This 17th century church served as the cathedral of Madrid until 1993, when a new cathedral was dedicated inside the Palacio Real. The Iglesia de San Isidro was destroyed on the inside by rioting workers in 1936, but has been restored for the visitor and the worshipper to see. Much of the architecture of today's Madrid is reflective of the Bourbon style of the 18th century. Charles III gave Madrid its neoclassical look that remains today. This is evidenced clearly in the Paseo del Prado Boulevard.
Museums are in no shortage in Madrid.
Picasso's Guernica is the centerpiece of this museum. It is his depiction of the bloodshed resulting from the Germans bombing the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. Many other museums grace the cultural offerings of Madrid, but none is greater or more renowned than the Museo del Prado. The Museo del Prado is one of Europe's finest museums. It houses over 3,000 paintings including the royal painting collection, many of which were collected by Spanish monarchs between 1400 1700.