Dollar Thrifty Travel Guide for Madrid

MADRID

JUST MADE FOR MICHAEL FROM JUNE 22 UNTIL JUNE 30, 2012

Table of contents

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Madrid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Understand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Get in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Get around. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Do. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Learn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Buy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Eat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Drink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Sleep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Contact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Cope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Stay safe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Get out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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City info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Toponym. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Districts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Metropolitan area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Architecture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Economy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Demographics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Transport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other historic buildings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notes and references. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Long term events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Saturday June 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monday June 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tuesday June 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Saturday June 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Best Restaurants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Italian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Asian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vegetarian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Weather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sunrise/Sunset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Currency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Useful phrases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Emergency numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Useful info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 2

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Restaurants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 2

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Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Travel activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

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Madrid

Madrid · Understand

Madrid

Madrid

Understand Location Madrid is located just northeast of the geographical center of the Iberian Peninsula, in the middle of the Spanish central Castillian plateau (Meseta central), at an average altitude of 650m. Nearly all of the most famous tourist areas are located in the center of the city including Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real, and Plaza de Colón. The major streets in Madrid include the Gran Via, Alcalá Street, and Paseo de la Castellana.

Climate The climate of Madrid is continental; mainly dry and quite extreme at times. Madrid sees perpetual sunshine and a characteristically hot and dry summer, and a fairly cold winter with frequent frosts during the night and the occasional snowfall. Spring and autumn are mild with the most rainfall concentrated in these seasons. Spring and autumn are definitely the best times to visit, especially the months of April, May, June, September and October. There is very little rainfall during summer and also less rainfall during winter. During winter snow occurs sporadically, however snowfall usually lasts only for a few days, but there is abundant snowfall in the adjacent mountain ranges nearby.

Culture

Terminal 4 has won architectural awards, and might be worth the trip to have a look even if you are not flying.

The airport is connected to the city by Metro line 8 (pink). To get to Sol (Madrids center) you will have to take Line 8 to the last stop (Nuevos Ministerios) and then transfer to line 10 going southbound to Tribunal and then Line 1 to Sol. Metro tickets to/from the airport cost €2. A Express Bus Service for 2 euros reaches O'Donell, Cibeles and Atocha .

An alternative, and simpler way to get to Sol is to catch the Renfe Cercanías (commuter train) from Platform 8 at Nuevos Ministerios, Sol will be the first stop.

Buses 200 and 204 operate between the airport and Plaza Colón and Avenida de América in Madrid.

Public Night Bus N4 goes from Plaza Cibeles to Barajas district, 400m walk from the terminal through a passageway over the highway. Night Shuttle operates a night bus between the airport and city center for €9.90 per person. Taxis from the airport to the city center cost ~€32.

There are plans for a commuter train link from Atocha and Chamartín to the airport, expected to be operational by 2011 or 2012 (the airport station is under construction through 2011).

Madrid is a very major airport and is serviced by several airlines.

It is the homebase for Iberia and one of the largest airports in Europe.

Two smaller airports, Torrejón and Cuatro Vientos, also serve the city, however, there are no commercial flights coming in or out of these two airports.

By train

Royal Palace

The culture of Madrid was dominated by its Royal history, centre of the Spanish Empire. The Royal Palace, big palaces and buildings used by the Spanish Monarch and, enormous cathedrals and churches are plentiful in Madrid. Medieval architecture is common although nowadays Madrid is just as much a cosmopolitan city as Berlin or London, full of new architecture, lifestyle and culture.

Get in By plane Madrid Barajas International Airport (IATA: MAD), 902 404 704, is located 13km from the Puerta del Sol. It has 4 terminals, including a new low-cost carrier terminal that opened in 2006.

Tropical garden in Atocha

Renfe (+34 902-240-202) operates train service to/from Madrid. Frequent trains operate between Madrid and Barcelona (2h 40min), Seville (2h 20 min), Malaga (2h 30 min), Zaragoza, Tarragona, Lerida, Huesca, Ciudad Real, Puertollano,

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Madrid

Madrid · Get around

Lisbon, Milan, the French coast, Paris, with continuing journeys to most of Europe.

Northbound trains arrive and depart from Chamartín station, while trains to Barcelona, Valencia and southern Spain depart from Atocha railway station.

By bus

Nights before Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays have a night bus (MetroBúho) service on the same routes as the Metro lines, from rougly 01:00AM to 05:30AM. Stops for these lines are sometimes not in obvious places, especially in the pedestrian areas in the city center.

Madrid has eight enormous international and intercity bus stations. Information on where buses to a particular destination depart from can be found at the Tourist Office.

Announcements in the metro are made only in Spanish, though signs are bilingual in Spanish and English.

Many of the international buses, and those headed south of Madrid, arrive at and depart from Estación Sur de Autobuses (Calle de Méndez Álvaro, Tel:+34 91-468-4200 ) which is accessible by metro.

By bus Whatever the Metro doesn't cover, the buses do.

Buses to and from Barcelona and Bilbao operate from the Avenida de América bus terminal, also accessible by Metro.

Night buses (Búhos, "night owls"), have their main hub at Plaza de Cibeles , covering most of the city at roughly 20-minute intervals.

By car

By train

There are car rental facilities available at the airport, train stations, and other main travel sites. Always be sure to have a street map handy! The roads within Madrid are difficult to navigate as there are not many places to stop and consult a map or check your route.

Madrid has a system of local trains (Cercanías) that connect outlying suburbs and villages with the city center. Although most useful for visiting historic or outdoor destinations outside the city core, they are also useful for quickly getting from the north end of the city (Chamartin and Nuevos Ministros) to the south end of the city (Sol and Atocha).

Get around

By taxi

Public Transport Madrid proudly sports one of the best public transportation networks in the world and the second largest metro network in Europe, second only to London's. Buses and subways form an integrated network and work with the same tickets. A single ticket costs €1, a ten trip ticket costs €9. Alternatively, you can buy unlimited travel passes as follows: 1 day (€5.20), 2 days (€10.00), 3 days (€11.60), 5 days (€17.60), or 7 days (€23.60). Children under 11 receive a 50% discount. Tickets can be purchased at Metro stations, news-stands, and estancos (tobacconists').

By metro The Metro de Madrid (Madrid's Subway/Underground) is one of the best and cheapest metros in Europe. In addition, the underground tunnels of the Metro provide relief from the sun on hot days. Stamping the ticket one time allows you to use the Metro network as long and far as you like - make sure you stay inside the Metro zone, once you leave it, you'll have to stamp your ticket again. When you travel to or from airport stations, there is additional supplement of €1, which can be paid at the entrance or exit. The Passes do not require this supplement-

it is included in the price. You can catch some trains as late as 2:00AM, although the official close time for the metro system is at 1:30AM.

Taxis can be hard to find during late hours on weekends, especially if there is some rain. Unlike in other European cities, there are few taxi stands; just stand by the side of a major road or bus stop and wave your hand to signal an available taxi passing by. Available taxis have a green libre sign in the windshield and a green light on top.

Official taxis are white, and have a red stripe and the flag of Madrid on the front door. The tariff is displayed on top of the car (a 1 during daytime, a 2 during the night, which become 2 and 3 on holidays such as Christmas Eve).

There are also special surcharges for entering or leaving the airport/train station. Ask for the written table of tariffs and charges (suplementos) (shown on small stickers on rear windows, compulsory by law) before paying if you think it's too expensive.

Be aware there are some taxi drivers that will do what is called 'la vuelta al ruedo' which basically means they will drive you around or through the crowded avenues to increase the fare.

Most taxi drivers do not speak English, so you should have the names and/or addresses of your destinations written in Spanish to show your taxi driver. Likewise, get your hotel's business card in case you get lost.

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Madrid

Madrid · Talk

By car Transportation by private automobile in Madrid can be a nightmare. The Spanish capital suffers from the typical problems of most big cities; far too many cars and not enough space to accommodate them. Sometimes there can even be traffic jams in the Paseo de la Castellana at 3:00 AM (early to some Madrileños). The problem is compounded by the narrow streets in the old town, where a lorry delivering beer barrels to a local bar can cause a huge tailback. Looking for a place to park your car Finding a parking space can be very time consuming, and difficult if one is not skilled in the art of close proximity parallel parking. Many Spaniards are also lacking in this art, prompting them to simply park in the street, blocking other cars in. If you find yourself blocked in by such a practice, honk your horn until the driver returns. If you parallel park your car in Madrid, be aware that most Madrileños park by sound alone. They will feel no remorse for repeatedly hitting the car in front and behind them while trying to get into or out of a tight spot. If you value your car's paint job, or you have rented a car, it may be best to park underground. Though this is no guarantee for nobody hitting your car, the chances are somewhat diminished.

In short, renting a car is not only unnecessary, but not recommended for getting around downtown Madrid, and a car is likely to be more of a liability than an asset. Visitors should make use of Madrid's excellent public transportation instead.

Renting a car only makes sense if you are planning to leave Madrid and drive to the nearby towns.

By bicycle

Talk While knowledge of the English language is increasing amongst the younger generations, the majority of Madrid's residents know only a few words - even employees at American businesses such as McDonald's and employees at cash exchange centers rarely speak much English. You can often find someone with a fair grasp of English at larger hotels and tourism sites, but it would nevertheless be helpful to know at least a few common Spanish words and phrases.

