÃÌin} ÎÈä-`i}Àii ÛiiÜà ov Ìhi ViÌÞ°


WHAT TO DO


Madrid is teeming with cultural heritage and is home to a wealth of arty hotspots that should be must-dos for any visitor. Top of the list is the 2TCFQ|/WUGWO, which houses one of the largest art collections in the world. The headline pieces here are works by Goya and Velázquez, but the gallery’s «oÀÌvolio VonÌ>inà moÀi Ìh>n n]Èää «>inÌin}à >n` Çää ÃVÕl«ÌÕÀið


three different itineraries of varying lengths to ensure visitors can check off the most important masterpieces without getting lost along the way. To get a real sense of the city, recommend clients explore on foot. From the Prado, you can reach the lush oasis that is El Retiro Park, which takes in a vast boating lake, reverential ÃÌ>ÌÕià >n` y>ÜliÃÃlÞ m>niVÕÀi` }>À`inð Madrid’s central square, 2NC\C|/C[QT, is also a short walk away. Found in the city’s oldest neighbourhood, this bustling square has historically «l>Þi` hoÃÌ Ìo LÕllw}hÌÃ] wiÃÌ>à >n` «>À>`iÃ] >n` is now the place to be for marvelling at imposing


il«vÕllÞ] Ìhi *À>`o V>n ÀiVommin`


ª Plaza Mayor


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


JANUARY 2024


JUNE 2025 ASPIRE


37


Madrid


CREDIT: Shutterstock/Songquan Deng


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