Branch Out

There are a number of daytime excursion trips that you can take from the city of Madrid for a very reasonable Eurail fee. Our original itinerary included some time to go to Toledo as a day trip, but there are other famous cities that we can consider as well.

Supposedly, you can follow the history of Spain just by chronicling the changes in architecture that adorns the city of Toledo. Toledo was once Spain's capital, housing the archbishop Primate of Spain (I know - I thought it too.) The Tagus River bounds Toledo on three sides and the best vantage point to view the city in all of its splendor is from the world-famous parador hotel and its waterfront cafe. The main industry in Toledo was inlaying steel, meaning that you can bring your brothers real swords back as a souvenir. Assuming that customs doesn't confiscate it, that is ... Toledo is also home to the Alcázar, the 16th century fortress built by the Moors; the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, built by orders of Ferdinand and Isabella when the country defeated Portugal in the 15th century; many mosques, churches, and synagogues because all three religions co-existed in the one city; and the Museo El Greco, showcasing the art of the infamous El Greco.



El Escorial is the impressive mausoleum of General Franco, located outside the city of Madrid. 1500 workers completed the palace in 21 years, installing 1200 doors and 2500 windows. The four wings are the Palace Monastery, the Basilica, the Library, and the Friar's garden. Within wings, you can find museums dedicated to specific aspects of the palace, like the Museum of Art and the Museum of Architecture, but the tourist moneyshot is the Royal Pantheon. Inside the Royal Pantheon are the sarcophagi of Charles V (a.k.a. Carlos I), Felipe V, Fernando VI, and Amadeo I of Savoy, and their princesses are entombed in adjacent rooms.



Segovia is a Castilian town situated between the Eresma and Clamores rivers. Here, you can find a deteriorating aqueduct that serviced Madrid and the surrounding towns. The Knights Templar built Vera Cruz, a cathedral that stands in Segovia today. Segovia constitutes a half-day, at most.



Follow the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama out of Segovia and you will find yourself at La Granja de San Ildefonso. Felipe V could not get the image of Louis XIV's Versailles out of his head, so he ordered the construction of an elaborate palace to serve as Spain's own magnificent palace. Though not as famous as Versailles, it contains all of the indulgent decor you would expect from constitutional monarchs of the time: gold stucco, marble floors, velvet draperies, ornate gardens, and impeccable landscaping. The chestnut woods hedge the outdoor gardens and greenery creates a maze out front of the palace, that you can wander around for another half day.

If we had a car, I would say we should make a trip up the continental Spanish countryside to see all of the medieval towns in their rustic splendor, but there just simply is not enough time. When we get to Madrid, I think we will have a better idea of the satellite towns we want to visit and when. But this was just to get you thinking ...

¡Hasta luego!