Spanish National Day on October 12 every year.

In Plaza de Colon in Madrid each year on 12th October is a military procession of Spain's finest. Watched by the King of Spain, the armed forces parade in a display reminiscent of cold war processions through Red Square.

Although impressive and meant as a celebration of Spain's democracy some commentators feel its harks back to the times of the dictatorship, which is fairly recent history in Spain.

But taken at face value its a colourful fiestas of national pride with the awesome site of the Spanish Air Force jet fighters painting red and yellow stripes across the sky in honour of the Spanish National Flag.

When coming to Madrid your best accommodation option is Madrid vacation apartment rental. With more space than Madrid hotels, at a lower price, you have the flexibility to sample local grocery produce and prepare your own meals in a fully fitted kitchen, saving money on eating each meal out in restaurants and cafes.

For Madrid apartments close to Place de Colon click on this link, and you will find apartments in Madrid in order of how close they are to this central Plaza.

The closest Madrid apartment to Plaza de Colon is called Piamonte #2, which is only approximately 690 metres away. It is a very well presented 2 bedroom apartment in Madrid, in the Cheuca area. This Madrid apartment can sleep up to 6 people and so is really economical. At Loving Madrid we have lots more available, so for your best choice of accommodation in Madrid check out our website.

A rough guide to Bullfighting in Madrid

Love it or hate it Bull fighting evokes enormous passion on both sides of the debate. It is undeniably an incredible spectacle but most certainly not for the fainthearted. Many Spaniards consider it an art form and an embedded part of their cultural heritage. It is said that the Spanish King would demand that Spain leaves the EU should EU legislation outlaw bullfighting. There are, however, many anti-bullfighting campaigners within the county and Catalunya have banned it completely.

Madrid is the world home of Bullfighting although it is widely celebrated throughout much of the country and in many parts of South America. Early summer each year Madrid hosts several major bullfighting festivals. San Isidro during May and June is the world's most famous bullfighting festival. For three weeks there are fights at 7pm every evening in the spectacular Plaza Monumental de Las Ventas – Madrid’s iconic bullring. Las Ventas accommodates almost 24,000 spectators cheering on their favourite and exulted matadors.

For those preferring the architecture and pomp of bullfighting rather than the fight itself Las Ventas offer the Tauro Tour, a fascinating tour around the ring and behind the scenes as well as an insight into the history and future of this divisive sport. Highlights of the tour include a visit to the Patio de Caballos – the bull stables, the Museo Taurino and the Mexican chapel where the matadors beg protection from their saints before entering the ring.

The tour also includes a glimpse inside the Bullring Hospital which has several operating rooms and facilities for 12 doctors attending to injured matadors. Close by is the Puerta de Arrastre leading into the abattoir where the dead bulls are prepared for sale to famous Madrid restaurants.

Bull fighting seems destined to continue to divide opinion but also to continue to be part of the social fabric of this passionate nation.

Loving Madrid apartments are all just a very short metro ride away from Las Ventas which has its own metro station. Why not visit Las Ventas the next time you stay in a Loving Madrid Apartment - http://www.las-ventas.com/

Visiting The Royal Palace when renting a Madrid Apartment.

The Royal Palace in a magnificent building and is a must-do place to visit when staying in a Madrid apartment.

On the same site in the 10th Century was a fortress, built as for Mohammed I, the emir of Cordoba. In the 16th century another castle was build in its place, but then burned down in 1734. King Philip V ordered the construction of the Palace that stands there now, finished in 1755.

The Palace contains many artefacts of interest and beauty. There are paintings by Goya, Caravaggio, Velázquez, and, Caravaggio. There is sculpture, tapestries, porcelain, furniture, royal carriages, and an armoury.

After a visit to The Royal Palace take a stroll in the adjacent gardens, Campo del Moro. The Park's name, in English "Field of the Moor", was so named as this is where the Moors leader Ali Ben Yusuf laid siege in an attempt to recapture Madrid. With fantastic views back to the balance, and a beautiful tranquil green spaces for a relaxing and contemplating away from the bustle and buzz of the rest of Madrid. There are two beautiful sculptured fountains, one 17th century, Triton, and the second built in the 18th century, Las Conchas.

