Madrid desde las alturas es mucho Madrid

A French poet used to go up the Eiffel Tower every morning because that way he didn’t have to see it from afar, such was his dislike for this emblematic monument. Those who don’t like Madrid’s landscape should therefore not go up Faro de Moncloa, since its great views will constantly be a reminder of the city at their feet.

Built in 1992, the year when Madrid was designated European Capital of Culture, the lighthouse is in fact a 360-feet lighting tower that you can go up in just 50 seconds. As well as the mere enjoyment of its panoramic viewpoint, Faro de Moncloa has 50 miniature reproductions of the city’s main buildings and points of interest, such as Torrespaña or Cibeles Palace, the current home of the City Council.

It opens every day except for working Mondays from 9.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. and it is the ideal place to enjoy sunsets, especially now that the sun starts to go down at around 7 o’clock. Tickets cost 3 euros for adults and 1.50 euros for children between the ages of 7 and 14. Children under that age go in for free.

Back on the ground, you can visit the nearby Museum of the Americas, which despite being 75 years old is not one of the city’s most popular museums even with its many interesting items. It gathers more than 25,000 pre-Columbine, ethnographic and colonial objects as well as old collections that belonged to the Royal Cabinet of Natural History, founded in the Eighteenth century. Click on this link to see the museum’s most popular exhibition items.

General admission: 3 euros. Timetable: Tue-Sat, 9.30 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. Thursdays, open non-stop 9.30 a.m. – 7.00 p.m. Sundays and holidays open 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Categories: Madrid Ocio