Do There are a number of free, English language periodicals that you will find in bars and restaurants that are a great source of event information. PopGuide Madrid is Madrid's premier English and German lifestyle magazine and features the best Madrid has to offer and the latest in film, fashion, music and art. The monthly InMadrid newspaper has a number of articles and information about events around town. Aimed at the 20-35-year-old crowd, European Vibe has listings for concerts, exhibitions, bars, restaurants, parties and other events happening in Madrid as well as articles about living in the city. Check the websites for current distribution points.

Circulo de Bellas Artes, Calle Marqués de Casa Riera 2 (Metro: Banco de España), ☎ +34 91 5225092, . A non-profit cultural center, located a short walk from Sol, offers up a wide variety of events and shows including film, music, art displays, dance, theater and more. See the website (in Spanish) for a list of activities.

Flamenco Shows Corral de la Moreria, . One of the most famous flamenco tablaos in the world. It☎s right in the heart of the city, and you can enjoy a full fledged Spanish meal while you watch performances by renowned international flamenco music and dance artists.

Las Tablas, Plaza España, 9 (Walk from Plaza España metro), ☎ +34 915 420 520 (info@lastablasmadrid.com), . A very popular Tablao located near the Plaza España metro station.

The package consisting of a Flamenco show (at 9 or 10 pm) with a candle-lit dinner and a glass of Sangria wine is truly a treat.

El Retiro

Although Madrid does not appear as a bike-friendly city at a first sight, things are changing slowly to make bike experience more confortable. Several streets in historical downtown have been transformed into mixed-traffic spaces where pedestrians and bikes have priority over cars. There are new easy-bike paths all along the river and connecting important parks.

Tablao Flamenco Cardamomo (Cardamomo Flamenco Show), Echegaray 15, . Authentic Flamenco show in the center of Madrid, one of the gratest tablaos flamencos all over Spain, typical spanish food during the performance.

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Madrid

Madrid · Do

Concert Venues Sala Heineken, Princesa 1 (Metro: Plaza España), ☎ +34 91 5476680, . National touring acts for rock and pop music.

La Riviera, Paseo Bajo de la Virgen (Metro: Puerta del Angel or Principe Pío), ☎ +34 91 3652415, . Another large venue for touring rock and pop bands.

Gruta 77, Calle Cuclillo 6 (Metro: Oporto), ☎ +34 91 4712370, .

Concerts everyday; pop, rock, punk

Classical & opera Spanish National Orchestra. Performs every Fri, Sat and Sun at the Auditorio Nacional on Calle Principe de Vergara. The Auditorio Nacional is also the main concert venue for the symphonic concerts of the Community of Madrid Orchestra and the Madrid symphony Orchestra and the main venue for touring classical artists and orchestras.

Atlético de Madrid, . Plays games in the Vicente Calderón stadium. The club is one of the most successful in Spanish League history, having won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey on nine occasions, including a double in 1996. They also won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1962, were European Cup runners-up in 1974, Intercontinental Cup winners in 1975 and more recently won the UEFA Europa League in 2010.

Teatro Real (Royal Theatre). The main opera theatre in Madrid.

Getafe Club de Fútbol, . Plays games at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

Teatro de la Zarzuela. The Spanish version of the Operetta (Zarzuela) is performed here.

Orquesta de Radio Televisión Española. Performs every Thu and Fri at the Teatro Monumental on Calle Atocha.

Auditorio 400 of the Museo Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. The main venue for contemporary music.

Cuartel del Condeduque Foundation Joan March Auditorium.

Banda Municipal de Madrid. Performs in El Retiro Park in the summer.

Sports

Football Three teams from Madrid play in La Liga (Spain's premier division). The matches between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid are known as "El Derbi Madrileño" (English: Madrid Derby).

Real Madrid, . For football fanatics, a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu, the home of local club Real Madrid is not to be missed. Real Madrid is the most successful football club in Spain and Europe, having been crowned Spanish champions a record 31 times and European champions a record 9 times.

Their biggest rivals by far are FC Barcelona, with which it contests matches known popularly as El Clásico at least twice a year. The rivalry between the two sides is by far the biggest in Spain and one of the most intense in the world, and stems from the longstanding traditional rivalry

between the Spanish and Catalan speaking parts of Spain.

However, tickets for such matches often sell out very quickly.

In case you arrive in Madrid on non-match periods, you can take a self-guided tour of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. It includes tours around the field, the dressing rooms, the Press Room and the Real Madrid Museum where the trophies and other memorabilia are kept. Without a loyalty card, the typical fees for adults is €15. However, a few days before a match, the chances are you will not be able to take the full tour, but only a part of it, with at least the Real Madrid Museum, at a reduced price.

Bullfighting Las Ventas Bullring, (Metro: Ventas), . The birth place of bullfighting. Unless you find this spectacle distasteful, this is a must see if you visit Madrid during the bullfighting season (May, during San Isidro). Tickets may nevertheless be expensive and hard to get for the more important corridas.

Anyway, it usually is used as a venue for shows and concerts.

Basketball There are two major teams, Estudiantes and Real Madrid.

Tennis Madrid Tennis Master 1000, Camino de Perales (Metro: San Fermin - Orcasur; Bus numbers 23 - 78 - 123), . Held in midMay at La Caja Mágica.

Movies and film There are a number of cinemas offering American and British films in English (along with films in other languages). These original films are denoted in the listings by a designation of "V.O." which stands for versión original. Cinemas in Madrid will sometimes have días del espectador (viewer days) with cheaper ticket prices, usually on Mondays or Wednesdays. Some of the V.O. theaters to check out are: Yelmo Cineplex Ideal, Doctor Cortezo 6 (metro: Sol), ☎ +34 91 3692518, . Probably the best known V.O. theater in Madrid, it

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offers the largest selection of movies and is only a short walk from Sol. Cine Doré, la Filmoteca Española, Calle Santa Isabel 3 (metro: Anton Martín), ☎ +34 91 3691125, . This is a wonderful, old Spanish theater dating from the 1920's. It has three screens and shows mainly "art-house" and critically acclaimed films in V.O. In the summertime, they screen movies on the roof.

From €2.50.

Princesa, Calle Princesa 3 (metro: Plaza de España), ☎ +34 91 5414100, .

Renoir, Calle Martín de los Heroes 12 (Metro: Plaza de España), ☎ +34 91 5414100.

Buy

Renoir Cuatro Caminos, Calle Raimundo Fernández Villaverde 10 (metro: Cuatro Caminos), ☎ +34 91 5414100

Major credit cards and foreign bank cards are accepted in most stores, but be aware that it is common practice to be asked for photo-ID ("D.N.I."). If asked for your DNI present your passport, residency permit or foreign ID card. Basically anything with your photo and name on it will be accepted by most shopkeepers. The signatures on credit cards are usually not checked.

Renoir Retiro, Calle Narvaez 42 (metro: Ibiza), ☎ +34 91 5414100

Shopping Districts

Cines Golem Alphaville, Calle Martin de los Heros 14 (metro: Plaza de España), ☎ +34 91 5593836,

Cinesa Proyecciones 3D, Calle Fuencarral 136 (metro: Quevedo), ☎ +34 902 33 32 31, . This is a great movie theather showing all of the latest movies. It has both 3D movies and normal movies. There is also a shop in the movie theather where they sell all kinds of candy, drinks, and popcorn. Great for children!> 7.60€(on working days),7.60€ (on weekends and festives), 6.00€ (reduced priced). Note: an additional 2.50€ will be charged for 3D movies.

Cinesa Dreams Palacio de Hielo, C/ Silvano, 77 (metro: Canillas), ☎ +34 902 88 82 00, . This cinema is located in a shopping mall know for its ice-skating ring. It is a great place where teenagers can hang out since the mall also has restaurants, bars, and shops. 7.50€.

There are also a few movie theathers in Madrid where they show the orignial version of the movies subtitled in their original language. The list is provided below.

Alphaville, Calle Martin de los Herros 14 (metro: Plaza de Espana), ☎ +34 91 559 3836, . 6.50€ (on working days), 7,50€ (on festives, evenings, and weekends).

California, Calle Andrés Mellado 53 (metro: Moncloa), ☎ +34 91 5440058

Learn Language Schools Academia Eureka, Calle del Arenal, 26 - 3º D, 28013 Madrid, ☎ +34 915 488 640 (eureka@eurekamadrid.com, fax: +34 915 482 580), . Academia Eureka is a Spanish language school located in the heart of Madrid near Puerta del Sol.

The school's sole objective is teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Academia Eureka is accredited by the Instituto Cervantes and has been offering Spanish classes since 1988.

The school offers optional housing : on-site or with a Spanish family and provides after-school activities and excursions.

Classes start on Monday and all 6 levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2) are offered. Class sizes are small with a maximum of 8 students per class.

In addition to the shopping areas below, there are also a great number of H&M, Zara, Mango, and Blanco stores all over Madrid, with high fashion clothes and accessories at a low price.

Sol-Salamanca districts. The most convenient area for tourists is around Calle de Preciados, between Sol and Gran Vía. It´s home to the El Corte Inglés department store, high-street names like Zara.Gran Vía has stores like H&M, Sephora, Pimkie. The smartest shopping district is Salamanca, northeast of the center, around Calle Serrano.

Top designer names like Chanel, Versace, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani, Dolce e Gabbana and Hugo Boss. This area also includes the fluid fabrics and elegant cuts of Spanish designer Adolfo Domínguez located on Calle Ortega y Gasset. Head for Calle Serrano for Purificación García, Roberto Verino, Ermenegildo Zegna, Loewe, Carolina Herrera, Manolo Blanik, Cartier, and Yves Saint Laurent. Prada is on Goya street, and on Jorge Juan St you can find even more luxury shops.