Madrid Rental Apartments close to The Royal Palace
To reach The Royal Palace, it is just a short walk from Metro Opera, which a fantastic central location to stay. Loving Madrid Apartments has 4 Madrid Apartments close by, all bright and beautifully furnished. Staying here is a great place to explore the Palace as well as the rest of Madrid.

A quick guide to Madrid's culinary offerings.

Madrid boasts some of Spain’s best restaurants and guests to this beautiful city have a plethora of choice when it comes to restaurants and culinary styles. From transitional dishes to international cuisine, there is something for all tastes in this buzzing city. This is a quick guide to navigating your way though the various choices and finding the restaurant experience you have been looking for.

Madrid’s culinary history is heavily influenced by North African staples such as couscous and semolina, and ingredients from the east such as dates, honey and milk. By the 1800s Madrid began to see the emergence of the first modern day eateries.
Traditional dishes are still extremely popular amongst the proud Madrid population. Moorish influences can be seen in dishes such as almond soup, garlic soup and chick pea stew. Offal also plays a big part in traditional cooking with offerings such as Tripe a la Madrliena, alongside fish dishes such as Sea Bass a la Marilena.

Spain itself is synonymous with Tapas or Tapeo. Tapeo actually refers to the tradition of moving from bar to bar sampling the various offerings from each establishment. Traditionally these are just small portions (raciones) and are made up of a variety of ingredients from meats and sausage to crabs, tortillas and potatoes. They range from the simple to highly elaborate and as they are only small portions you can enjoy lots of different flavours in a variety of different establishments. Accompanied by a cold cerveca or copa de vino this is a most enjoyable way to spend an evening with the locals. Tapas bars are found all over the city but the best selection can be found around Sol, Plaza de Santa and La Latina. Here are some of our favorites:

Alarcia
Avenida Felipe II, 32
+34 91 431 04 22

Alboran
Calle Ponzano, 39-41
+34 91 399 21 50

Bodega Angel Sierra
Plaza Chueca, 11
+34 91 531 01 25

Bravas
Calle Espoz y Mina, 13
+34 91 521 35 07

Casa Revuelta
Calle Latoneres, 3
+34 91 366 33 32

Don Paco
Calle Caballero de Gracia, 35
+34 91 531 44 80

Gambrinus
Calle Fuencarral 74
+34 91 531 56 77

Recently Madrid has seen the emergence of a new movement in cuisine – creative and innovative, even experimental cuisine has become very fashionable in the city. Dishes that excite not only the palate but the nose, sight and in some cases sound too. Gastronomy and art come together in an eclectic and imaginative food movement, with the accent on innovation. Dishes such as artichokes with potatoes and orange, chick pea with foi gras and oysters on a bed of apple. Carpaccio of prawn with sea urchins also breaks new ground. Here are some of Madrid most celebrated avant-garde restaurants:

El Chaflam
Avenida Pio X11, 34
+34 91 345 04 50

Zaranda
San Bernardino, 13
+34 91 541 20 26

Polenta
Plaza de la Marina Espanola, 4
+34 91 542 38 95

Coque
Francisco Encinas, 8
+34 91 604 0202



So, from traditional to experimental and with tapas a plenty, Madrid is a mecca for foodies the world over.

The Prado - Why it's got to be at the top of your list.

No trip to Madrid is complete without a visit to Spain’s most celebrated museums. Even museum-shy hedonists can’t help but be impressed with the stunning neo-gothic building full to the rafters with some of the world’s finest works of art and historic artefacts. The Prado was commissioned by King Charles III in 1785 and eventually opened its doors in 1819.

The Prado’s collection of over 8,500 pieces is incredible and the building is only capable of displaying a small percentage of it. At the heart of the collection is that of the Spanish Royal family – an eclectic array of pieces depicting the ever changing tastes of the Spanish monarchy from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Highlights include masterpieces by Velazquez, Goya, Titian and Rubens.

