At the weekend our school organizes excursions: Toledo, Sevilla, Segovia, Ávila, Aranjuez or Salamanca by train. Other favourites are watching Real Madrid play or taking a day to explore Museo del Prado.
Monasterio de san lorenzo de el escorial
The monastery lies just 50km (31 miles) northwest of Madrid, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The extraordinary rectangular edifice with four spired towers was built by Philip II - as a memorial to his father, Charles V - and merges monastery, church and palace. It contains Philip's secret stash of El Greco and Hieronymus Bosch art, as well as a library with about 50,000 volumes and a vaulted, painted ceiling.
Toledo
Often described as the 'soul of Spain', Toledo lies 70km (43 miles) south of Madrid and is easily reached by bus, car or train. The capital of Visigoth Spain (AD567-711), Toledo was famously depicted in the dramatic cityscape by El Greco (painted in 1597 and currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York). The Crete-born painter, Domenikos Theotocopoulos - whose Spanish appellation, El Greco, has stuck - settled in Toledo in 1577 and remained there until his death in 1614. Regarded as the first great genius of the Spanish School, some of his most famous paintings are jealously guarded here.
Sevilla
In the south of Spain lies Seville, the administrative centre of Andalucia. The city has been influenced by over 800 years of Moorish culture and retains a pleasant old-world charm. Seville has plenty to offer visitors including sightseeing of ancient sites, parks, museums and art galleries as well as many sporting activities.
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city visitors fall in love with, not only because of the incredible beauty of its extremely well-known monuments, but also because of its excellent atmosphere and wealth of gastronomic delights. There are a lot of well-established places to visit, such as Cervantes, in the plaza Mayor (main square), famous for their varied tortilla (omelette) snacks and palomas, ensaladilla-filled pork scratchings. Another place where you can try a good local wine, along with an oreja (ear) tapa, or blood sausage, or chanfaina, the local stew, is Cervecería del Comercio in Pozo Amarillo, a street famous for its restaurants including Dulcinea (Don Quijote´s love) and El Jamón.
Watch a Real madrid soccer game
Spain's most successful team, and with a record nine European Champions Cups, arguably Europe's--and perhaps the world's--most storied soccer club. Long success on the field, immense financial resources and a history of acquiring superstars makes Real Madrid a magnet for players and fans alike. The Santiago Bernabéu is the famous football stadium in Madrid.
