Marli House homes are located in very important and convenient areas of Madrid: Sol, Gran Vía, Barrio de las Letras and Chueca. Located in what is known as the “Central District”, they are in places where tourism flows all the time!
Additionally, they have a lot of history so there is naturally a lot to offer in terms of fun, gastronomy, and to things to discover. This guide will show you some of its secrets so that you know them better…
Sol
One of the most popular homes in Marli House is located in the middle of Puerta del Sol (from the windows you can see the Osa and the strawberry tree). This is truly one of the busiest places in Madrid, Spain and Europe overall. The neighborhood of Sol is the entire area that surrounds it and it is considered the center of the city.
In the neighborhood of Sol is the Plaza del Sol, where there is a plaque that indicates that the Kilometer Zero of Spain begins there. Spain has a famous statue referenced before of the Osa and the strawberry tree which stands as the symbol that has identified the city of Madrid for 800 years. In the center of the Plaza del Sol there is also the equestrian statue of King Carlos III, a tribute to who is considered the best mayor of Madrid for his contribution to the development of the city in the 18th century.
In addition, more unnoticed, is that there is a replica of the Mariblanca – a statue sculpted in Florence in 1625 which has always been said to represent Venus.
In this area is also the Casa de Correos, headquarters of the regional government which was built in 1768. At the top of the building since 1866 is the famous Bell Clock, which rings to bring in each new year.
In the same area, on Calle Alcalá, is the Museum of San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts, the Círculo de Bellas Artes, and the Teatro de la Zarzuela. Behind it is the Congress of Deputies and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum as well as the ICO Museum which specializes in architecture and urban planning.
What can you do in this area? Without a doubt, walk through its streets and enjoy the gastronomy / many cuisines (especially on Calle Mayor), as there are numerous bars, restaurants and fast food outlets. You can also look for the souvenirs that you will take with you home for your family and friends, as there is an abundance of souvenir shops.
When it comes to transport, from the Sol metro station you can take line 1 (which goes from Pinar de Chamartín to Valdecarros), line 2 (Las Rosas to Cuatro Caminos) and 3 (Villaverde Alto to Moncloa). You can also board the Cercanías Renfe trains to go to other towns in the Community of Madrid. As for buses, the closest ones are on Calle Cedaceros or Calle Sevilla.
Gran Vía
Gran Vía, where another one of our houses is located, is one of the most important streets in Madrid – built at the beginning of the 19th century. Today, it is the most popular shopping center in the city!
In Gran Vía you can go up to the “Corte Inglés” building to enjoy the spectacular view of the street and its nonstop movement. In fact, it is one of the most famous photos of the center of Madrid with the Schweppes building in the background.
Further on, there is the Metropolis building, which headquarters of the insurance company of the same name, at the top of which is the statue of the winged Victory. Many tourists stop there to take a photo with the building in the background.
Another one of the emblematic buildings is Telefónica, which you can find in Gran Vía, 28, and, until 1929 was the tallest skyscraper in Europe at 88 meters (289 feet!). Here, you can find exhibitions and speeches.
If you walk a little further along Gran Vía, you will find “Plaza de España”; In the center is the Monument to Miguel de Cervantes and the statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.
The first building on Gran Vía was built in 1917 and today houses the Loewe store, which was originally a tea house. Some of the store’s famous customers were Ernest Hemingway, Ava Gardner, Gary Cooper, Sophia Loren, Jodie Foster, and Grace Kelly. Next to this shop is Víctor Hugo Street, where the renowned playwright lived as a child between 1811 and 1812.
Towards the other side, at the end of Gran Vía, you can visit the Palacio de Cibeles. Overall, Gran Vía is home to countless restaurants, bars and many other elegant buildings with beautiful rooftops. It sure does not disappoint!
Barrio de las Letras
The Barrio de las Letras, located to the south of the Puerta del Sol, belongs to the Sol neighborhood (Central District), also known as the Literatos neighborhood, and is an area where great writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries lived. This was also called the Golden Age, when figured such as Lope de Vega, Miguel de Cervantes, Tirso de Molina, Luis de Góngora, Francisco de Quevedo and Calderón de la Barca lived.
Here, culture flows due to the Spanish Theater (where classics are usually performed), the Comedy Theater (for comedy shows), and several tablaos with flamenco shows!
In the heart of the Barrio de las Letras is the Plaza Santa Ana. Since 1810, many tourists take the opportunity to sunbathe or drink a beer, because of the many breweries. There also are the monuments of Calderón de la Barca and García Lorca.
If you like to walk, you must go to Calle Huertas where you will find beautiful bars and enjoy the verses of famous writers, which have been captured on the pavement. On your walk, you should not miss the Lope de Vega House Museum. Be sure to visit the San Ildefonso de las Trinitarias Descalzas convent which was founded in 1612 and which is the place where the remains of the author Don Quixote and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra lie.
If you venture beyond Huertas, you will find a vertical garden that will amaze you and is great for photo opportunities. This is the place of Caixa Forum, where there are usually exhibitions and concerts.
Chueca
Chueca is not a neighborhood in it of itself, but an area that is part of the Justicia neighborhood. It is where Justicia was born and is the center of the gay movement in Madrid. It is also one of the places of the Movida Madrileña artistic movement in the 80s.
A few minutes from the Chueca home of Calle De Regueros are the markets of San Antón Mercado and San Ildefonso- two good options for a gastronomic tour.
On your tour of Chueca you will be able to visit the Museum of Romanticism, where you will be able to explore in detail what a palace was like in the 19th century. This palace houses thousands of pieces of daily use items from this time. You can also visit the Museum of the History of Madrid where you can learn about the evolution of the city of Madrid since it was declared Spain’s capital in 1561.
In this neighborhood you can also discover the House of the Seven Chimneys which is a prime example of 16th century architecture that was supposedly the place of confinement of an illegitimate daughter of Felipe II. It is located in Plaza del Rey and they say that the seven chimneys represent the seven deadly sins.
On the other hand, in Chueca you will find many varied shops, whether they are international chains or alternative brands, you can find them in Fuencarral, Hortaleza and its surroundings, from clothes to themed bookstores and art galleries.
So, there you have it! This is a brief review of the main places you can visit around the homes of Marli House. Surely your stay will be different if you know in depth the place where you live which can consequently help you enjoy it more!