The first Bourbon King, Philip V added one of the most valuable collections – The Treasure of the Grand Dauphin. The Grand Dauphin refers to the first son of Louis XIV of France. He acquired a vast collection consisting of 16th and 17th century Italian objets d’art such as stunning crystal ware and jewel encrusted vases. An incredibly beautiful collection.

Apart from the more traditional works of art and historic artefacts the Prado also boasts some of the worlds finest Exhibitions. This year The Prado will host a Francis Bacon exhibition displaying a fascinating collection of 78 of Bacons most celebrated works. Presented in a partly chronological format but also with themed sections such as Crisis, Archive, Portrait, Animal, Zone, Memorial, Epic and Late. Visitors will be able to take a glimpse inside the mind of this complex artist with his unique reflections of his view of the human condition. The exhibition runs from February 3rd – April 19th 2009. Standard tickets are 8 euros. Lectures and films are also being offered each focusing on various aspects of the Bacon collection, the significance of his body of work and the studies of the man himself.

The Prado is a vast museum with a vast array of works and artefacts. At first the visitor may be unsure where to begin. One great way to navigate through the incredible wealth of displays is to take advantage of the free guided visitor tours which cover both the temporary exhibitions and the permanent collected. 15 to 25 years old are offered an enviable opportunity to visit the museum outside of public hours. The museum is closed to the public on the last Friday of each month and young enthusiast are invited to listen to Art History graduates explain the significance of the main exhibitions including a Q & A session.

The Prado is centrally located on the beautiful Paseo de Prado. Nearest Metro: Atocha.

Stayed in a Madrid Vacation Apartment already? - time to try somewhere else!

Here at Loving Madrid Apartments we are very proud of our great portfolio of vacation apartment rentals in the centre of Madrid. We have many guests who return to us year after year trying our latest apartment rentals. We are often asked if we offer vacation apartment rentals in other cities, in addition to Madrid. The great news is, Yes - we do offer other great apartment rentals in other great cities. Check out the following apartment rental sites for some inspiration!

• Rome Vacation Apartment Rentals - Loving Rome


• Barcelona Vacation Apartment Rentals - Loving Barcelona


• Sitges Vacation Apartment Rentals - Loving Sitges


• Zermatt Vacation Apartment Rentals - Loving Zermatt


• London Vacation Apartment Rentals - Loving London Apartments


• Prague Vacation Apartment Rentals - Loving Prague


• Amsterdam Vacation Apartment Rentals - Loving Amsterdam


• Dublin Vacation Apartment Rentals - Loving Dublin

Here at Loving Apartments we are very proud of our great range of vacation apartment rentals in all of these wonderful location. Hope to be welcoming you soon!

Our favourite Tapas when in Madrid

Madrid boasts some of the best Tapas restaurants in Spain but why not have a go at preparing your own tapas recipes? One of the biggest benefits of renting a vacation apartment in Madrid is that you have a kitchen to enjoy experimenting. With some wonderful markets close by why not have a go yourself? These are some of our favorite tapas at Loving Madrid Apartments.

• Tortillitas de Camarones - prawn fritters


• Costillas - barbecued ribs


• Morcilla Frita - black pudding


• Ceviche - fish cooked in lime juice and chili


• Croquetas - praw or cheese and ham rissoles with a bechamel saunce


• Gildas - Chile peppers, anchovy and olives


• Patatas Bravas - deep fried potato chunks with a spicy sauce


• Empanadas - pasrty pies stuffed with mince with a tomato salsa


• Pulpo a Feira - Galician octopus


• Pimientos rellenos - peppers stuffed with rice


• Gambas a la plancha - pan grilled prawns

Staying in a vacation apartment rental has so many advantages - preparing your favorite tapas in your own kitchen is just one of them. Here at Loving Madrid Apartments we have a great selection of vacation apartment rentals in Madrid - perfect for your next self catering trip to Madrid.