Why the sky? Because of the brightness with which it covers all places and all the experiences: from artists’ interpretation to life in terraces and attics. Being in Madrid and looking up is amazing any time.
The light: a very bright inside
Photographers know it well: Madrid is different depending on the time of the day. The first beams of light at dawn give buildings a golden colour; at noon, the whole city becomes all light; at sunset, Madrid is a rainbow of a thousand colours: pink, orange, purple… And the night is delighted under the big moon and the beautiful 19th-century streetlamps.
I suggest you to photograph a same building at different times during a day. You will see the difference. Pay attention to the different textures of the light through the gaps of the doors and windows. The greatest artists that Madrid has wecomed during history fell in love with its light through the windows, a symbol of the optimism of the city and its people.
The sky: from Madrid to Heaven? Or from Madrid, the sky?
The most popular saying about the city is “From Madrid to Heaven”, but some people say “From Madrid, the sky”. Anyway, the sky of Madrid is one of its most representative icons. Despite not being a coastal city, that intense blue is with us almost every day, above us. We don’t need the sea!
Silhouette: city profile
If you draw a line following the silhouette of Madrid, you will draw some of the most representative buildings of the city: the leaning KIO Towers, Picasso Tower, Puerta de Alcalá, the clock and belltower at Puerta del Sol… Every city has a profile: search for Madrid’s! But you can’t miss either the angels on top of some buildings such as Metrópolis or the Roman soldier on top of the Círculo de Bellas Artes. And let alone the four brand new towers built in the north of the city! They are already the symbol of the Madrilenian skyline, the four tallest buildings in Spain (250 m tall) that can be made out from several km away.
Sunset: the most spectacular sunsets in the world
Are you in love with sunsets? Do you like looking for the best place to watch the sun go down? Or do you look up to the sky every evening and you feel moved by the red and orange colours of the dusk? If the answer is yes, then you have just found the city of your dreams. Every single day of the year you will contemplate spectacular sunsets.
The lake at Retiro Park and its reflections; Debod Temple, a present from the Egyptian gods; the romantic Sabatini Gardens; Gran Vía with the silhouette of Madrid Tower at the background… all of them are special places to enjoy this daily show.
Climate: 365 days of happiness
Sunny, rainy or windy… Madrid is always an unforgettable experience. You have 365 reasons to enjoy it, one for each day of the year. Sure it’s cold in winter, but you can easily fight that with a good coat; and summer days are hot, but there’s nothing better than lying down under a tree, dressed on cotton clothes and sandals, and recovering with the fresh night and its dawn.
There aren’t many cities in the world that can be proud of such a good climate to enjoy life outdoors: bright days, nice temperatures, the nicest sun on our skin… Is it raining? Get a good umbrella and enjoy the arcades of Plaza Mayor or a nice cafe with large windows.
Sunbathing: naturally tanned
Sun bathes us during most of the year, and we try to make the most of it to get suntanned. Aren’t you jealous? We find it a good way to charge up our batteries, but always with protection (caps, sunblock…). You can enjoy the sun on any of the spectacular swimming pools placed at the terraces of some buildings, or just sitting on a bench of your favourite park. Feel it while going for a walk, and show off your new sunglasses!
Habitable skies: the sea of Madrid is in the sky
Not only angels can touch the sky of Madrid. Go up to any of the terraces that are open every year on some emblematic roofs and rise your hands up: you will almost touch the stars. And any time of the year, because some of them also have heating so that you could enjoy them during the coldest days.
A blue horizon that seems to merge with the mountains of Sierra de Guadarrama, snow capped in winter, that’s what we offer. Are you lucky enough to live or stay in the city centre? Or maybe you have a friend who does? Ask him to invite you to his terrace: you will see a sea of roofs inhabited by stone and marble characters who, just like you do, look at the city life from above.
Imaginary cerulean: blue canvas
The colour of the sky. Many will say that the sky is blue, but that’s as easy as saying that the fields are green or the earth is brown. According to Goya or Velázquez, the infinite palette of blue colours made the legend real: the sky of Madrid is unique. Close your eyes and think of Madrid’s sky: that’s cerulean.
Contrasts: keeping pollution away
We care about the environment. That’s why we bet for alternative and less polluting energy sources. Because progress and city life can also mean breathing a clean air. That’s why we ask you to make a responsible use of your car and heating. Because we want to go on enjoying such a blue sky as it was painted centuries ago.