Chueca and Fuencarral Street Area— This part of the city used to be an abandoned and marginal area. However recently, it has quickly turned into the most avant-garde and modern part of Madrid. Thanks to the gay community, old shops were taken over and turned into the coolest places of Madrid. Today it is an example of modernity, a paradise for entertainment where everything is possible. The streets are filled with restaurants, alternative cafés and shops, a good example is the Market of Fuencarral (Mercado de Fuencarral, in Spanish) a novel shopping center concept. Apart from the purely commercial, this area proposes a wide range of gastronomy and party clubs by night during the weekends.

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Markets El Rastro, (Metro: La Latina) is only open on Sunday mornings. This is Madrid's largest flea market, featuring rows upon rows of private vendors selling a variety of homemade goodies and a plethora of live entertainment.

It is very important to note that the Rastro is notorious for having an abundance of pickpockets, so watch your handbag closely and do not bring along valuables.

Cuesta de Moyano, (near Museo del Prado). A quaint outdoor book market Fuencarral Market (Mercado de Fuencarral), Fuencarral street 45, between Tribunal and Gran Via (Metro: Gran Via), . One of the most daring and dynamic spaces in the city. Besides shops selling clothes, shoes, accessories and decorative items that will delight the most daring and fashion conscious shoppers, this modern market also offers avant-garde cultural activities on a continuous basis.

Frequent disc jockey sessions are put on in the center’s café, and also exhibitions in the art gallery, cinema projections and theater pieces in the old cinema room. The Cinema and activities are open until midnight. Its 3 floors crowded of modern shops are aimed specially for young people.

El Corte Inglés, Several locations, This is Spain's largest department store, with multiple buildings and several floors.

You can find almost anything here, from fine dining to tires.

El Mercado de San Miguel, San Miguel Plaza (Close to the west corner of Plaza Mayor), . Sets the ambience of a traditional market, with the advantages of the new times. It has an Iron and Glass Structure from the 20th Century.

Eat Cuisine Dishes popular throughout Spain are also widely served in Madrid.

In addition, Madrid has a number of "typical" dishes: Gallinejas and Entresijos - Portions from different parts of lamb fried in its fat. Very traditional and typical from Madrid city.

Callos a la Madrileña - A hot pot of spicy beef tripe similar to those found in Turkey and the Balkans.

Cocido Madrileño - Chickpea stew with meat and vegetable products. The particularity of this stew is the way it is

served. The soup, chickpeas and meats are served and eaten separately.

Oreja de Cerdo - Pigs ear, fried in garlic. This popular dish is widely eaten throughout central Spain.

Sopa de Ajo - Garlic soup is a rich and oily soup which generally includes paprika, grated Spanish ham, fried bread and a poached egg. A variation of this soup is known as Sopa Castellana.

It is ironic that Madrid, located right in the center of Spain has higher quality seafood than most coastal regions. This quality comes at a price, and most Spaniards will rarely embark on the luxury of a mariscada (Spanish for "seafood fest"). Experiencing Madrid's seafood may be, for the visitor, an experience which will be worth the cost.

Meat and meat products (Jamon Iberico, morcilla, chorizo etc) are of generally a very high quality in Spain and particularly in Madrid.

Restaurants Many of the restaurants and cervecerías in the Sol and Plaza Mayor area have "generic" poster board advertisements on the sidewalks with pictures advertising various paella dishes. If you are looking for good, authentic Spanish paella, it is usually best to find a more expensive, "sit-down" type of restaurant that offers a variety of paella dishes.

A much better option is the La Latina neighborhood just south of Plaza Mayor, especially along the Cava Baja street. To enjoy a gastronomic tour of this area you can join the Old Madrid Tapas & Wine Tour . There are also a number of deli-like shops along Calle Arenal that offer food para llevar (for take away).

At bars, one generally orders various sized plates, a ración meaning a full dish, a media ración a half dish or a smaller version which would be a tapa, a pinxto or a pincho.

The Spaniards don't eat lunch until 2 or 3 pm, and dinner doesn't start until 9 or 10 pm. As a rule of thumb, restaurants serve lunch from 1PM (earlier in touristic zones) until 3:30PM, then close and re-open for dinner at 8:00PM, serving until 11:00PM. This schedule is usually for restaurants since bars and "mesones" are usually opened all day long offering a wide variety of "tapas" and "bocadillos"(rolls) for a cheap price. If you're really desperate, the standard bunch of fast food chains do stay open throughout the day.

Budget Freiduría de Gallinejas Embajadores, Calle de Embajadores 84 (near Glorieta Embajadores, Metro lines L3 and L5), ☎ 915175933, . 11:00-23:00. Another classic tapas bar in Madrid. Not for conservatives stomachs. Their most requested tapas are two of the most typical and traditional dishes in Madrid since more than 70 years ago: Gallinejas

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and Entresijos. A treat for adventurous palates and lamb lovers.

Museo del Jamon, Several locations. Offers deli take out service as well as tapas and raciónes at fairly reasonable prices. They have 1 euro ham sandwiches and the "picnic" lunch of a ham sandwich, a fruit and a drink for 2 euros.

an area with plenty of places to eat and pubs. It is still close enough from city centre but offers a more relaxed surrounding, making it one specially indicated for families, although there is an ample age range of customers. Bacchus offers a mixture of innovative and old style tapas. Very good and expensive wine list. It can get very busy on weekends.

Casa de Valencia, Paseo Pintor Rosales 58.

Chocolatería San Ginés, Calle de Pasadizo De San Ginés 5 (metro: Sol), ☎ +34 91 3656546. Specializing in chocolate con churros, this Madrid fixture is open 24 hours a day, and is the perfect place to top off a night on the town. Also offers the usual assortment of coffees and teas.

Cocina Mex-Mex, Calle Libertad 33 (metro: Chueca), ☎ +34 91 521 7640. This is a small, usually crowded, friendly Mexican restaurant with good food and drinks at reasonable prices.

Sample some of their tacos and super cheesy chilaquiles.

D'fabula, Plaza Conde de Barajas 3 (Metro: Opera) El Inti de Oro, Calle de Ventura de la Vega 12 (metro: Sevilla), ☎ +34 91 4296703. For something different, try this great Peruvian restaurant a short walk from Sol. Be sure to order some of their ceviche and try the Pisco Sour cocktail.

Estay, Calle de Hermosilla 46 (metro: Velázquez), ☎ +34 91 5780470. closed on Sundays. A great place for tapas, they offer a large menu, reasonable prices and excellent quality food. The Solomillo al Foie is excellent and the deserts are recommended as well. Very crowded on Friday and Saturday nights.

Museo del Jamon

Cervecería 100 Montaditos, Several locations. Home to the famous 100 montaditos or small sandwiches, you'll find a few of these eateries dotted around the city. Great place to go for a cheap drink with a bite to eat. CURRENT OFFER: Buy a montadito (1-2 euro) and a pint of beer is just 1 euro!

Mid-range Alhambra, Calle de Victoria 9 (Metro: Sevilla), ☎ +34 91 5210708. This is a good place to stop in on a hot afternoon for a cold beer and some Andalusian tapas. Try some of their sausages and cheeses.

Al-Jaima (Cocina del Desierto), Calle Barbieri 1 (Metro: Chueca), ☎ +34 91 523 1142. This dark, cave-like Moroccan restaurant has some of the best North African food in the city. The seating is at low Moroccan-style tables and the calm, mellow atmosphere makes you feel like you're far from the bustling center of Chueca.

Jaen 3, Calle Poitiers 3 (metro: Coslada Estadio Olimpico), ☎ +34 63 0036987. An excellent bar de tapas and restaurant. A nice place to enjoy good Spanish food and original lifestyle without having to spend too much. The place is just outside central Madrid and so it's not influenced by classic tourist traps and you can enjoy some good food and true raciones and the good old Spanish bar life. The owners are nice people and you might find yourself chatting with them about Madrid and Spain. In summer time it has a superb teraza that is pretty close to the Olympic Stadium.

La Bola, Calle de la Bola 5 (Metro: Opera) La Casa del Abuelo, Calle de Victoria 12 (metro: Sevilla), ☎ +34 91 5212319. A Madrid landmark in operation for over 100 years, this place attracts a standing room only crowd on the weekends. They mainly serve shrimp based tapas dishes so if you're not into shellfish steer clear. Order a plate of their garlic shrimp along with some of the house wine.

La Zapateria Tapas Bar, Calle de Victoria 8 (Metro: Sevilla), ☎ +34 91 5210708, . Great potato dishes here that you can get mixed with chorizo or other items. Also try the pincho moruno (pork skewers) or any of the other items you see

Bacchus, Avenida Moratalaz 141 (Metro: Vinateros or Artilleros), ☎ +34 913280468, . Right in the middle of Lonja,

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displayed on ice in the front window. The Ribeiro on tap (sparkling white wine from Galicia) is not to be missed.

banquet room with a glass floor over ancient remains.

Excellent food.

Malacatin, Calle Ruda 5, . Serves all the typical Madrid cuisine.

Café Pabellon del Espejo, Paseo de Recoletos 31 (Metro: Colon). Opened in 1978, but looks much older. Good food and very crowded during lunchtime.

Midnight Rose, Plaza de Santa Ana, 14, . Daily 1:30pm-4:30pm, 8:30pm-12am. Restaurant of the ME Madrid Hotel. Mediterranean cuisine with Asian, American and Italian influences, with emphasis on seasonal Produce.

Dining for private parties as well.

