Photo Essay: Barcelona & Madrid, Spain

Madrid, Spain’s capital and largest city, and Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city and capital of the Catalonia semi-autonomous community.

Madrid is the political and economic capital of Spain, and the largest financial center on the Iberian Peninsula. Barcelona is a major cultural, economic, financial and tourism hub, and in a recent study by Saffron Consultants was found to be Europe’s third-strongest city brand, behind only Paris and London.

Street corner, Madrid

Palacio de Comunicaciones (Post Office)

Museo del Prado

Casa de Campo

Palacio Real

Interior, Santa María la Real de La Almudena Cathedral, Madrid

Interior, Cercanías Madrid train en route from Aranjuez to Madrid. The rail line from Madrid to Aranjuez was built in 1851, the first line to be built from the Spanish capital, (second in Spain, and third in the Iberian peninsula).

Palacio de Aranjuez

Runnel, Jardin del Palacio Real de Aranjuez

Fountain, Jardin del Palacio Real de Aranjuez

Wind farm, seen from the Madrid to Barcelona high-speed rail line

RENFE AVE high-speed train in Barcelona Sants railway station

Boardwalk, Barcelona

Street Furniture, Barcelona

Plaque in the former Sinagoga Mayor (Major Synagogue) of Barcelona, in the Jewish Quarter. The Call Association of Barcelona has been restoring the synagogue since 1997.

Raised glass over the original floor of the former Major Synagogue of Barcelona

Torah scroll in the former Major Synagogue of Barcelona

Sagrada Família, masterwork of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, at sunset