Madrid - 2 days
 

I am going to be in Madrid for a quick business trip. I'll have about 1 free day, and Must-sees? (the trip is mid-December). Bull fights are not an option!! Thanks!! Also, any suggestions on where a good place to go for pottery is in Madrid?

Debi,
"Must sees" for an art lover:
the museum triangle consisting of the Thyssen Bornemisza, the Prado and the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

for history buffs:
the Royal Palace

Certainly can't do all in just 1 day, so take your pick. If I had to do just one, I'd head straight to the Prado. Morning at Prado and afternoon at Thyssen with a stop at the Centro Reina Sofía to view Picasso's masterpiece, Guernica, IF you love art; otherwise, afternoon at the Royal Palace and strolling the narrow, dark, atmospheric streets of Old Madrid, below the Plaza Mayor-Madrid of the Hapsburgs.

I purchase all my pottery in Madrid at the "Antigua Casa de Talavera", on Calle Isabel la Católica #2-down from Hotel Santo Domingo, metro Santo Domingo, off the Gran Vía.
A virtual treasure trove of ceramics!
Run by a brother-sister duo (she speaks some English) who've been in business for 40+ yrs. I make this my final stop
every summer; jam packed with 3 rms of goods-every available space crammed with pottery-have to ring bell to get in-closed for
siesta-high prices for the big items but very good quality, have a good
selection of smaller souvenir pieces and tiles, mostly from Talavera de la Reina and Puente de Arzobispo, some Granadino, and they pack the items well! Used to be cash only, but posters have reported to me that they now accept credit cards.

I think Maribel got most of it...but:

I've spent almost the entire day in Prado...i think it's definately a must see, you can probably pass through it in just a few hours though.

Sol/Gran Via - lots and lots of good shopping here...you should be able to find anything and everything you could ever want...it's also close to Museo del prado...so I'd start my day at the Museum and then head to Sol/Gran Via for shopping ;)

Don't forget to try the tapas and sangria

Plaza Mayor, Ventas (the bullring) and a stroll thru the Retiro. (i'm not big on museums, but I did enjoy the Thyssen Bornemisza)

Thanks alot for the information - I hope to finish up my business this afternoon and then hit some of these places..... No bull ring, though.....