The Prado, The Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen Bornemisza museums are surrounded by lovely foliage, and only a short walking distance from each other. They are located at the lovely Paseo des Arte, which is in the Eastern part of city. Private apartment complexes and fine dining highlight this area, and the older museums serve as background for the ambience of the bigger three. To the rear of the Prado is the luxurious length of the retiro gardens, all covered with ponds and fountains, glass pavilions and flower gardens full of roses, a beautifully shaded area to take some respite from the heat of the summer.
To the West of the Paseo del Arte you can find the exciting barrio of Santa Ana, it's thin sloped lanes surrounded on either side by tiled tapas bars and restaurants. Ever since the days of Cervantes and Lope de Vega, it's been known as a free-spirited, lively and unconventional place. In years past the theatres and brothels were in competition for customers. Today the theatres are a fun place to be in the evening when the sun goes down. The crowds fight for seats and standing room in the terraces and areas encompassing the Plaza. It is less noisy during the daytime where the older locals lounge on benches and watch with amusement as the neighbourhood's new population of trendy professionals take their fashionable dogs out for a stroll.
This magnificent plaza is the centerpiece of old Madrid. Although the vast and impressive square is now filled with tourists examining plastic covered menus at cheap cafes it was once the place where the throngs would gather to witness royalty being crowned and heretics being burned. The contorted and intricate lanes that wind away from the square as well as the senior lanes in the metropolitan area, are a final distant sound of the history of the georgeous city. A historic classic town combining all key elements of a village including religious and musical components reflecting a slow paced lifestyle. The newly restored Opera House resides just east of here, along with the Palacio Real, which is a wonderful exemplification of extravagant beauty.
Sprinkled below the Plaza Mayor, you will find the customary working class neighborhoods. Rejuvenation is present even though most of the region is delapitated. There is an enticing combination of people who reside in this area, including not only the eclectic young artists with their newly opened pubs and coffee shops, but also the native people of Madrid, and North African and South American immigrants. Do not miss the popular Sunday morning flea market, El Rastro, and then a tapas crawl.
Gran Via is a reflection of the best of east meeting west including the modern shops and classic entertainment venues. Chueca and Malasana, the neighbourhoods located to the Gran Via's north, display split personalities, one being old fashioned and sweet in the light of day, and boisterously wild after the sun sets. Hip and super trendy shops and bars, along with the famously endless nightlife, make these places among the coolest areas in Madrid.
Swanky Salamanca, in the northeast area of the city, is made up of wide avenues with chic apartments and exquisite restaurants. The feeling of money oozes out of this place, from the ritzy designer shops of Calle Serrano, to seeing Ferraris outside of clubs that one will never be able to get into. Some of the nineteenth century mansions enhance the higher end surroundings, and the shiny towers that line Paseo Castellano are a wonderful point of interest for those intrigued by modern building design.
Largest City In Spain
Going out in Muria City takes a bit of getting used to if you're English. If you like you can do the ?Brit? thing (Go out at 8.00p.m. and be back home by 12.00 the worse for
wear) it doesn't really work that well over here. The best bars in Murcia City don't really get going until around 12.00a.m. so you'll miss a lot of action if that's the way you choose to go.
Here's a useful tip: To get the best out of your night out in Murcia change your body clock to a Murcian night out by altering your watch by an hour. Don't even think of going to a "real" Murcia bar before 11pm. Earlier on, if you want to be out and about why not have a coffee in Plaza Cardenal Belluga (Cathedral Square) and admire the beautiful Cathedral. from the terrace. You could then walk to the Hotel Rincon de pepe (Apostoles, 34) for a snifter in the "La Muralla" bar, one of the few places in Murcia where the old Arab walls can still be seen.
Here ?s a list of some of the best bars in Murcia.
Josepe (9 Arquitecto Emilio Pi?ero.) This is an excellent tapas bar that stays open all day long. There are lots of nostalgic past paintings and photographs of Murcia around the place. Try a pan con tomate and a sherry in the early evening as an alternative entree. This is usually one of the first bars in Murcia I call in..
Hermanos Rubio (3 Plaza Santa Isabel.) An old fashioned tapas bar not far from the cathedral in the centre of the City. Order a sherry here and look like a local.
Drexco (26 Traper'a.) Nice place near Murcia's Cathedral serving coffee and non-alcoholic drinks. They claim to have the biggest variety of coffee in Murcia City with beans from all over the planet. Open ?til 1.00am with chilled out music and atmosphere.
Icaro (Plaza Beato A Hiberm'n.) Situated near Murcia University, in an area which is a lively student scene during term time. Again Icaro is a good place for an early evening drink.
Zanzibar (3 Calle Andres Baquero.) Here we have a busy small bar that serves just about every kind of drink you care to mention. Inside you'll find people relaxing with anything from a harvey wallbanger to a milkshake. Happy hour is on Wednesdays from 9-11pm where b.o.g.o.f. applies.Bar Warhol (25 Calle Victorio.) Cool place for those of you into Pop Art with copies of the Velvet Underground mentor's
pictures on most walls. A trendy, cool gaff that's nice for a quiet chat and drink. One of the cooler bars in Murcia City.
La Bulla (Calle Montijo.) One of several Cuban style bars in Murcia serving mainly cocktails. Stays open till 3am.
El Bolo (29 Calle Vara del Rey.) Well chilled bar in the Old Town right in the party area. There are live gigs on Tuesday nights and also cocktail specials on Fridays and Saturdays. A good bar to start your evening, then go back for a drink later chill out.
Itaca (7 Calle Mariano Vergara. Tel. 968 934 922) Again this is near the university. Quite an unusual bar in that it's both bar and a bookshop. You'll meet lots of local students having coffee during the day, then in the evening a more mature crowd come in to blast away at the cocktails. Mojitos are the most popular drink.
El Albergue (19 Calle Vara de Rey.) This place is open until 3, serves cocktails and has real music on a Tuesday. It's popular with the younger crowd and it is very busy at weekends.
Guan?bana Jam (6 Plaza Cer?mica.) This is a newish night club with bars &stage mainly showing live jazz, blues and soul. Tuesdays and Wednesdays it's open till 1.30, while Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays It carries on on later till 3....
B12 (17 Calle Trinidade.) A nice place but doesn't liven up until later. Start your night here with a quiet drink.
That should be enough for article 1 on bars in Murcia City. There's a few to go at anyway.. Should you visit any other Murcia clubs that you think deserve a mention then email me and let me have the lowdown. Cheers!!
Both Lucy Evans & Russellmarsh are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Lucy Evans has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, Interview Questions and Computers and The Internet. Lucy is a part-time writer who pens occasional pieces on tourism and holidays, whilst working on holiday airport transfers for Resorthoppa on behalf of eComparison. Lucy Evans's top article generates over 110000 views. Bookmark Lucy Evans to your Favourites.
Russellmarsh has sinced written about articles on various topics from Golf Guide, Debts Loans and The Internet. Mr Marsh runs several Spanish property web sites. Mr Marsh is an expert on Murcia property prope. Russellmarsh's top article generates over 6600 views. Bookmark Russellmarsh to your Favourites.
A Micrometer Screw Gauge Why dont you go test a Bullet? was his retort. Talking of steel, I am not finished yet. Look out for my next post, maybe later today.