Samm, Calle de Carlos Caamaño 3 (Metro: Pio XII). Best paella in Madrid, but only if you take more then two people! The restaurant owner will not make any paella for more then two people so bring a group. Also its a really "locals only" spot.

Siam, Calle San Bernardino 6 (Metro: Plaza España or San Bernardino), ☎ +34 91 559 8315. Beautifully decorated with a tranquil atmosphere, the food is quite reasonable and offers a nice departure from Spanish fare. Most mains between €8 and €12..

The Penthouse, Plaza de Santa Ana 14, ☎ +34 91 7016000, .

Located on the roof of the ME Madrid hotel, terrace-style restaurant serving tapas and traditional cuisine. At night they serve great mojitos in a young, club-like atmosphere.

Drink Cafes Café Central, Plaza del Angel 10 (Metro: Sol), . Café by day, live jazz music at night.

Cafe Circulo de Bellas Artes, Calle Alcala 42 (Metro: Banco de Espana), . A soaring hall on the ground floor of Madrid´s art center combines atmosphere, excellent food and good coffee at reasonable prices. A wonderful place for lunch not far from Madrid´s shopping or museums.

Cafe Commercial, Cafe Commercial (Metro: Bilbao). opened in the 1880´s, this is the oldest cafe in Madrid. Has been run by the same family since the early 1900's. There´s a modern internet cafe upstairs, but the downstairs remains traditional.

Café Gijón, Paseo Recoletos 21 (Metro: Banco de España or Colon), . A historic literary cafe. The outdoor terraza is nice in the summer.

Café de Oriente, Plaza Oriente 2 (Metro: Opera), . Overlooks the Plaza Oriente and faces Palacio Real. Outdoor tables in summer, cozy indoor rooms in the cold months. Basement

La Mallorquina, Puerta del Sol 8, Mayor, 2 (Metro: Sol).

Famous for its pastries. Peaceful upstairs room where you can linger undisturbed over your café con leche and napolitana de chocolate (chocolate croissant).

Nuevo Café Barbieri, Calle Ave Maria 45 (Metro: Lavapies).

Slightly scruffy cafe draws an avante garde crowd at night.

Bars Nightlife starts later in Madrid, with most people heading to the bars at 10-11PM. El Rincón de Fogg. Calle Juan de Urbieta 12. (Metro Pacífico). www.elrincondefogg.com Open daily from 07:00 to 22:00 and Friday and Saturday till 00:00. You can have 2 litres of sangría in a self service dispenser from just €14, or €13 for 2 litres of beer, and you get a free plate of patatas bravas.

They also have a delicious selection of bocatas from €2,45.

Big TV to watch the football matches while enjoying eating and drinking. If you say you've read this, they'll invite you to a glass of rosado wine.

Areia, Calle Horteleza 96 (Metro: Chueca), . Very cool chill out bar decorated with deep colours in a Moroccan style.

Dark and inviting. The seating includes cushions on the floor, traditional tables and chairs, or if you’re lucky, grab the four poster bed at the back. Drinks: €7 before 22:00 and €8 after 22:00.

La Corolla, Visitag Manzana 10 (Metro: La Latina). Specializes in delicious ‘tostas’ (small pieces of toast with different toppings) and avocado (aguacate), along with cañas (small beers). Tostas + 2 cañas: €10.

La Via Lactea, Calle de Velarde 18, Malasaña (Metro: Tribunal), ☎ +34 91 446 75 81, . A swingin' bar where you can twist the night away with local hipsters.

Miali, Plaza Santa Ana (Metro: Sol). Nice terrace outside,great for people-watching. The interior is tastefully decorated.

Museo Chicote, Gran Via (Metro: Gran Via), . Daily: 17:00 to 02:00. Voted the Best European Bar 2004 by MTV-Campari.

Extensive cocktail list. Claims to have served drinks to many famous celebrities, including, Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra, Lana Turner, Gary Cooper, Orson Wells, Yul Brynner and Ernest Hemingway, Catherine Zeta Jones, Hugh Grant and Tim Robbins. They only serve drinks.

Redbar, Joaquín María López 28 (Metro: Islas Filipinas), .

Daily: 17:00 to 02:00. Small, cozy cocktail bar with great

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music and a very nice and original decoration. Extensive cocktail list.

internet access, lively bar and restaurant. Dorm bed: €16-21; Double: €50-70; Triple: €63-75, breakfast included.

Dubliners, Espoz y Mina, 7 (Metro: Sol), An Irish bar in the centre of Madrid near Puerta del Sol. The bar has televisions and is one of the places where sport can be seen.

Hostal Brisas, Calle Cruz 8 1º (Metro: Sol, Sevilla, or Anton Martin), ☎ +34 91 5314403, . All rooms have ensuite, TV, central heating, air conditioning. Singles: €40; Doubles: €55.

Stork Bar (Stork Bar Madrid), Mancebos 2, La Latina (Metro: Latina), ☎ +34913656357 (info@storkbar.com), . Cocktail Lounge & World food in the heart of La Latina. Great summer terrace and surprising basement brick cave with live music and karaoke.

Hostal Plaza d'Ort, Plaza del Angel 13, ☎ +34 91 4299041, .

Cheap hotel with a good location near Plaza de Santa Ana. All rooms feature bathrooms, TV and air conditioning.

Singles: €30-38; Doubles: €48-58.

Clubs Clubs generally open at about midnight. If you go in any earlier you may find it quite empty. Many clubs don't close until 6AM, and even then everyone is still full of life.

Sleep Hotels Near Real Madrid FC, Caballero Errante, Pinos Alta, 14, Madrid, 28029, . A reasonably-priced 3 star hotel with modern features, clean rooms and helpful staff. Just over 1.5km walk from the Bernabeu Stadium.

Budget Hotels near Barajas, Tach Hotel, Timon 35, Madrid, 28000 . A nice, quiet area with free transfer to and from the airport.

Mad Hostel, C/De la Cabeza, 24, 28012 Madrid, Spain (Anton Martin Metro), ☎ +34 915 06 48 40, . checkin: any; checkout: any. Nice, clean, quiet weekend hostel. 5 minutes from metro, tapas & services. 10 minute walk to Puerto del Sol, museums & Gran Via. Close to southern "ethnic" areas = good food. Big common room with 4 computer stations, unreliable WIFI & good free breakfast. Secure locker with every bed. 16 Euro +.

Cat's Hostel, Calle Cañizares 6, ☎ +34 91 3692807 (info@catshostel.com), . Located in a 17th century palace, but has a modern interior and is clean and secure. Breakfast and internet is included in the price and there is also a bar. It attracts a young backpackers clientele. Shared dormitories for 4 to 14 people. Dorm bed: €13-20, breakfast included.

Equity Point Madrid aka Hostal Metropol, Calle Montera 47 (two steps from Puerta del Sol, 30 seconds walk from Gran Via metro station), ☎ +34 91 5212935, . Features all-ensuite rooms (singles, doubles, 4-6 bed dorms). Free

Hostal Villagarcía, Calle Fuencarral 10 3º (Metro: Gran Via), ☎ +34 91 5220585, . Centrally located, all rooms include bathroom, TV, free wi-fi, air conditioning, central heating, laundry and baggage storage facilities. Rooms with kitchen, washing machine and fridge are also available. Single: From €30.

Hostal Visa, Calle Pérez Galdós 7, ☎ +34 91 5310987, . Simple, clean and secure. Central location close to Gran Via. Friendly staff. Singles from €30.

Los Amigos Backpackers Hostel, Calle Arenal 26 Piso 4, ☎ +34 91 559 2472 (reservassol@losamigoshostel.com), . Very central location. Breakfast is offered. There is a lounge area, a kitchen in which you are able to cook your own food, and a bar. The beds are clean, comfortable, and the staff are friendly. Dorm bed: €17-19; Double: €45-50.

REAJ Youth Hostels, . Operates 8 youth hostels in Madrid.

Dorm bed: €7.80 to €16, including breakfast.

Way Hostel Residence, Calle Relatores 17, ☎ +34-914-200-583, . Small hostel, nice ambiance and is catered to young traveleres. Nice kitchen, friendly staff, and free internet. Dorm bed: €18-19.

Hostal San Martin, Calle Concepción Arenal 4 (Metro: Callao), ☎ +34 915 319176, . Small, clean guest-house on the 4th floor.

Ideally located just meters from Gran Via, with great staff and free wi-fi. All rooms have sink & shower, but most share bathrooms. Singles: €30-36; Doubles: €42-48.

Mid-range Abba Atocha Hotel, Santa María de la Cabeza 73, . Great location.

Apartments Gran Via, Mesonero Romanos, 15, ☎ +34 679616855 (info@apartamentosgranvia.com), . Offers two apartments on the Gran Via street in Madrid. One has one

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bedroom, the other has two bedrooms. €100, €120/night + €40/visit cleaning fee.

located in the refined Salamanca district. This hotel has been providing stylish accommodation for over 50 years.

Hotel Liabeny, Calle Salud 3, ☎ +34 91 531 90 00, . Great location.

Gran Melia Fenix, Hermosilla 2, ☎ 902 14 44 40, .

Distinguished by a grand and glowing white exterior; bathed in neo-classical design; an illustrious interior of flowing banisters, bold colors, and noble décor.

Hotel Madrid Preciados, C/Preciados nº37, ☎ +34 91 454 44 01, . 4-star hotel in excellent location. €96-150/night.

Hotel ME Madrid, Plaza de Santa Ana 14, ☎ +34 91 7016000, .

Great location.

