Madrid, the capital of Spain, is situated to the south of the Sierra de Guadarrama Mountains, is found at the centre of the Iberan Peninsula and is 700 metres above sea level. It received its name from the Arabic Magerit, which means mother of waters.
A trip to Madrid is synonymous with cultural and historical discoveries. Many museums can be found in this capital: The national museum of Queen Sofia, which houses Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, the national archaeological museum that tells the history of Madrid and the Prado Museum, among others. As for the remarkable architecture of Madrid’s religious landmarks, there is the Temple of Debod, the Descalzas Reales monastery, the Cathedral of the Almudena and the church of San Antonio de la Florida, whose dome was painted by Goya.
Palaces have also made their mark on the city of Madrid, including the Royal Palace, the Crystal Palace of Arganzuela, and the Palace of Communications, which houses the city government.
In Madrid, beyond the historical buildings, there are also many other places that merit a visit, such as the Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza de Cibeles, the Neptune fountain, the gate of Alcalá, the gate of Toledo, and the list goes on. Carmen, Preciados, Serrano and Goya streets, along with the Corte Inglés, offer the most famous boutiques and luxury brands.
The towers and skyscrapers have become part of the Madrid skyline, earning Spain its reputation as the Gateway to Europe. Among the most notable towers are the White Tower, the Picasso Tower, the Towers of Europe, the Windsor Tower, and the Tower of the Bank of Bilbao, which houses the financial offices of AZCA.
This city has a myriad of historical and cultural sights, delivers an exciting environment, and the friendliness of its people will delight you. Moreover, the Sierra of Madrid allows for a variety of sporting opportunities in winter and hiking in the summer. Also, you can visit the region around Madrid to discover the wildlife on the plains of Aranjuez or the Channel of Alcalá de Henares. Both young and old will enjoy the wildlife just inside the Madrid Zoo, the Aquarium in Casa de Campo, and the Wildlife park, Faunia. Children will be able to enjoy the amusement park of Madrid or the Warner Brothers Park of Madrid. Lastly, the Casa de Campo Park and Retiro Park, with its equestrian statue of King Alfonso XII and throne, also make for sights not to miss in Madrid.
Vibrant day and night
Madrid is a vibrant city and the madrileños are a people who get a grip on life. Day and night, the city of Madrid shows true enjoyment of life. The shopping districts and business districts tend to be crowded. Calle Preciados, Calle Montera and Calle de las Cerretas, among others, are the primary streets that attract shoppers. To the north of Plaza de la Castilla, the headquarters of petroleum company Repsol can be found in a tower of the same name.
The Sacyr tower, at 232 metres in height, houses a 5-star hotel right in Madrid. The Mutua Madrileña tower, headquarters of a company of the same name, and the Espacio tower are also prominent office buildings. At night, in the Barrio de Huertas quarter, la plaza de Santa Ana, Calle de la Cruz and Calle del Príncipe are ready to welcome you to a warm and vibrant area. Along the same lines, the Latin quarter, which includes Calle Cava Caja, Calle de los Cuchilleros, the Plaza Mayor and the plaza of Tirso de Molina, awaits you for a night out. For the younger generation, the Chueca neighborhood, with the Plaza de Chueca, Plaza Dos de Mayo, and the Malasana neighborhood are more appropriate landmarks.
A trip should include wonderful memories of a new city but also to make enriching discoveries. Madrid is a city rich in culture and history, and cuisine is also one of its notable features as the Spanish capital also has a unique culinary tradition. Cocido, a madrileño stew, callos a la madrileña, churros, roscón and omelettes are some of the most notable dishes of the city. You’ll quickly discover that this city’s culinary specialties are packed with flavor, are made with outstanding ingredients, and include a remarkable tradition of charcuterie. Most recently, Pope Benedict XVI announced in 2008 that Madrid would host World Youth Day in 2011.
Budget for one week: Around 500 €
Taxes and Gratuity: Taxes vary from 7 to 10%, service gratuity is included in the bill but you can leave 10%.
Currency: Euro
Spoken and/or Official Language: Spanish
Int. Dialing Code: +34 (91)
Area: 6,070 Km2
Population: 3,213,271 habitants
Motto: Fui sobre agua edificada, mis muros de fuego son
Main Places to Visit: Museum of Queen Sofia, the Church of San Antonio de la Florida, Columbus Plaza, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Atocha gate, Rastro de Madrid market, Retiro Park.
Other Spanish destinations: Tenerife, Ibiza, Barcelona, Granada, Seville, Costa del Sol, Palma de Mallorca.
Electricity: 2 types of plugs:
- Type C (European type with 2 round prongs) CEE 7/16 (2.5A/250V without ground) / CEE 7/17 (German and French type: 16A/250V without ground)
- Type F (3 round prongs) CEE 7/4 (“shuko” in Germany: 16A/250V with ground plug)
And no, Madrid is not written as
- Maddrid
- Madridd
- Madreed
- Madrrid
- Madrhid
- Maadrid
- Madriid
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