Arriba, which is also called San Lorenzo de Escorial. For description of the ESCORIAL, see page 750. Pozuelo (338 miles), is a pleasant village surrounded by gardens. It is much frequented by the citizens of Madrid during the fine season. Here are some fine houses, principally inhabited by Government employés. It was in this neighbourhood, at Chamartin, that Napoleon I. fixed his head-quarters on 2nd December, 1808. The round chamber which he occupied, in the palace of the Duke of Osuna, is shown to visitors. As the Metropolis is approached, a splendid bridge will be seen to the right. This magnificent structure is erected over the insignificant stream Manzanares, which is quite dry during nine months of the year. MADRID (394 miles), (Hotels: "HOTEL LIST "). Population, 495,785. see Madrid is the capital of the kingdom. It is situated in the midst of a vast, sandy plateau. This plateau is bounded on the north by the mountains Somosierra and Guadarrama. Almost the only reason that can be `assigned for selecting such an uninviting spot as the place for the capital, is said to have been its geographical position, being in the centre of Spain. It first became the temporary residence of the court under the regency of Cardinal Ximenes, in the sixteenth century, but was chosen as the capital by Philip II., in 1560. It was chiefly in the reign of Charles III. that the great works which adorn the city were erected or designed. Most of the streets are wide and straight, but are not well cleaned. The houses are handsome and lofty, generally built of brick; h those of the nobility are of e. The PLAZA MAYOR is a grand square, containing a fine statue of Philip III. on horseback. Executions and bull-fights used to take place in this square. The Calle de Alcala is a fine street, leading to the PUERTA DEL SOL, which is a large, much frequented area, where eight of the principal streets meet. It has recently been ornamented with a handsome fountain, and at night, when lighted up and crowded with people, presents a very gay appearance. The Palacio del Gobernacion and the Fonda de Paris, are its chief buildings. Puerta del Sol has frequently been the scene of revolts and political manifestoes. Here also was perpetrated a terrible massacre by Murat, on 2nd May 1808. The In the square called Plazuela de la Villa is the mansion house (Casa del Ayuntamiento), at the balcony of which the Duke of Wellington presented himself to the populace, and was enthusiastically hailed by them as their deliverer. The Plaza de Oriente is of an oval form, and is surrounded by a promenade, between the trees of which are forty-four colossal stone statues. In the centre is an enclosure, containing a fine garden. Here is a splendid bronze equestrian statue of Philip IV. On one side of this square is the Biblioteca Nacional, containing 230,000 volumes, some cameos, and other antiquities. A bronze statue of Cervantes is erected in the Plaza de la Cortez. In the Plaza de la Cruz Verde is a cross marking the spot where the last victim of the Inquisition was burnt. The other squares deserve no special mention. The PRADO, situated at the east end of the city, is the most fashionable promenade. Here is a monument, in commemoration of the bloody massacre by Murat, on March, 1808. Being received with shouts of anger, he seized upon some hundreds of the populace, of all ages and conditions, had them tried by court-martial, and executed on this spot. The ROYAL PALACE is a magnificent structure; it is a large square edifice, each front extending 470 ft., and is 100 ft. high. It commands a fine prospect. The Duke of Wellington resided in this palace after the battle of Salamanca. The interior is splendid. The grand staircase, the Hall of the Ambassadors, and the numerous saloons are all worthy of this most beautiful of royal palaces, and perfectly justify the remark which Napoleon I. made to his brother Joseph, when ascending the staircase :- "Mon frere vous seriez mieux logé que moi." The saloon called the Hall of the Ambassadors is magnificently decorated; the ceiling is one of the chef-d'œuvres of the Venetian Tiepolo. The ceilings of the dining-hall and the audience chamber are much admired. They are both by Mengs, The Sala del Trono contains a choice collection of coins and medals. The Gabinete contains some fine specimens of china. There are several fine pictures of the Italian school, and also some by native masters, in the various saloons. On the south side of the palace is the ROYAL ARMOURY, whichcontains thefinest collection of historical armour in the world. This gallery has a very imposing appearance; the equestrian figures are placed in the centre, and knights in armour stand at the sides, surrounded by warlike implements of every description. Overhead are hung various banners. On the walls are some splendid shields. Admission to the palace by permit from the Intendente de la Casa Real. EL MUSEO is a splendid gallery, containing 2000 pictures of which 46 are by Murillo, 10 by Raphael, 