Templo de Debod

An ancient Egyptian temple in the heart of Madrid
Noteworthy for: With the Guadarrama mountains as a backdrop, the temple offers one of the city's most romantic sunset views.

Word to the wise: The Paseo Pintor Rosales, which runs next to the Parque del Oeste, has a lovely collection of outdoor cafes and bars.
One of the few works of ancient Egyptian architecture to be found outside the country, The Templo de Debod was originally built near Aswan in 200 B.C.

In 1960, UNESCO saw that several historical monuments were being threatened by the construction of the Aswan Dam. And so, as a sign of gratitude for Spain’s assistance in saving and restoring the ancient temples of Abu Simbel, Egypt donated the Templo de Debod to Madrid in 1968. Completely reconstructed, the temple now sits in the Parque de la Montaña near the Plaza de España.

Head to the west hall beyond the two narrow gateways that lead to the temple to see the hieroglyphics. There's also a photo exhibit that documents the temple’s history and its unusual reconstruction.