Roberto's place is centrally located in Madrid but away from the standard tourist pathways. Sergio, his friend, was our contact throughout our stay and was very responsive. Being in this area made us feel like locals-- like taking the Metro, which is just around the corner from the building, to our varied destinations, going to local cafes and grocery stores to do our food shopping, and falling into the rhythm of people, coming and going to their daily routines. It is the ideal way we like to experience any city-- and being at Plaza Conde de Casal, a 20-minute walk to Atocha Central Station was ideal. We have been to Madrid before and exploring the Retiro neighborhood and its vicinity to Ibiza, with its culinary experiences, was a great experience. Beyond the location, the apartment itself was comfortable and spacious, and we considered it our "home" for the time we were there.