Day 2 : The Mad(rid) Walk : 6-29-2025 : Sunday

Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace of Madrid)

  1. The palace was inspired by sketches of Bernini’s plans for the Louvre in Paris.
  2. It’s built entirely from limestone and granite for fireproofing, after the original Alcázar was destroyed by a massive fire.
  3. Key highlights of the place
    1. Throne Room (Salón del Trono) -
      • Lavish with velvet walls, frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo, and ornate chandeliers.
      • Houses the twin thrones used for ceremonial events.
    2. Royal Armoury (Real Armería) -
      • One of Europe’s finest collections of medieval weapons, suits of armor, and ceremonial pieces, including those of King Charles V. One of Europe’s finest collections of medieval weapons, suits of armor, and ceremonial pieces, including those of King Charles V.
    3. Royal Pharmacy (Real Farmacia) -
      • 18th-century apothecary with original medicine jars, herbs, and medical instruments once used by the royal court.
    4. Royal Chapel (Capilla Real) -
      • Contains a collection of religious relics and a beautiful altarpiece.
    5. Sabatini Gardens & Campo del Moro -
      • Formal gardens offering splendid views of the palace exterior and lovely walks.
  4. Location: Western side of central Madrid, near Plaza de Oriente.
  5. Built: : Construction started in 1735 and completed in 1751 on the site of the old Alcázar (a medieval Moorish fortress-palace destroyed by fire in 1734).
    • Architectural Style: Predominantly Baroque, with later Neoclassical influences.
    • Designed initially by Filippo Juvarra (Italian architect) and continued by Giovanni Battista Sacchetti.
    • Size: It’s the largest functioning royal palace in Europe by floor area, with 135,000 m² (1,450,000 sq ft) and more than 3,400 rooms.

Real Madrid Stadium (Santiago Bernabéu Stadium)

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (RMCF), commonly known as Real Madrid, is one of the most famous and successful football clubs in the world. Based in Madrid, Spain, the club was founded in 1902 and has since become a symbol of footballing excellence, tradition, and prestige. The term “Real”, meaning “Royal” in Spanish, was bestowed upon the club in 1920 by King Alfonso XIII, along with the royal crown in its emblem.

⚽ Key Facts Real Madrid:

  • Founded: March 6, 1902
  • Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid (capacity ~81,000)
  • Nickname: Los Blancos (The Whites), Los Merengues
  • President: Florentino Pérez (as of 2025)
  • Rivalries: Most famously with FC Barcelona (El Clásico) and Atlético Madrid (El Derbi Madrileño)

🏆 Achievements of Real Madrid:

Real Madrid is one of the most decorated clubs in football history:

  • 15 UEFA Champions League titles (a record)
  • 35 LaLiga titles
  • 20 Copa del Rey wins
  • Multiple FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup victories

The club is widely known for its policy of signing world-class players, earning it the nickname “Galácticos” era during the early 2000s when stars like Zinedine Zidane, Luís Figo, Ronaldo Nazário, and David Beckham all wore the white jersey.

✨ Legacy:

Beyond the trophies, Real Madrid is known for:

  • Its attacking and elegant style of football
  • Legendary players like Alfredo Di Stéfano, Raúl, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, and Luka Modrić
  • A worldwide fanbase and status as one of the most valuable sports teams globally

The club’s motto, “Hala Madrid y nada más” (Go Madrid and nothing more) reflects the undying passion of its supporters.

Keshav - Show us the path!

Lovely walk through the city, guided by Naman!
It was like his second nature
Seamlessly navigating through the intricate network of the metro lines
crisscrossing of the teeming madrid city.
It was fun, getting the markup done in the map from the guest assistant at the hotel,
Then, buying a day long metro pass,
and then, doing a hopping from one station to the other,
And then walking through the beautiful graffiti adorned streets of Madrid.
The walk was a blend of history, culture, and modernity.
The fascinating magnanimous architecture of the Royal Palace,
The breath-taking views of the Renaissance style painting on the ceilings,
The grandeur of Royal Chapel,
And then the gastronomic delight of the tapas at the local bar,
The country style pizza, the visit at the Carrefour.
Buying souvenirs, and the most fun of all, pulling each other’s leg.
It was a fun day long exploration of a beautiful city, Madrid.

Indian food is where the soul lies

How long will you keep an Indian heart away from Biryani?
So, here we were at the Indian restaurant at night - Udaipur.
Lovely food, An ambiance done too much with colorful satins
flowers, feathers & frills hanging,
And the best was the 90s bollywood music!
Sitting crisscross, indulging into the homely familiarity of
tapping into the beats of bollywood,
Enjoying Biryani, palak panner, naan, daal makhani
after the day long of exploration of the new and novel,
Was a heart warming culmination of the day.

The passion of the Football

And the pilgrimage to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was a life altering!
The sheer size and grandeur of the stadium was jaw-dropping.
And the experience added so much meaning to it,
With the sincere love and longing of Naman for the game, for Ronaldo, for Real Madrid!
The visit was adorned by the throbbing passions of the fans,
The wonder-struck faces of the fans,
The memorabilia, the trophies, the history of the club,
And that that awe-inspiring presence of the celebration of the sheer human spirit for excellence!
It was a surreal experience,
And the best part was that we were part of the journey,
A journey that was so meaningful and important for Naman.
Learnt a lot about the Real Madrid club, its history, its legacy,
Through Naman’s patient and passionate narration to all of us!
Loved every bit of it.
The celebration was joined live by Arshia through video call,
And it culminated with the awe-struck eyes of Pooja’s kids through video call,
It was like a family celebration of the collective love for the game,
And the love for the club, and above all appreciation of sheer human spirit for excellence!