The Prado museum reopened its central gallery of the villanueva building after months of renovations in July, 2011. [Photo/CFP]

Spain has for decades been among the world's top tourist destinations, mainly thanks to sun-seekers who flock each year to Mediterranean beaches or the Canary Islands. Madrid, with its vast array of bars, restaurants, rocket-propelled nightlife, also harbors a rich history and culture. While top-end hotels and restaurants are expensive, some of Madrid's best features can be enjoyed for free.

Few museums boast a permanent collection as rich and historically important as that of Madrid's El Prado.

Many of the Prado's works were collected or commissioned by Spain's art-loving royalty in centuries past when the country was a fabulously wealthy global empire. Then, in 1819, King Ferdinand VII opened the doors of his private collection to the public. The collection was later boosted by the contents of two major museums.

The Prado's most popular works are the remarkably versatile Francisco Goya's canvases, etchings and tapestries - including his "Black Paintings", such as Saturn devouring one of his sons - and, notably, Diego Velazquez's priceless masterworks including Las Meninas.

Around 2 million people visit the Prado each year. Normally, admission costs 14 euros ($19), but access is free for two hours every evening.

At the heart of Madrid lies Retiro Park, a beautifully tended 350-acre (1.4 square-kilometer) garden space where city-dwellers go to get away from the metropolitan hubbub. Originally the formal gardens of a medieval palace, it became King Philip II's 16th century refuge from court preoccupations, as well as his religious retreat - hence its name.

Retiro offers all you would expect from a showcase city park: leafy walks, bicycle rides, superb horticulture, rowboats and cooling fountains. But it is also packed with cultural surprises. It contains three free museums - Casa de Vacas, Palacio de Velazquez and Palacio de Cristal - the last being a wonderfully preserved iron-framed glasshouse.

As dusk approaches, strolling couples head west to the Temple of Debod, one of Madrid's oldest buildings. It is one of very few early Egyptian temples visible outside that country and was given to Spain in 1960 in a bid to save it from flood damage when the Aswan dam was built across the Nile.

Dedicated in antiquity to the worship of the gods Amun and Isis, its graceful lines showcase the timeless beauty of pharaonic architecture. Today the temple is situated on the eastern ridge of the Manzanares River valley, where the setting sun bathes it in golden hues as the azure sky above darkens, making it one of Madrid's most romantic spots.

Matadero was, from 1911 to 1996, Madrid's main slaughterhouse and livestock market, where herds of cattle were even trotted in on foot. The 18-hectare complex, today a creative center, was designed in the modernist neo-Mudejar style of architecture typical of early 20th century Madrid. It includes a space devoted to design, where graphic, industrial and interior decoration artists can be seen in action. Other buildings include a television studio, a hall for books and reading, a workshop used as a meeting place by the city's artists, and at least two theaters, some hosting professional, paid-for works. But there is always plenty happening here for free.

Juan March was a wealthy financier whose richly endowed foundation today hosts some of the capital's most exciting musical events, film screenings and art exhibitions, all free.

Associated Press