Hotel NH Nacional, (Opposite Atocha station, in the heart of the Art Triangle, 1 minute from the new exhibition centre ‘Caixa Forum’ and the botanical gardens.).

Hotel San Antonio de la Florida, Paseo de la Florida 13 (Metro: Principe Pio), . All rooms have Internet access, Air conditioning, Multi-line phone, Wake-up calls, Housekeeping (daily), Complimentary toiletries, Hair dryer, Television, Iron/ironing board (on request). From €53.

Hotel Senator Gran Via Madrid, Gran Via 52 (a few minutes from Puerta del sol), ☎ 902 052 394, . 4-star hotel. Restaurant, bar, and meeting space.

Pension Paquita, Calle Lacoma 5, ☎ +34 91 739 3831, . Familyrun.

Hotel Centro, Calle gran vía 50 (close to Gran vía), ☎ +34 911 871 665.

Plaza Mayor Apartments, Plaza Mayor 30 Madrid, ☎ +34 695 097 612, . checkin: 12.00; checkout: 23.00. Luxury short-term apartment rental in Madrid at affordable rates. €120-€180/ night apartments for up to 5 people.

StopInRoom Apartments, Nuñez de Arce, 4, ☎ +34 695 452 899 (info@stopinroom.com), . Offers 26 apartments in various parts of the city. For extra fees can offer ground transport, catering, language tutoring, and tour guiding also. Administrative phone +91 522 85 95. €75-€150/night.

Splurge Adler Hotel Madrid (Adler Hotel Madrid), Calle Velazquez 33, Goya 31 (Metro: Velázquez), ☎ +34 914 263220, . 5-star hotel housed in a completely refurbished building equipped with the modern facilities but whose 19th-century charm and secluded atmosphere have been carefully maintained.

45 deluxe rooms and suites.

Asturias, C/ Sevilla 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain, ☎ (+34) 914 296 676☎ (asturias@chh.es), . A 2 star Hotel. The Asturias is only 200 meters from the central Puerta del Sol. Gran Hotel Velazquez, C/ Velázquez 62, 28001 Madrid, Spain, . The Gran Hotel Velázquez is a 4 star hotel in Madrid

Hotel De Las Letras, Gran via 11, ☎ +34 917 610 906, .

Old building with tasteful modern interior. Well soundproofed against the busy Gran Via outside. Very comfortable beds. Rooms with TV, hi-fi, mini bar, bath/shower. Optional breakfast buffet with wide choice of good quality food and drinks. Pleasant, comfortable bar.

Hotel Villa Magna, Paseo de la Castellana 22, ☎ +34 91 5871234, . A 5-star hotel on one of Madrid's most exclusive streets. 151 rooms and suites. The hotel is surrounded by landscaped gardens.

Maria Elena Palace, C/ Aduana 19, 28013 Madrid, Spain, . The Hotel María Elena Palace is located just 200 metres away from the Puerta del Sol. Renowned for its magnificent glass dome in the lobby.

Meninas Hotel, Calle Campomanes 7, ☎ +34 91 541 28 05 (reservas@hotelmeninas.com), . 4-star hotel in an exquisite historic building of the XIX century in the historic center of Madrid that has been transformed into a state-of-the-art boutique hotel. A classic atmosphere blended with modern decorative touches - a balance of unpretentious formality and well tempered cordiality.

Mirasierra Suites Hotel & Spa, Calle de Alfredo Marquerie 43, 28034 Madrid, Spain, ☎ (+34) 91 727 79 00, . Mirasierra Suites Hotel & Spa is a modern luxury hotel located in Madrid ☎s prestigious residential district Mirasierra, overlooking the Sierra de Guadarama. The hotel is also home to the Verdil Restaurant .

Osuna, C/ Luis De La Mata 18, 28042 Madrid, Spain, . Set in the middle of the main business districts of Madrid.

Quo Godoy Hotel, Avenida Quitapesares 35, . 4 star-hotel with an avant-garde design. The hotel features 99 guestrooms fully equipped, including 2 disabled rooms, 18 duplex rooms and 1 junior suite. Adjacent to the hotel is a convention center that is directly connected and can hold a variety of events from 10 to 800 people. Offering an indoor heated swimming pool, health and beauty spa center, aquatic treatments and fitness area.

Quo Puerta del Sol, Sevilla 4, ☎ +34 91 532 90 49 (puertadelsol@hotelesquo.com), . The turn-of-the-century grandeur with modern conveniences and amenities, together with a perfect location in the historical, cultural and commercial heart of Madrid, make of The Quo Puerta del Sol hotel a new place to discover in Spain’s capital. Madrid 's Hotel Quo Puerta del Sol is housed in a emblematic building from the beginning of the 20th century with unique views

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of the city. It has been totally restored in 2003, designed and equipped to offer you a perfect stay.

Contact Madrid has a considerable number of unsecured hotspots in the trendier neighborhoods, such as Chueca.

In almost any part of the city you will find Locutorios, these are places where you can call local and long distance at reasonable prices, you also rent a computer to go online, send/receive faxes, etc.

Cope China, Calle Arturo Soria, 113, ☎ +34 91-5194242 (chinaemb_es@mfa.gov.cn, fax: +34 91-5192035).

Japan, Calle Serrano, 109, ☎ +34 91-590-7600 (fax: +34 91-590-1321) United States, Calle Serrano 75, ☎ +34 91 587-2200 (fax: +34 91 587-2303) Australia, Torre Espacio, Paseo de la Castellana, 259D, Planta 24, ☎ +34 91 353-6600

Stay safe Madrid is a very safe city. The police are visible, and the city is equipped with cameras. There are always a lot of people in the streets, even at night time, so you can walk across the city without fear. Travelers who remain aware of their surroundings, and keeps an eye on their belongings will have little to worry about.

Madrid has a fair amount of nonviolent pickpocket crime so always watch any bags you have with you especially in the underground and busier public spaces.

Be careful when carrying luggage. If anyone approaches you with an outspread map in hand asking for directions as this is very possibly a bid to distract you while an accomplice steals your luggage.

When using ATM machines, remain aware of your surroundings, just as you would anywhere. Bring a friend if you need to use one after dark. If someone approaches you while using an ATM simply hit CANCELAR, retrieve your card and move on.

Have fun when going out, but do avoid over imbibing, and keep an eye on your drink. Beware of thieves preying on people leaving night clubs who have had a lot to drink. Try not to bring valuables on a night out with you.

Beware of a women who approaches you and asks you to write down your signature: it is normally for a "sick hospital" unit, and she will point out the "stamp" on the paper. She will then ask for a generous donation of €20, usually more.

Avoid people offering masaje (massage). Be firm, say "No me toque" (Don't touch me) or "No tengo dinero" (I don't have any money) and keep walking. This is often a scam to extort money.

Get out Alcalá de Henares - A UNESCO World Heritage site. Alcalá de Henares was the world's first planned university city. It was the original model for the Civitas Dei (City of God), the ideal urban community. This city has a lot of interesting places to visit like its university founded in 1499 which became famous as a centre of learning during the Renaissance. One of the most important features of Alcalá de Henares is that it is the city where the famous writer of Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes, was born where you can visit his natal house.

Aranjuez - A UNESCO World Heritage site. Aranjuez is an excellent day trip away from Madrid. Highlights include the Palacio Real, the summer home for the Bourbons and the lavishly designed Casa del Labrador near the Tagus River. There are some excellent restaurants serving the local specialty, artichokes. To get there, catch a local train (Cercanía C-3, direction Aranjuez) from either the Atocha or Chamartin stations. It takes around 45 minutes from Atocha station, or around 55 minutes from Chamartin station.

Chinchon - A typical Spanish town that retains its character from the 1700s.

El Escorial - A UNESCO World Heritage site. A mountainous retreat home to Spain's largest monastery, the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. To get there, catch a local train from either the Atocha or Chamartin stations. It is just over one hour from Atocha station or around 55 minutes from Chamartin station.

Segovia - A UNESCO World Heritage site. Medieval city home to a famous Roman aqueduct and the Spanish Mint (It doesn't belong to Madrid region, but it's quite close and worth a visit). It is about a 2 hour train ride from Atocha station or 1 hour and 45 minutes from Chamartin station on the regional trains, or as fast as 30 minutes on the high speed trains.

Toledo - A UNESCO World Heritage site. Medieval walled city and former capital of Spain. It's about a 30 minute train ride from Madrid Atocha station, with plenty of art (del Greco) and architecture (one of the best cathedrals in Europe) so very worthy of a day trip but more worthy of a night. But

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it is on the late spring and the early summer nights that it reaches its beauty peak, simply breathtaking, do not miss it.

Modern Age

Valle de los Caidos - (Valley of the fallen) The world's largest free-standing Christian cross. Franco☎s tomb and memorial to Catholics (both in Franco's side and opposite) killed in the Civil War. Construction was ordered by Franco and erected on rocks through the labor of many Republican prisoners of war.

El Pardo - A little village near Madrid (8 km. from the city center, connected by bus) and close of "Palacio de la Zarzuela" (residence of the King of Spain, no visits allowed), surrounded by mountains and the location of the "Palacio de El Pardo" (El Pardo Palace), Franco☎s residence between 1940 until his death (1975). It was a former residence of the Kings of Spain.

Sierra de Guadarrama - a mountainous area north-east of Madrid probably reached most easily by Renfe Cercanias to Cercedilla on the line to Segovia. There is a special Renfe Cercanias line, narrow gauge and often single track, from Cercedilla through glorious scenery to Los Cotos. This is only yards from an entrance to the Peñalara Nature Park.