62 by Rubens, 64 by Velasquez, 34 by Tintoretto, and 43 by Titian. (Strangers are admitted every day). This vast and precious collection was first formed in 1828, and is universally admitted to comprise the richest collection of works of art in the world. In order to form this museum, all the royal residences have been deprived of their best works, both in painting and sculpture. The monasteries contained a considerable number of works of the first order; that of L'Escorial, above all, containing the best works of Leonardo da Vinci, Correggio, Titian, Raphael, and some admirable paintings of the Flemish School. When the convents were suppressed, and the monastic orders dispersed, all these works were carried off to enrich the Royal Museum at Madrid. At the entrance are three galleries. The two on the right and left are devoted to the works of the Spanish painters; the middle gallery contains all the works of the Italian school. At the extremity of the long gallery there is a circular saloon, in which are deposited the few works of the German and French schools that this museum contains; on either side of which are two other galleries appropriated to the paintings of the Dutch and Flemish Schools. A large staircase leads to galleries on the ground floor, in which are a great many works belonging to all the schools, and which were for the most part taken from the Escurial. The paintings of Velasquez will be found particularly worth notice. Here is the famous picture of "The Drunkards" (Los Bebedores), by that master. This prince of Spanish painters is here seen in all the splendour of his genius, and the whole of his works will repay a careful study. The mu 66 seum is enriched by many famous productions of Murillo, the pupil of Velasquez. The Italian school is well represented by some of the chief works of the most celebrated masters, including Leonardo da Vinci, Andrea del Sarto, Correggio, and Raphael. Here are three fine productions of the latter master, in which the subject of the 'Holy Family," is treated in different ways, and is distinguished in each by a particular name. Thus, one is called "La Perla,' which once belonged to Charles I. of England. Another picture has been called the "Virgin of the Ruins," from the character of the composition; and a third is known as the "Virgin of the Fish." The museum may boast of the richest collection of the works of Titian in the world. There are also several masterpieces by Tintoretto, Paul Veronese, Sebastiano del Piombo, Guido, Guercino, and Lanfranc. The German and French schools are rather scantily represented, and the paintings mixed together in the circular saloon at the end of the long gallery. The principal work of Albert Dürer is a small "Crucifixion," brought from the Escurial. Of the works of Nicolas Poussin the museum contains twelve, principally landscapes and historical pieces. There are nine chefs-d'œuvre of Claude. There are several works of the great Flemish painter, Rubens, the most celebrated of which is "The Virgin and Saints." There are several portraits by Van Dyck, also some of his finest historical pieces; several specimens of the works of Rembrandt and Jordaens; and a very numerous collection of those of the two Teniers (father and son). The gallery of antique sculpture occupies the greater part of the ground-floor of this museum, but is not very remarkable either in value or extent. The MUSEO NATIONAL, situated in the Calle de Atocha, contains about 200 pictures. This building (the ancient convent of the Trinity) is used for the offices of the Minister of Public Works. The other picture galleries are at the ACADEMY OF SAN FERNANDO (about 300 pictures); the galleries of the Duke of Medina-Celi, the Duke of Alba, and the Marquis of Javal-Quinto. The ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY contains a museum of Natural History, and some fine pictures. The two largest libraries are the ROYAL LIBRARY and the LIBRARY OF SAN ISIDRO. There are six theatres, three circuses, and several scientific and literary institutions. Madrid offers but little attraction to the antiquary in her churches, bearing in this respect a most unfavourable contrast to other cities of Spain. The chapel of Notre Dame d'Atocha, at the end of the promenade of Atocha, contains the ancient and celebrated image of the Virgin, which has been an object of traditional veneration for many ages past, especially by the royal families of Spain, the members of which were in the habit of worshipping here every Saturday. Isabella II. was married here, and, according to usual custom, presented her wedding dress to the image. Both marriages of the young King Alfonso took place here. At the Revolution of 1868 the treasure belonging to this image was seized by the government, and has been valued at £100,000. Many fabulous stories are told about the miracles performed by this statue. The PLAZA DE TOROS is situated at a short distance outside the superb gate at the end of the Calle de Alcala. It is an amphi |