Madrid, Capital city in central Spain.
Description
Madrid is the capital of Spain and sits on a high plateau in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, with wide boulevards cutting between modern skyscrapers and historic neighborhoods. The Retiro Park forms a green lung to the east, while the old center around Puerta del Sol shows densely built streets with low-rise buildings.
History
The settlement started in the 9th century as a military outpost during the Emirate of Córdoba. King Philip II made it the capital of the Spanish Empire in 1561, transforming it from a small fortress town into the political center of Europe.
Culture
Locals eat late, with dinner often beginning after nine in the evening, and many restaurants only opening their doors for the main meal at that time. The city comes alive at night, with shops and bars staying open until midnight, while on Sundays families gather in plazas and stroll through parks.
Practical
The metro connects all neighborhoods through an extensive network and stays open past midnight, while buses run around the clock. Most museums close on Mondays, and many shops take a break in the afternoon for a few hours before reopening in the evening.
Did you know?
The Royal Palace has more rooms than any other functioning royal palace in Europe, though the royal family does not live there and instead uses a smaller estate outside the city. Visitors can walk through some halls and gardens, but large sections remain closed for official ceremonies.
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Photo license: CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo license: CC BY-SA 3.0
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Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
4.2 km
Metropolitano Stadium
9.1 km
Museo del Prado
1 km
Royal Palace of Madrid
857 m
Temple of Debod
1.5 km
Puerta de Alcalá
1.3 km
Main Square
360 m
El Retiro Park
1.7 km
Market of San Miguel
478 m
Biblioteca Nacional de España
1.4 km
Senate of Spain
891 m
Palace of Zarzuela
11.1 km
Puerta del Sol
20 m
Fountain of Cybele
921 m
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
1.2 km
Palace of Moncloa
4.1 km
Crystal Palace
1.9 km
Las Ventas
3.8 km
Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree
70 m
Casa de Campo Park
4.5 km
Royal Palace of El Pardo
13.1 km
Fuente del Ángel Caído
1.9 km
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
732 m
Assembly of Madrid
5.2 km
Gran Vía
358 m
Comillas Pontifical University
1.6 km
Almudena Cathedral
937 m
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