History Main article: History of Madrid

Plaza Mayor

The Crown of Castile, with its capital at Toledo, and the Crown of Aragon, with its capital at Zaragoza, were welded into modern Spain by the Catholic Monarchs (Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon). Though their grandson Charles I of Spain (also known as Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) favoured Seville, it was Charles' son, Philip II (1527–1598) who moved the court to Madrid in 1561. Although he made no official declaration, the seat of the court was the de facto capital. Seville continued to control commerce with Spain's colonies, but Madrid controlled Seville.

Aside from a brief period, 1601–1606, when Felipe III installed his court in Valladolid, Madrid's fortunes have closely mirrored those of Spain.

Middle Ages Although the site of modern-day Madrid has been occupied since pre-historic times, in the Roman era this territory belonged to the diocese of Complutum (present-day Alcalá de Henares). There are archeological remains of a small village during the visigoth epoch, whose name might have been adopted later by Arabs. The origins of the modern city come from the 9th century, when Muhammad I ordered the construction of a small palace in the same place that is today occupied by the Palacio Real. Around this palace a small citadel, al-Mudaina, was built. The citadel was conquered in 1085 by Christian king Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile in his advance towards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque as the church of the Virgin of Almudena (almudin, the garrison's granary). In 1329, the Cortes Generales first assembled in the city to advise Alfonso XI of Castile. Sephardi Jews and Moors continued to live in the city until they were expelled at the end of the 15th century. After troubles and a large fire, Henry III of Castile (1379–1406) rebuilt the city and established himself safely fortified outside its walls in El Pardo.

The grand entry of Ferdinand and Isabella to Madrid heralded the end of strife between Castile and Aragon, and the beginning of the influence of the Renaissance in Spain.

Puerta de Alcalá.

During the Siglo de Oro (Golden Century), in the 16th/17th century, Madrid knew its ultimate glory; El Escorial, the great royal monastery built by King Philip II of Spain, invited the attention of some of Europe's greatest architects and painters.

Diego Velázquez(painter of Las Meninas and The Surrender of Breda), regarded as one of the most influential painters of European history and a greatly respected artist in his own time, cultivated a relationship with King Philip IV and his chief minister, the Count-Duke of Olivares, leaving us several portraits that demonstrate his style and skill. El Greco, another

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respected artist from the period, infused Spanish art with the styles of the Italian renaissance and helped create a uniquely Spanish style of painting.

Madrid was one of the cultural centers during the Spanish Golden Century. The Spanish court attracted many top Spanish artists and writers to the city, including Miguel de Cervantes (author of Don Quixote de la Mancha) and the aforementioned Diego Velasquez. Furthermore, in the city were born many of the great writers of this period: Lope de Vega, Francisco de Quevedo, Calderon de la Barca and Tirso de Molina, and the last of the great painters of the Golden Age, Claudio Coello. The renowned Renaissance architect Juan de Herrera designed the Plaza Mayor, which was built in the city during the Habsburg period as a central plaza. It is located near another famous plaza, the Puerta del Sol.

Art Galleries and Museums Madrid is considered one of the top European destinations concerning art museums. Best known is the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three museums. The most famous one is the Prado Museum, known for such highlights as Diego Velázquez's Las Meninas and Francisco de Goya's La maja vestida and La maja desnuda.

The other two museums are the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, established from a mixed private collection, and the Reina Sofia Museum, where Pablo Picasso's Guernica hangs, returning to Spain from New York after more than two decades.

New palaces (including the Palacio Real de Madrid) were built during Philip V´s reign. However, it would not be until Charles III (1716–1788) that Madrid would become a modern city. Charles III was one of the most popular kings in the history of Madrid, and the saying "the best mayor, the king" became popular during those times. When Charles IV (1748–1819) became king the people of Madrid revolted. After the Mutiny of Aranjuez, which was led by his own son Ferdinand VII against him, Charles IV resigned, but Ferdinand VII's reign would be short: in May 1808 Napoleon's troops entered the city.

Museo del Prado.

From 19th century to present day

The Museo del Prado is a museum and art gallery that features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. The collection currently comprises around 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 4,800 prints and 8,200 drawings, in addition to a large number of works of art and historic documents. El Prado is one of the most visited museums in the world, and it is considered to be among the greatest museums of art. It has the best collection of artworks

by Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Rubens, Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, José de Ribera and Patinir; and works by Rogier van der Weyden, Raphael, Tintoretto, Veronese, Caravaggio, Van Dyck, Albrecht Dürer, Claude Lorrain, Murillo and Zurbarán, among others.

Plaza de Cibeles

On the second of May (Spanish: Dos de Mayo), 1808, the people of Madrid rebelled against the occupation of the city by French troops, provoking a repression by the French Imperial forces and triggering the Spanish War of Independence.

Culture Madrid is one of Spain's most popular destinations and is renowned for its large quantity of cultural attractions.

Museo Reina Sofía (MNCARS).

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The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) is the Spain's national museum of 20th century art. The museum is mainly dedicated to Spanish art. Highlights of the museum include excellent collections of Spain's greatest 20th century masters, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Juan Gris and Julio Gonzalez. Certainly the most famous masterpiece in the museum is Picasso's painting Guernica. The Reina Sofía also hosts a free-access library specializing in art, with a collection of over 100,000 books, over 3,500 sound recordings and almost 1,000 videos.

Royal Armoury, Royal Palace of Madrid.

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of Juan Carlos I of Spain, but he uses it only for official acts. It is a baroque palace full of artworks is one of the largest European Royal Palaces, which is characterized by its luxurious rooms and its rich collections of armors and weapons, pharmaceutical, silverware, watches, paintings, tapestries and the most comprehensive collection of Stradivarius in the world

Museo Thyssen Bornemisza.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is an art museum that fills the historical gaps in its counterparts' collections: in the Prado's case this includes Italian primitives and works from the English, Dutch and German schools, while in the case of the Reina Sofia the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, once the second largest private collection in the world after the British Royal Collection, includes Impressionists, Expressionists, and European and American paintings from the second half of the 20th century, with over 1,600 paintings.

The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando currently functions as a museum and gallery that houses a fine art collection of paintings from the 15th to 20th century: Giovanni Bellini, Correggio, Rubens, Zurbarán, Murillo, Goya, Juan Gris, Pablo Serrano. The academy is also the headquarters of the Madrid Academy of Art. Francisco Goya was once one of the academy's directors, and, its alumni include Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Antonio Lopez Garcia, Juan Luna, and Fernando Botero.

The National Archaeological Museum of Spain collection includes, among others, Pre-historic, Celtic, Iberian, Greek and Roman antiquities and medieval (Visigothic, Muslim and Christian) objects. Highlights include a replica of the Altamira cave (the first cave in which prehistoric cave paintings were discovered), Lady of Elx (an enigmatic polychrome stone bust), Lady of Baza (a famous example of Iberian sculpture), Biche of Balazote (an iberian sculpture) and Treasure of Guarrazar (a treasure that represents the best surviving group of Early Medieval Christian votive offerings and the high point of Visigothic goldsmith's work).

The Museum of the Americas (Spanish: Museo de América) is a National museum that holds artistic, archaeological and ethnographic collections from the whole American continent, ranging from the Paleolithic period to the present day. The permanent exhibit is divided into five major thematical areas: an awareness of America, the reality of America, society, religion and communication.

National Museum of Natural Sciences

The National Museum of Natural Sciences is the National Museum of Natural History of Spain. The research departments

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of the museum are: Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Evolutionary Ecology, Paleobiology, Vulcanology and Geology.

The Naval Museum is managed by the Ministry of Defence. The Museum's mission is to acquire, preserve, investigate, report and display for study, education and contemplation, parts, sets and collections of historical, artistic, scientific and technical related to naval activity in order to disseminate the story sea of Spain; to help illustrate, highlight and preserve their traditions and promote national maritime awareness.

Gainsborough, Thomas Lawrence and Joshua Reynolds, sculptures by Giambologna and Verrocchio; 10th century Byzantine enamel; Arab and Byzantine ivory chests; Hellenistic, Roman, medieval, renaissance , baroque and romantic jewerly; Pisanello and Pompeo Leoni medals; Spanish and Italian ceramics; Italian and Arab clothes; and an interesting collection of weapons including the sword of Pope Innocent VIII. The Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas (National Museum of Decorative Arts) is one of the oldest museums in the city.

It illustrates the evolution of the called "minor arts" (furniture, ceramics and glass, textile, etc.). Its 60 rooms expones 15,000 objects, of the approximate 40,000 which it has.

The Museo Nacional del Romanticismo (National Museum of Romanticism) contains a large collection of artefacts and art, focusing on daily life and customs of the nineteenth century, with special attention to the aesthetics about Romanticism.

The Museo Cerralbo houses a private collection of ancient works of art, artifacts and other antiquities collected by Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, XVII Cerralbo Marquis.

The Museo Nacional de Antropología(National Museum of Antropology) provides an overview of the different cultures in the world, with objects and human remains from around the world, highlighting a Guanche mummy of the island of Tenerife.

The Museo Sorolla is located in the building in which the Valencian Impressionist painter had his home and workshop.

The collection includes, in addition to numerous works of Joaquín Sorolla, a large number of objects that possessed the artist, including sculptures by August Rodin.

El Aquelarre, Francisco de Goya. Lázaro Galdiano Museum.

