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Madrid Travel Guide - Travel to Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It is situated in the center of the peninsula and right in the heart of the Castillian plain 648 meters above sea level, has more or less 3 million of inhabitants.
An international city, a business centre, head office for the Public Administration, Government, Spanish Parliament and the base of the Spanish Royal Family, Madrid also enjoys of a main role in both the banking and industrial sectors. A good part of its industry is situated in the Southern fringe of the city, where textile, food and metal working factories are agglomerated. Madrid is featured by fervent cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife.
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Initiating the 19th century, Joseph Bonaparte commenced the reform of the Puerta del Sol and vicinity. The commercial street called as the Gran Vía was created as an east-west avenue at the start of the century. In the 1950's the north-south boulevard known as Paseo de la Castellana was extended and modern buildings were raised, housing the major financial institutions. Remainings of the remote past are principally the Baroque and neoclassical structures of the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the Palacio Real (Royal Palace).
Art and culture are principal to life in Madrid. The city offers 73 museums that comprehend all fields of human knowledge. Among these, the most prominent are the Prado Museum, one of the world's supreme art galleries, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum with more or less 800 paintings, sculptures and tapestries that go from the earliest Dutch masters to the most avant-garde trends, and the Reina Sofía National Art Centre, which is consecrate to Spanish contemporary art, with works by Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Juan Gris among others.
Tourists and residents can enjoy the sun, have walks, go rowing or give food to squirrels in Madrid's large, pure parks and gardens. The Retiro Park, once playground of Spanish Monarchs, the Casa de Campo and the Juan Carlos I Park between others make Madrid one of Europe's most green capitals. Madrid is also one of Europe's most interesting business centres.
Its international airport has about one thousand flights weekly from all over the world and it has two major conference centres, besides the modern Campo de las Naciones exhibition centre and a capacity to hold more than 80,000 people in other varied conference and meeting facilities.
Madrid is one of the cities with more life in the world. An interesting city that never rests (the Spanish would speak it has "mucha marcha"). The nightlife in Madrid offers something for everybody, whatever your election, age or nationality. And you shouldn't have problems if you have kids. Children are plainly admitted in all types of bars, cafeterias and restaurants and even some pubs, although this last idea is possibly not to be recommended, you should consult the owner or bar staff.
Lots of people who visit Madrid buy Real Madrid tickets beforehand, because they want to see their favourite stars in action.
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