Monika & Karl

The place

Madrid

A capital of palaces, parks and late nights under clear skies — with royal towns, castles and the mountains about an hour away.

August works here with a little planning.

The light

How the light falls there

Madrid’s height and dry air give it a famously clear light and deep-blue skies, with long, warm sunsets over the palace and the parks on the city’s western edge. Spain keeps Central European time, so in summer the last light comes late — dinner often starts after it.