The Monastery of Las Descalzas Reales resides in the former palace of King Charles I of Spain and Isabel of Portugal. Their daughter, Joan of Austria, founded this convent of nuns of the Poor Clare order in 1559. Throughout the remainder of the 16th century and into the 17th century, the convent attracted young widowed or spinster noblewomen. Each woman brought with her a dowry. The riches quickly piled up, and the convent became one of the richest convents in all of Europe. It has many works of Renaissance and Baroque art, including a recumbent Christ by Gaspar Becerra, a staircase whose paintings were painted by unknown author (perhaps Velázquez) and they are considered the masterpiece of Spanish illusionist paint, and Brussels tapestries inspired in paintings by Rubens.

The Museo Lázaro Galdiano houses an encyclopedic collection specializing in decorative arts. The collection includes paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Claudio Coello, Goya, Pedro Berruguete, El Greco, Hieronymus Bosch, Rembrandt, Thomas

CaixaForum Madrid.

CaixaForum Madrid is a post-modern art gallery in the centre of Madrid. It is sponsored by the Catalan-Balearic bank la Caixa and located next to the Salón del Prado. Although the CaixaForum is a modern building, it also exhibits retrospectives of artists from earlier time periods and has evolved into one of the most visited museums in Madrid. It was constructed by the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron from 2001 to 2007, which combined an old unused industrial building and hollowed it out at the base and inside and placed on top

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further floors which are encased with rusted steel. Next to it is an art installation of green plants growing on the wall of the neighbouring house by French botanist Patrick Blanc. The red of the top floors with the green of the wall next to it form a contrast. The green is in reflection of the neighbouring Royal Botanical Gardens.

Another art galleries and museums in Madrid are, among others: Casa-Museo José Padilla Casa-Museo Manuel Benedito Museo de Antropologia Médica Museo De La Farmacia Hispana Museo Del Reloj Grassy, at Edificio Grassy Museo Casa de la Moneda Museo de Historia de Madrid Museo de los Orígenes Royal Palace of El Pardo

Royal Convent of La Encarnación (façade)

Churches

Royal Convent of La Encarnación (altair)

Madrid has a considerable number of Catholic churches, some of them are between the most important Spanish religious artworks.

Almudena Cathedral, Catedral de la Almudena

The oldest church that survives today is San Nicolás de los Servitas, whose oldest item is the bell tower (12th century), in Mudejar style. The next oldest temple is San Pedro el Real, with its high brick tower.

St. Jerome Church is a gothic church next to El Prado Museum.

The Catholic Monarchs ordered its construction in the fifteenth century, as part of a vanished monastery. The monastery's cloister is preserved. It has recently been renovated by Rafael Moneo, with the goal to house the neoclassical collection of El Prado Museum, and also sculptures by Leone Leoni and Pompeo Leoni.

St. Jerome Church, San Jeronimo el Real

The Bishop Chapel is a gothic chapel which was built in the sixteenth century by order of the Bishop of Plasencia, Gutierre de Vargas. It was originally built to house the remains of Saint Isidore Laborer (Madrid's patron saint), but it was used as the Vargas family mausoleum. Inside are the altairpiece and the tombs of the Vargas family, which were the work of Francisco Giralte, a disciple of Alonso Berruguete. They are considered masterpieces of Spanish Renaissance sculpture.

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San Antonio de los Alemanes (St. Anthony Church) is a pretty 17th century church which was originally part of a Portuguese hospital. Subsequently it was donated to the Germans living in the city.

St. Isidore cathedral from the Plaza Mayor

St. Isidore Cathedral was built between 1620–1664 by order of Empress Maria of Austria, daughter of Charles V of Germany and I of Spain, to become part of a school run by the Jesuits which still exists today. Its dome is the first example of a dome drawing on a wooden frame covered with plaster, which, given its lightness makes it easy to support the walls. It was the cathedral of Madrid between 1885 and 1993, which is the time it took to build the Almudena. The artwork inside were mostly burned during the Spanish Civil War, but it retained the tomb that holds the incorrupt body of Saint Isidore Laborer and the urn containing the ashes of his wife Maria Torribia.

St. Anthony church (Rizi's vault)

The interior of the church has been recently restored. It has some beautiful frescoes painted by Luca Giordano, Francisco Carreño and Francisco Rizi. The frescoes represent some kings of Spain, Hungary, France, Germany and Bohemia. They all sit looking at the paintings in the vault, which represent the life of Saint Anthony of Padua.

Royal Convent of La Encarnación is an Augustinian Recollect convent. The institution, which belonged ladies of the nobility, was founded by Queen Margaret of Austria, wife of Philip III of Spain, in the early seventeenth century. Due to the frescoes and sculptures which houses is one of the most prominent temples in the city. The building's architect was Fray Alberto de la Madre de Dios, who built it between 1611 and 1616.

The façade responds to an inspiring Herrerian style, with great austerity,and it was imitated by other Spanish churches. The church's interior is a sumptuous work by the great Baroque architect Ventura Rodriguez. In the church are preserved shrines containing the blood of St. Januarius and St. Pantaleon, the second (according to tradition) liquefies every year on the saint's day on 27 July.

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of 102 meters long and 73 high, built during the 19th and 20th century in a mixture of different styles: neoclassical exterior, neo-Gothic interior and neo-Romanesque crypt and neo-Byzantine abse's paints. The cathedral was built in the same place which was built the Moorish citadel (al-mudayna) in Madrid. It was consecrated by Pope John Paul II on his fourth trip to Spain on June 15, 1993, thus being the only Spanish cathedral dedicated by a pope.

Literature

St. Anthony of la Florida

Royal Chapel of St. Anthony of La Florida is sometimes named the "Goya's Sixtine Chapel". The chapel was built on orders of King Charles IV of Spain, who also commissioned the frescoes

by Goya. These were completed over a six month period in 1798. The frescoes portray miracles by Saint Anthony of Padua, including one which occurred in Lisbon, but which the painter has relocated to Madrid. On every June 13, the chapel becomes the site of a lively pilgrimage in which young unwed women come to pray to St. Anthony and to ask for a partner.

Lope de Vega.

San Francisco el Grande

San Francisco el Grande Basilica was built in neoclassical style in the second half of the eighteenth century by Francesco Sabatini. It has the fifth largest diameter dome to Christianity.

(33 meters in diameter: it's smaller than the dome of the Rome's Pantheon (43.4meters), St. Peter's Basilica (42.4 meters), the Florence Cathedral (42 meters)and the Rotunda of Mosta (37.2 meters) in Malta, but it's larger than St. Paul's Cathedral (30.8 meters) in London and Hagia Sophia (31.8 meters) in Istanbul).

The church is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, who according to legend was established in Madrid during his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Its interior is sumptuous and it's plenty of artworks, including paintings by Goya and Zurbaran.

Cervantes Institute headquarters.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena is the episcopal seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid. It is a temple

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Nightlife The nightlife in Madrid is undoubtedly one of the city's main attractions. Tapas bars, cocktail bars, clubs, jazz lounges, live music venues, flamenco theatres and establishments of all kinds cater for all tastes and ages. Every night, venues pertaining to the Live Music Venues Association La Noche en Vivo host a wide range of live music shows. Everything from acclaimed to up-and-coming artists, singer-songwriters to rock bands, jazz concerts or electronic music sessions to enjoy music at its best.

Spanish National Library.

Madrid has been one of the great centers of Spanish literature.

In this city were born some of the best writers of the Spanish Golden Century, including: Lope de Vega (Fuente Ovejuna, The Dog in the Manger, The Knight of Olmedo), who reformed the Spanish theater, a work continued by Calderon de la Barca (Life is a Dream), Francisco de Quevedo, Spanish nobleman and writer famous for his satires, which criticized the Spanish society of his time, and author of ´El Buscón. And finally, Tirso de Molina, who created the famous character Don Juan.

In addition, Cervantes and Góngora also lived in the city, although they not born there. The homes of Lope de Vega, Quevedo, Gongora and Cervantes are still preserved, and they are all in the Barrio de las Letras (Letters Neigtbourhood).

Other writers born in Madrid in later centuries have been Leandro Fernandez de Moratín, Mariano José de Larra, Jose de Echegaray (Nobel Prize in Literature), Ramón Gómez de la Serna, Dámaso Alonso, Enrique Jardiel Poncela and Pedro Salinas.

Madrid is home to the Royal Academy of Spanish Language, internationally important cultural institution dedicated to language planning by enacting legislation aimed at promoting linguistic unity within and among the several Hispanic states; ensure a common linguistic standard, in accordance with its founding statutes "to ensure that the changes undergone [by the language] [...] not break the essential unity that keeps all the Hispanic. ".

Madrid is also home to another internationally cultural institution, the Instituto Cervantes, whose task is the promotion and teaching of Spanish language as well as the dissemination of the culture of Spain and Latin America.

The National Library of Spain is a major public library, the largest in Spain. The library's collection consists of more than 26,000,000 items including 15,000,000 books and other printed materials, 30,000 manuscripts, 143,000 newspapers and serials, 4,500,000 graphic materials, 510,000 music scores, 500,000 maps, 600,000 sound recording, 90,000 audiovisuals, 90,000 electronic documents, more than 500,000 microforms, etc.".

Nightlife and young cultural awakening flourished after the death of Franco, especially during the 80s while Madrid's mayor Enrique Tierno Galván (PSOE) was in office, at this time is well-known the cultural movement called la movida and it initially gathered around Plaza del Dos de Mayo. Nowadays, the Malasaña area is known for its alternative scene.

Some of the most popular night destinations include the neighbourhoods of: Bilbao, Tribunal, Atocha, Alonso Martinez or Moncloa, together with Puerta del Sol area (including Opera and Gran Via, both adjacent to the popular square) and Huertas (barrio de Las Letras), destinations which are also filled with tourists day and night. The district of Chueca has also become a hot spot in the Madrilenian night life, especially for the gay population. Chueca is popularly known as the gay quarter, comparable to The Castro district in San Francisco.

