Madrid
Overview
Madrid is a capital unlike most others. It is the city and capital seldom seen by the majority of visitors to Spain.
It is so far away from the coast and from the many other regions visited, that you cannot pass through it, nor make a minor detour to get there.
To visit Madrid you have to want to go there, you have to make the effort.
It is a long journey which can be from 350 to over 750 kilometres (225 to 475 miles). But, once you have made that choice and have arrived there, it is a wise decision, a choice worth making and something that is never regretted and never forgotten.
So many people who have been there have asked themselves why they never did it before. But they were the lucky ones to make the effort.
Madrid is an important trading centre, yet it is far from the sea and sea trade cannot reach it by boat. But, all roads led to Madrid, just as in Roman times, “all roads led to Rome”.
Madrid was the centre of an enormous Hispanic Empire, governed from El Escorial, near Madrid and yet a journey to and from those far flung colonies required a coach journey to a seaport of 400 up to 650 kilometres which took several days to cover.
Madrid is historic, it has a long and important heritage of many cultures and much of it can still be seen today, yet the city is full of modern features which harmonise with the past.
Everywhere one can see the legacy of that fascinating history and the presence of magnificent architecture.
Madrid is a sprawling urban metropolis, yet it stands near an enormous soaring mountain range and there are large green areas reaching deep into the city.
Madrid is a busy hard working city, working long hours, yet the importance of enjoyment, relaxation and the time to socialise are always present.
Madrid is a bustling capital city, yet it is a friendly place where people smile, welcome, speak, greet, meet and include you. They treat a friend, colleague, neighbour, acquaintance or even a stranger like a long lost friend – with a few kind words.
Madrid is Spain's capital and a very cosmopolitan city. Its position as a centre for government, economics, finance, administration, manufacture and services is combined with the most modern infrastructure and an important historic, cultural, artistic and sports heritage.
Madrid offers a broad range of accommodation and services along with the most advanced audiovisual and communications technology.
All of this, combined with the momentum of a society which is dynamic and open and at the same time, warm and welcoming, has turned this metropolis into one of the western world's greatest capitals.
These are just some of Madrid's possibilities, alongside tempting shopping for top quality Spanish clothing and other products in the most traditional, or the most modern establishments and world-famous outlets stocking the finest international brands.
Geography
Madrid is located on the River Manzanares in the centre of Spain, between the autonomous communities of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha.
It lies at an average 650m (2130 feet) of altitude in the middle of the Spanish Central Castilian Plateau (Meseta Central).
The centre of Madrid is only 50 km from Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range which rises to over 2400 metres (over 8000 feet) the mountains are clearly visible rising from near the city and are snow capped in the winter.
Demography
Madrid has about 3.50 million inhabitants and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be about 5.84 million people.
Climate
Madrid has a temperate Mediterranean climate with cool winters with temperatures that sometimes drop below 0 °C.
Summer tends to be hot with temperatures that exceed 30 °C and can often reach 40 °C in July.
Summer and winter are the driest seasons, with most rainfall occurring in the autumn and spring.
Leisure
Near to the Plaza Mayor is the so-called "aristocratic centre" of Madrid, home to the stunning Royal Palace, which is a 17th century monumental building which combines Baroque and Classical styles.
Spain is a lively democracy, but it is also a monarchy with a well respected and much loved King Juan Carlos.
Next to the palace, you can find the Plaza de Oriente square, the Opera House and the modern Almudena Cathedral consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993.
This ensemble of monuments is completed by the Puerta del Sol nearby, a square flanked by select shops, and the "Paseo del Arte", so called for its unique museums, palaces and gardens.
We cannot forget the Puerta de Alcala with the cannonball marks from the Napoleonic War and the nearby Parque del Retiro, the unmistakable Bank of Spain building, the Palacio de las Telecomunicaciones (currently home to the Spanish Post Office) and the fountains of Cibeles, Neptuno and very many others in Madrid. Art and culture are central to Madrid life.
The city has more than 70 museums which cover all fields of human knowledge. Of these, the most important are: The Prado Museum, one of the world's greatest art galleries; The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum with more than 800 paintings, sculptures and tapestries which span the period from the earliest Dutch masters to the most avant-garde trends; And, the Reina Sofía National Art Centre, which is dedicated to Spanish contemporary art, with works by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Juan Gris among many others.
If there is one thing which characterises Madrid, it is the deep, contagious passion for life reflected in its friendly and welcoming people.
Madrid boasts arts festivals, concerts, exhibitions, ballets, theatre productions and the latest cinema releases from Spanish, English, French and other language film industries.
You can enjoy a wide variety of the finest Spanish and international cuisine, or be enchanted by its bars and taverns. The Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal dishes are just a tiny fraction of what is good to eat in Madrid. Every type of fish is abundant.
The favourites are merluza (hake) and one of the best is “Merluza a la Romana”. Some of the best food in madrid is beef, pork, mutton, chicken, goat, wild-foul, wild-boar.
Some of the best of those are Solomillo a la Parilla (grilled fillet steak), Patatas Guisadas (meat and potato stew), Judiones de la Granja (butter beans with meat from Segovia), Chuletas (lamb cutlets), Cabrito Asado (roast goat), Javali Asado (roast wildboar).
Dishes for vegetarians are amazing because of the superb ingredients and preparation with delights such as Patatas Rellenadas (stuffed potatoes, Salada Rusa (Russian Salad), Gazpacho (cold vegetable soup), Sopa de Garbanzos (chickpea soup), Sopa de Lentejas (lentil soup), Naranjas Preparadas (sliced oranges with liqueur), even simple dishes like Salada de Tomate adorned with olive oil and so many other ingredients.
Madrid has an ever happening and vibrant nightlife and this is another of its major attractions. Its pubs, bars, discos and flamenco clubs have a tremendous atmosphere, while by day there are traditional cafés, restaurants, verbenas (open air dances) and popular festivals.
Or, there are the sevillanas dancing festivals, the San Isidro bullfighting festival – which is rated as the world's most important, Christmas is a long and beautiful festival when the city becomes even more alight and ends with a crescendo of enjoyment with a never-ending, stunning and musical procession through the streets of Madrid. It is better than the best carnival you have ever seen.
Useful Data
Currency
The Euro €, but other currencies may be taken and will be exchanged in banks.
Language
Spanish is the native language, but you will find that lots of people in Madrid will speak English particularly in hotels, businesses and the young.
Emergencies
You should dial: 112, the national emergency number for Ambulance, Fire and Police, in the event of an emergency. This service is free of charge.
Links