Spot the tombs of Spanish luminaries, relax in public parks and explore a busy commercial zone in this traditional barrio of Madrid.

Ventas is a residential area in the Ciudad Lineal district of Madrid with quick and easy access to the city’s major attractions. The neighbourhood’s modest architecture and easygoing vibe is far removed from the aristocratic ambiance of neighboring Salamanca. Visit Ventas to experience the typical life of a Madrileño away from the tourist crowds. Enjoy the barrio’s green spaces and stroll the streets of a sprawling village-like cemetery.

The 197-feet (60-metre) long and arching Puente de Ventas bridge marks the entrance to the neighbourhood from Salamanca. Immediately west of here is the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas, the city’s century-old neo-Mudéjar bullring. Follow Calle Alcalá into the barrio’s retail heart to find locals going about their daily activities. Everything from banks, fashion outlets and grocery stores, to fast food restaurants, pubs and tapas bars line this boulevard and its adjoining streets.

At the Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery some 5 million people are laid to rest at burial sites that range from humble graves to elaborate mausoleums. The Moorish-style Chapel of the Almudena Cemetery greets you as you enter the cemetery via an impressive colonnaded entrance. See the tombs of esteemed Spaniards such as the singer Lola Flores and Nobel laureate Vicente Aleixandre. The Monument of the 13 Roses honours 13 women killed by firing squad after the Spanish Civil War.

Take a break at Parque Pinar de la Elipa, a wooded park with bike paths, walking trails, children’s playgrounds and views of the Torrespaña television tower. Close to here, Quinta de la Fuente del Berro is another place where you can enjoy nature. This sprawling park has pathways, landscaped lawns, fountains and statues.

Get to Ventas by taking the metro to either of the El Carmen, La Elipa and Ventas stations. Several public bus lines also provide links between the neighbourhood and Madrid’s city centre. El Retiro Park, Paseo de la Castellana and Paseo del Prado can all be reached in around 30 minutes by public transportation.