History
The area where Madrid now lies was first settled around 1000 years before the birth of Christ. In these early years, the intense climate ensured that settlements were small and sparse. The Roman Empire conquered the area around 218 BC but the area was only used for roads, needed to trade and travel from the important regions of the north and south. A number of Visigoth settlements appeared, just after the fall of the Roman Empire.
The City of Madrid owes its origins to the Moorish invaders. A fortress and town wall was built to repel Christian attacks and the next 300 years would see repeated invasion attempts. These attacks stunted the growth of the town and it remained of little significance in the Iberian Peninuslar. After many years of the town changing hands, Alfonso VI finally conquered the town and all Arab structures were torn down at the King’s request. There are still very few reminders of the city’s Muslim past. Remarkably, the town was still of little importance and remained so until 1202 when Alfonso VIII converted it into an official community. In1561, King Philip II decided to base the royal court in the town. The city was soon after declared the capital and a series of huge construction projects was ordered. The town soon became a city.
In 1808, Napolean marched his troops into the capital against a small but spirited Spanish resistance. This act of defiance is commemorated by the central square, Plaza Dos de Mayor and an annual national holiday. The city continued to grow at a very fast pace in the 19th century and soon became, not only the capital, but the largest city in Spain.
Population
Madrid is the largest city in Spain with a population of 3.5 million. The wider metropolitan area of Madrid has a population of around 6.5 million. It is currently the third largest city in the EU, after London and Paris. The wider metropolitan area of the city has the third largest economy in Europe, behind only London and Paris and is the home to many of Spain’s political, cultural and economic institutions.
Places to Visit
The Paseo del Arte – The ‘Art Walk’ is also known as the ‘Golden Triangle’ of three famous art museums. Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen Bornomisza are homes to the works of Picasso and several other prominent Spanish artists.
Puerta del Sol – This is a high profile centre of the city and is home to statues and beautiful Spanish architecture.
Calle and Plaza Mayor – This is the Medieval area of the city where the ancient churches and buildings give a real feeling of history. Goya’s tomb can also be visited at the Panteon de Goya.
The Royal Palace – Situated on the Plaza de Oriente, the palace was begun in 1734 and was intended to be the purpose-built residence of the Monarchy by Philip V. The huge, bright white, building has 3,000 rooms although the present king lives in the Zarzuela Palace just outside the city. There are regular English tours of the palace which last around two hours. The magnificent state apartments are full of Spanish treasures and opulent décor that can be compared to that found in Versailles.
Parque del Buen Retiro – Covering 350 acres, this park was meant to be King Philip IV’s private garden. The park is home to cafes, playgrounds, exhibitions, lakes and fountains. Visitors can walk around the gardens, take a boat ride on the lakes or watch the various street performers.
Flamenco at Corral de la Moreria – Considered as the most famous Flamenco show restaurant in the world, the show attracts heads of state, celebrities and billionaires. The nightly shows are accompanied by some of the finest food in the world, prepared by Spain’s top chefs.
National Archaeological Museum of Spain – Founded in 1867, the museum is a story of the history of Spain and includes ancient artefacts and artwork.
Madrid is a fabulous city to explore on foot. There are many public parks to explore as well as several museums. Purchasing the Madrid Card gives free admission to all of Madrid’s museums, as well as discounts in bars, restaurants and shops.
Cuisine
The food in Madrid takes in the influences from almost every Spanish community. Pork is the most popular meat, however the use of lamb, beef, chicken and beef are also popular. As with all Spanish food, olive oil and the use of local fresh vegetables are widespread. Meal times differ slightly to most of Europe with breakfasts usually taken around 9.30am, lunch is between 2pm and 3pm. Following a long siesta, dinner can be as late as 9pm! The majority of Spanish restaurants in Madrid have the menu del dia. This is a set menu which usually includes a starter, main course and dessert together with a drink. This option is usually excellent value for money, however, it is only served at lunchtimes and can seem like a lot of food to some. Many of the Madrid restaurants offer free entertainment.
The unofficial ‘oldest’ restaurant in the word, El Botin, can be found near the Plaza Mayor. The restaurant features its original wood burning oven which is still used to cook roasted pig! The locally famous Museo de Jamon is a restaurant that also operates as a bar and deli. The restaurant features speciality hams from all over Spain, which can be seen hanging from the ceiling.
Accommodation
There are thousands of hotel rooms to choose from in Spain’s largest city. Hotels range from budget hostels to five-star luxury. There is never a shortage of places to stay within the city with prices for any budget. The Gran Via is the main street that extends through the middle of Madrid. There are dozens of hotels to choose from here that all offer the convenience of being located right in the centre of the city. For those looking for villa accommodation or self-catering cottages, the outskirts of the city may be the best option; however, travel costs into the city will be high.
Puerta del Sol is a very popular, central location in Madrid. It is a great place to stay for a quick walk to the Plaza Mayor and the most popular museums in the city. Paseo del Prado offers accommodation that is close to the Prado Museum and within a short walk of Retiro Park. The busiest street in Madrid is the Paseo de la Castellana. This is possibly the best location to stay in for quick access, by foot, to all of Madrid’s major attractions. The wealthiest location is Barrio Salamanca which is home to exquisite buildings, expensive shops and many of the city’s embassies. Hotels here will be very expensive but the beautiful area makes it popular.
Weather
It is thought that the most pleasant weather can be found between May and July where temperatures average between 20C and 32C. The end of July and August get extremely hot with regular city centre temperatures in the high 30Cs, often reaching 40C! Nights are warm and dry as humidity in the area tends to be low. September is a great time to visit the area, when temperatures tend to stick around the mid 20Cs with rain being extremely rare.
Temperatures in the winter months average around 9C. However, due to the inland location of Madrid, temperatures can drop to below zero during winter nights. It is essential for those travelling in the winter months to check that accommodation has heating. There can be the odd rainy day in winter but, more often than not, blue skies prevail!
Transport
Being a huge capital city, transport in Madrid is as good as anywhere in Europe. Every area of the city centre is covered by a comprehensive bus service and a fast and efficient Metro service. The city is also home to a huge train station and airport. Flights to Madrid are available from all over the world. Metros run constantly throughout the day and extend to all the major areas of the city and beyond. Taxis can be found absolutely everywhere in the city and for groups and families this can be cheaper than paying for multiple fares.
