THREE MAGIC KINGS´ FESTIVAL

In Spain, kids haven´t got their gifts at Christmas. The three Magic Kings do it. They arrive the 5th January at night and children open their presents on the 6th in the morning.

The 5th in the evening there is a big parade is the cities. The most popular is the one in Madrid that is in all TVS! It start at 18h but you have to be before if you can seat down because there is a lot of people. The festival is a real show for children and adults ! … It comes from la Castellana to the Council in Plaza de Cibeles.

MATADERO – MADRID RIO

Matadero is located in the Arganzuela district of Madrid’s Legazpi quarter ( metro Legazpi), close to the River Manzanares, which forms a natural barrier dividing the centre and south of the city. It is situated on the border between the city and its large river park.

Matadero Madrid: The old municipal slaughterhouse, one of the most uniquely interesting industrial buildings of twentieth century Madrid architecture, is the city’s biggest centre for contemporary creation in Madrid. It ´s a cultural centre for all, specially for children and teens, free of charge, easily accessible, in a unique setting and with a vibrant atmosphere created by different types of art  and a range of initiatives to support creators.

Just beside you have two other places to go with children ( specially in winter and fall):

The Arganzuela´s greenhouse: it contains nearly 1,200 plant species, divided into areas: subtropical, tropical and cacti and succulents, with rare specimens and an outstanding orchid collection. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9h30 to 18h30. Free.

Madrid-Río:

To be fair Madrid does have a kind of river, the Manzanares. Madrid Río is a park extends to over 6 kilometers and covers 1.2 million square meters of space over several kilometers of urban motorway. It´s a perfect place for sunny days, just walk and visit the spiral bridge designed by French architect Dominique Perrault. For teens there is a 1,500 m2 skate-park and a place where to rent bicycles. For children the most exciting is the hill of slides, near the bridge, the tree trunk jungle and the super zip-line. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10am to 11pm. Free

REINA SOFIA MUSEUM

Our children like very much this museum and with a lot of lifts, terraces, stairs, and… paintings, sculptures and activities!!

The video introduces Museo Reina Sofía, a expanded museum with various sites and locations (Sabatini Building, Nouvel Building, Palacio de Cristal and Palacio de Velázquez).

  • Opening hours :
    – Monday to Saturday: 10am to 9pm
    – Sundays: 10am to 2.30pm
    – Museum closed on Tuesdays, 1st & 6th January, 1st & 15th May, 9th September, 24th, 25th & 31st December.
  • Entrance fees:
    – Free entry: Saturday, from 2.30pm to 9pm & Sundays from 10am to 2.30pm
    – Free on 18th May, 12th October, 6th December
    – Free entry also for children under 18, pensioners, teachers, etc. Please check all conditions at the ticket office
    – General entrance fee: 6 euros.

http://museoreinasofia.mcu.es

ROYAL PALACE

Palacio Real de Madrid (The Royal Palace of Madrid) is a popular sightseeing stop in the city of Madrid. Technically, it’s the royal residence, but it’s really only used for official ceremonies. The palace was built in the 18th Century by King Philip V of Spain (who was actually French) on the site of a former Moorish castle; it took almost 20 years to build. At 1.45 million square feet, it is the largest palace in Europe, and has 2,800 rooms. Children enjoys to visit the visit especially the royal Armury!

Hours: April 1-September 30 (summer): every day from 10am – 20pm, October 1-March 31 (winter): every day, 10am – 18pm,

Closed in certain holidays (and for state ceremonies), so check before you go.

Cost: Regular adult admission is 10 Euros (kids>5 free, from 6 to 16: 5 euros. Free for UE citizens: W and THU since 15h on winter timetable and 17h on summer).

Outside you can see the change of the Royal Guard every first Wednesday of each month at 12h (except July, August and September), weather permitting, as long as it does not coincide with another official event.

There is a playground for children just in front of the Palace!!

MALAGA 5 DAYS IN SPRINGTIME

We went 5 days to Malaga (We slept at The Parador near the city just in front of the beach and inside the golf course).

This was our program for day-trips. The rest of oru hollidays we just stay at the Parador:

1.            Malaga: Castillo de Gibralfaro/Alcazaba

2.            Malaga:  Picasso Museum and eating at Miguelito

3.            Malaga: La conception botanical park

4.            Benalmadena: Tivoli Park

5.            Antequera: Lobo Park and Torcal

CASTILLO DE GIBRALFARO / ALCAZABA

This impressive building, built mostly in the 11th century, was the palace-fortress of the city’s governing Muslims. It was built on the summit of a hill, adapted to the relief. It is formed by two walled areas, the lower, which is a huge space that follows the topography of the hill and surrounds the upper part completely. This latter, within which the palace stands, is also adapted to the lines of the hill and has strong defensive elements at each end. Kids enjoyed very much.

Price: 1.95 euros.

Opening Times: 9:30 – 19:00 h.

MUSEO PICASSO (MALAGA)

Palacio de Buenavista c/ San Agustín, 8. 29015 Málaga

“To see, that is what is difficult, we see at times rarely. We look without seeing.”

Pablo Picasso

Children love Picasso: Horses, circus, deformed faces, … The Museo Picasso Málaga was created in response to Pablo Picasso’s own desire for his work to be present in the city where he was born, on 25th October, 1881. Located in the heart of the old city, the building is a magnificent example of 16th-century Andalusian architecture with its characteristic mixture of Renaissance and Mudéjar elements where kids can enjoy because it´s not a very big museum and they can rest in the patio or watching films on Picasso or his contemporaries projected non-stop.

Free admission for youths aged 18 and younger

Opening hours: Tuesdays to Thursdays, 10 am to 8 pm/ Fridays and Saturdays, 10 am to 9 pm/ Sundays and public holidays, 10 am to 8 pm

LA CONCEPCION HISTORICAL-BOTANICAL GARDENS

La Concepción Gardens constitute the most beautiful and important tropical garden in Spain and one of the best in Europe. A century and a half old – Marquis Jorge Loring Oyarzábal and Marchioness Amalia Heredia Livermore created them in 1850 – these gardens were declared a historic-artistic garden ensemble in 1943 and were recently acquired, restored and opened to the public by Malaga Town Hall. A visit to these gardens, situated five kilometres from the city centre, is an unforgettable experience for all of us, specially for children that amazed to find this beautiful and exquisite garden surrounded by arid and rugged mountains. The tour round these gardens is a true spectacle that gives the sensation of being immersed in a tropical jungle -albeit a refined and elegant tropical jungle – transposed to Europe. The tour includes a small museum with statues and Roman mosaics and an archaeological exhibition. You must go by car or public transport. The Gardens are closed on Mondays.

TIVOLI WORLD

Avenida de Tivoli, s/n. Arroyo de la Miel (Benalmádena)

Since the 1970s, Tivoli World has been one of the Coast’s best-loved family entertainment centres. The park offers a mix of fairground rides, themed restaurants and outdoor theatres. Situated in the centre of the residential area of the Arroyo de la Miel district, it’s easy to get to by car.

Our children loved the rides and attractions, of which there are more than 300, but it´s true that older kids and teenagers fund it a bit tame but they enjoyed anyway!.

Entrance to the park is seven euros which includes some free shows (such as those in the Western Square) and access to bars and restaurants. A ‘Supertivolino’ ticket, which includes over 30 rides, is 12 euros and there are also special group rates and lower prices for students and senior citizens. Height restrictions apply on some rides.

http://www.tivoli.es