GIVI Magazine - November de 2010 - EN

33 a colonnade. At the weekend the square is crowded with people lured by the bars and restaurants, and by artists who gather to sell their works of art. We return to our vehicle, and take the Gran Via, the most famous artery of the city, bustling with shops and bars, which has just celebrated its centenary. The Gran Via is an impressive boulevard lined on both sides by early century Spanish architecture. To drive along it on a scooter or mo- No-stress parking in Madrid. It’s easy to find parking for scooters and motorcycles and it’s free of charge. Parking is permitted on pavements providing that it is not a hindrance to pedestrians. torcycle is breathtaking, but better still is to dismount and take a stroll, maybe in the evening, to soak in the atmo- sphere, the bright lights, the entertainment together with the trendy shops, the cinemas, theatres, the restaurants, etc. At this point we would advise a change of scenery, heading towards maybe a lesser known but more calm location in the open air: the Palacio Real, surrounded by the Plaza Throttling out of the capital Madrid is not only the most visited city in Spain, but within a radius of 100/150 km offers an unbeatable cultural, artistic and gastronomic diversity. Therefore, if you have some extra days, it’s worth taking a brief daytrip. Trips from Madrid: Ávila - 113 km. www.avilatu- rismo.com Centro de Recepción de Visitantes: Avda. de Madrid, 39 (Ávila) Tel. 920 22 59 69. Avila is the capital of the highest province in Spain. It’s a medieval city which has been declared a World Heritage site. The XI century city walls enclose history, art and modernity. Not to be missed: Palacio de Polentinos; Palacio de los Dávila; Catedral de Ávila; Basílica de San Vicente: Segovia - 98 km. www.turismode- segovia.com . Centro de Recepción de Visitantes - Dirección:Azoguejo 1 (Segovia) - Tel. 921 46 67 21 This is a noble Castilian city. Se- govia also has a famous aqueduct, built during the reign of Trajano, which supplies water to the city. The ancient city is still protected by walls with 86 turrets which date to the XI e XII centuries and enclose many monumental buildings. Among these; the archi- tectural jewel of the city; Alcazar (the castle) and the magnificent Cathedral built during the reign of Charles V. A must-see: Roman Aqueduct; Plaza de San Martín Alcalá de Henares - 33 km www.turismoalcala.com Punto de información: Plaza de los Santos Niños, s/n. (Alcalá de Henares) - Tel. 91 881 06 34. Declared aWorld Heritage site by UNESCO, this is one of the cradles of culture, as the author of Don Quijote de la Mancha, Miguel de Cervantes was born and bred here. The major landmark and pride of the city is its historical university, an architectural masterpiece. Not to be missed: Colegio de San Ildefonso; El Corral de Comedias; Universidad Toledo - 89 km www.toledo- turismo.com. Patronato Municipal de Turismo - Plaza del Consistorio, 1 (Toledo) tel. 925 254 030 Toledo has also been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The city is perched on a rocky outcrop almost completely en- circled by the Tajo River. It is unique as in the past it was home to three monotheistic religions (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) inheriting architecture and culture from each. Must-sees: Catedral; Centro histórico; Alcázar; Ruta de los Cigarrales Salamanca - 214 km www. salamanca.es Punto de información: Plaza Mayor nº 32, Casa de Postas (Salamanca) - tel. 902 30 2002 Salamanca is a real university city, renowned the world over for the enormous number of students and the artistic beauty of the architectural styles: Roma- nesque, Gothic, Plateresque and Baroque. Not to be missed: Plaza Mayor; Catedral vieja; Patio de las Escuelas