This palace's plateresque doorway is outstanding; a style of architectural decoration that aimed to emulate the finesse of 16th-century silversmiths. Its dome, interior courtyard, chapels, baroque cloisters, and royal salon are all magnificent pieces of architecture. Carlos V and Felipe II both lived in this lovely palace before it was converted into a convent in 1556. Cloistered nuns still live and work in one part of the building. The rest of it, comprising a church, museum and convent, is open to the public.

You can visit this 16th-century church belonging to the convent with the the greatest art collection in Madrid to see work by Paolo de San Leocadi, Gaspar Becerro and Pompeo Leoni, including the latter's impressive marble funerary monument dedicated to the founder of the convent. The main altar is also well worth a look. It was carved in Rome, transported to Madrid and given added decorative touches by Bellver. The church was designed in classical style by architect Juan Bautista de Toledo with a stone and brick façade. Its interior has been restored several times over the centuries. You'll find the convent and church in the heart of the old town.

Madrid's Italian church of Iglesia de San Nicolás de los Servitas, celebrates mass in Italian if a large enough group of native speakers requests it. The building has a perfectly preserved 12th-century mudéjar tower with lobe and horseshoe arches that was the minaret of a mosque before being turned into a bell tower. The chapels inside contain an interesting collection of paintings and sculptures by Salvatierra, Pedro de Mena and Nicolás de Busy, as well as the most impressive coffered ceilings in Madrid. Apart from the tower, the rest of the church dates from the 15th century and later.

La construction de la Cathédrale de Madrid dura plus de 100 ans, dûe aux conflits politiques, guerres et un manque de ressources financières. Selon la légende, son nom est en l'honneur de la Virgen de la Almudena, dont l'icône fut trouvée pendant la Reconquête, cachée dans une maison que les arabes appelaient Al Mudena . L'édifice extérieur est un exemple de l'architecture éclectique du XIXe siècle. La porte est en bronze et il y a une image de Virgen (Sainte Patronne de Madrid maintenant) sur la façade. L'intérieur est rempli de lumière, grâce aux vitraux et aux plafonds multicolores. Son orgue Grezing peut s'écouter les dimanches, vacances et le jour précédent les vacances.

One of the capital's largest churches, it's also noted for having a huge and outstanding collection of paintings displayed amongst its seven chapels. You'll see work by Goya, Zurbarán, Alonso Cano, Maella and Casado del Alisal along with marble sculptures by Ricardo Bellver and Mariano Benlliure. The dome and barrel-vaulted ceilings are covered in lovely frescoes and the beautiful stained-glass windows were created by the German firm, Mayer. The church itself is an example of 18th-century classical design and its dome - measuring 33 meters (108.2 feet) in diameter - is one of the largest in the world. You'll find it close to the cathedral and the Royal Palace.