This funky former tobacco factory is one of the most striking examples of Madrid's cultural diversity.

A view-altering observatory at the University of Texas.

This sweet-toothed bear searching for snacks has been a symbol of Madrid for decades.

The little church's beautifully frescoed ceiling has earned it the nickname “the Sistine Chapel of Madrid.”

This small and often-overlooked museum holds some of Spain's finest artistic treasures.

This lucky bronze frog was gifted to Madrid by a casino.

A unique exhibit lets blind people experience famous works of art and architecture with their hands.

Among the oldest structures in Madrid, these Moorish walls once guarded the medieval city of Mayrit.

An exact replica of a colossal Olmec head sits atop a pyramid within a Madrid traffic circle.

A stone slab in Madrid marks the point from which the distances of Spain's national roads are measured.

A lush indoor jungle fills this bustling Madrid transportation hub.

This amazing abuela became a diehard metal fan late in life and an icon of Madrid's '80s rock scene.

A whimsical brother of the nearby Fallen Angel statue takes the falling part quite literally.

Over two centuries old and counting, Madrid's massive botanical garden contains one of Europe's only desert environments.

This small museum tucked within a subway station holds pieces from Madrid's past.

Commonly acknowledged as the only public monument to the Devil himself.

Abandoned for decades, trains still pass through the now-restored remains of one of Madrid's first metro stations.

The oldest restaurant in the world is this old-world Spanish eatery, still known for its suckling pig.

An ancient Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid, Spain.

Madrid's romantically ornate crystal palace has been offering shelter to plants and art for over a century.

Possibly the oldest church in Barcelona, this basilica has its pagan and Christian mythologies all mixed up.

A vista of the city and sea from atop the little-known viewing deck on an unassuming Columbus statue.

A once-secret library of Freemason history in Catalonia.

This former Baroque palace on the historic Calle Montcada is a rare architectural gem and was once the meeting place of an aristocratic scholarly society.