Madrid’s city center offers opportunities to study famous artworks by Goya, Velazquez, and El Greco at the Prado Museum; stroll the landscaped lawns in beautiful Retiro Park; and climb the grand staircase to luxurious halls and the Royal Collections Gallery in the Royal Palace. But even more awaits just outside the city’s epicenter. Easy day trips from central Madrid, Spain, introduce cultural experiences that heighten understanding and appreciation of Spanish art, architecture, and history.
Colmenar de Oreja: A one-hour drive southeast of Madrid proper leads to the town of Colmenar de Oreja and the Ulpiano Checa Museum, a treasure-trove for art- and history-lovers. Born in Colmenar de Oreja, Ulpiano Checa (1860-1916) studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid, later earning international recognition and numerous awards for his paintings, sculptures, and posters.