What is also popular is the practice of meeting in parks or streets with friends and drinking alcohol together (this is called 'botellón', from 'botella', bottle), but in recent years, drinking in the street is punished with a fine and now young madrileños drink together all around the city instead of in better-known places.

Bohemian Culture The city has venues for performing alternative art and expressive art. They are mostly located in the centre of the city include in Opera, Anton Martin, Chueca and Malasaña. There are also several festivals in Madrid including the Festival of Alternative art the Festival of the Alternative Scene.

The neighbourhood of Malasaña as well as Anton Martin and Lavapies hosts several bohemian cafe/galleries. These cafes are typified with period or retro furniture or furniture found on the street, a colourful non traditional atmosphere inside, and usually art displayed each month by a new artist, often for sale.

Cafes include the retro cafe "Lolina" and bohemian cafes "La Ida", "La Paca" and "Cafe de la Luz" in Malasaña, "La Piola" in Huertas and "Cafe Olmo" and "Aguardiente" in Lavapies.

In the neighbourhood of Lavapies, there are also "hidden houses", which are illegal bars or abandoned spaces where concerts, poetry reading and the famous Spanish Botellon (a street party or gathering now illegal but rarely stopped).

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Classical music and opera

National Auditorium of Music.

The Auditorio Nacional de Música is the main venue for classical music concerts in Madrid. It is home to the Spanish National Orchestra, the Chamartín Symphony Orchestra and the venue for the symphonic concerts of the Community of Madrid Orchestra and the Madrid Symphony Orchestra. It is also the principal venue for orchestras on tour playing in Madrid.

The Teatro Real is the main opera house in Madrid, located just in front of the Royal Palace, and its resident orchestra is the Madrid Symphony Orchestra. The theatre stages around seventeen opera titles (both own productions and coproductions with other major European opera houses) per year, as well as two or three major ballets and several recitals.

The Teatro de la Zarzuela is mainly devoted to Zarzuela (the Spanish traditional musical theatre genre), as well as operetta and recitals. The resident orchestra of the theatre is the Community of Madrid Orchestra.

The Teatro Monumental is the concert venue of the RTVE Symphony Orchestra.

Other concert venues for classical music are the Fundación Joan March and the Auditorio 400, devoted to contemporary music.

Bullfighting Madrid hosts the largest Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Spain, Las Ventas, established in 1929. Las Ventas is considered by many to be the world centre of bullfighting and has a seating capacity of almost 25,000. Madrid's bullfighting season begins in March and ends in October. Bullfights are held every day during the festivities of San Isidro (Madrid's patron saint) from mid May to early June, and every Sunday, and public holiday, the rest of the season. The style of the plaza is Neomudéjar. Las Ventas also hosts music concerts and other events outside of the bullfighting season.

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City info

City info · Toponym

City info

City info

Toponym

Climate The Madrid region features a Continental Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) with cold winters due to altitude (650 m over the sea level in Alicante), including sporadic snowfalls and minimum temperatures often below freezing. Summer tends to be hot with temperatures that consistently surpass 30 °C (86 °F) in July and August and rarely above 40 °C (104 °F). Due to Madrid's altitude and dry climate, diurnal ranges are often significant during the summer. Precipitation is concentrated in the autumn and spring. It is particularly sparse during the summer, taking the form of one or two showers and/or thunderstorms a month.

Districts Alcalá Street and the Metropolis Building

Main article: Districts of Madrid

There are several theories regarding the origin of the name "Madrid". According to legend Madrid was founded by Ocno Bianor (son of King Tyrrhenius of Tuscany and Mantua) and was named "Metragirta" or "Mantua Carpetana". Others contend that the original name of the city was "Ursaria" ("land of bears" in Latin), due to the high number of these animals that were found in the adjacent forests, which, together with the strawberry tree (Spanish: madroño), have been the emblem of the city from the Middle Ages.

Madrid is administratively divided into 21 districts, which are further subdivided into 128 wards (barrios)

The most ancient recorded name of the city Magerit (for *Materit or *Mageterit ?) comes from the name of a fortress built on the Manzanares River in the 9th century AD, and means "Place of abundant water". If the form is correct, it could be a Celtic place-name from ritu- 'ford' (Old Welsh rit, Welsh rhyd, Old Breton rit, Old Northern French roy) and a first element, that is not clearly identified *mageto derivation of magos 'field' 'plain' (Old Irish mag 'field', Breton ma 'place'), or matu 'bear", that could explain the Latin translation Ursalia.

Nevertheless , it is now commonly believedthat the origin of the current name of the city comes from the 2nd century BC. The Roman Empire established a settlement on the banks of the Manzanares river. The name of this first village was "Matrice" (a reference to the river that crossed the settlement).

Following the invasions carried out by the Germanic Sueves and Vandals, as well as the Sarmatic Alans during the 5th century AD, the Roman Empire no longer had the military presence required to defend its territories on the Iberian Peninsula, and as a consequence, these territories were soon overrun by the Visigoths. The barbarian tribes subsequently took control of "Matrice". In the 7th century, the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula saw the name changed to "Mayrit", from the Arabic term ☎☎☎☎ "Mayra" (referencing water as a "trees" or "giver of life") and the Ibero-Roman suffix "it" that means "place". The modern "Madrid" evolved from the Mozarabic "Matrit", which is still in the Madrilenian gentilic.

Centro: Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia, Universidad, Sol. Arganzuela: Imperial, Acacias, La Chopera, Legazpi, Delicias, Palos de Moguer, Atocha.

Retiro: Pacífico, Adelfas, Estrella, Ibiza, Jerónimos, Niño Jesús.

Salamanca: Recoletos, Goya, Parque de las Avenidas, Fuente del Berro, Guindalera, Lista, Castellana.

Chamartín: El Viso, Prosperidad, Ciudad Jardín, Hispanoamérica, Nueva España, Castilla.

Tetuán: Bellas Vistas, Cuatro Caminos, Castillejos, Almenara, Valdeacederas, Berruguete.

Chamberí: Gaztambide, Arapiles, Trafalgar, Almagro, Vallehermoso, Ríos Rosas.

Fuencarral-El Pardo: El Pardo, Fuentelarreina, Peñagrande, Barrio del Pilar, La Paz, Valverde, Mirasierra, El Goloso.

Moncloa-Aravaca: Casa de Campo, Argüelles, Ciudad Universitaria, Valdezarza, Valdemarín, El Plantío, Aravaca.

Latina: Los Cármenes, Puerta del Ángel, Lucero, Aluche, Las Águilas, Campamento, Cuatro Vientos.

Carabanchel: Comillas, Opañel, San Isidro, Vista Alegre, Puerta Bonita, Buenavista, Abrantes.

Usera: Orcasitas, Orcasur, San Fermín, Almendrales, Moscardó, Zofío, Pradolongo.

Puente de Vallecas: Entrevías, San Diego, Palomeras Bajas, Palomeras Sureste, Portazgo, Numancia.

Moratalaz: Pavones, Horcajo, Marroquina, Media Legua, Fontarrón, Vinateros.

Ciudad Lineal: Ventas, Pueblo Nuevo, Quintana, La Concepción, San Pascual, San Juan Bautista, Colina, Atalaya, Costillares.

Hortaleza: Palomas, Valdefuentes, Canillas, Pinar del Rey, Apóstol Santiago, Piovera.

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Villaverde: San Andrés, San Cristóbal, Butarque, Los Rosales, Los Ángeles.

Villa de Vallecas: Casco Histórico de Vallecas, Santa Eugenia.

Vicálvaro: Casco Histórico de Vicálvaro, Ambroz.

San Blas: Simancas, Hellín, Amposta, Arcos, Rosas, Rejas, Canillejas, Salvador.

Barajas: Alameda de Osuna, Aeropuerto, Casco Histórico de Barajas, Timón, Corralejos.

Architecture

Metropolitan area Main article: Madrid metropolitan area The Madrid Metropolitan Area comprises the city of Madrid and forty surrounding municipalities. It has a population of slightly more than 5.8 million people and covers an area of 4.609,7 km². It is the largest metropolitan area in Spain and the third largest in European Union.

As with many metropolitan areas of similar size, two distinct zones of urbanisation can be distinguished: Inner ring (primera corona): Alcorcón, Leganés, Getafe, Móstoles, Fuenlabrada, Coslada, Alcobendas, Pozuelo de Alarcón, San Fernando de Henares Outer ring (segunda corona): Villaviciosa de Odón, Parla, Pinto, Valdemoro, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Torrejón de Ardoz, Alcalá de Henares, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Tres Cantos, Las Rozas de Madrid, Majadahonda, Boadilla del Monte The largest suburbs are to the South, and in general along the main routes leading out of Madrid.

Temple of Debod

Although the site of Madrid has been occupied since prehistoric times, the first historical data that concerns the city dates from the middle of the 9th century, when Mohammad I ordered the construction of a small palace (site occupied now by the Palacio Real). Around this palace there was built a small citadel (al-Mudaina). The palace was built overlooking the River Manzanares, which the Muslims called Mayrit meaning source of water (which in turn became Magerit, and then eventually Madrid). The citadel was conquered in 1085 by Alfonso VI in his advance towards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque as the church of the Virgin of Almudena (almudin, the garrison's granary), now the Catedral de la Almudena. In 1329 the Cortes first assembled in Madrid to advise Fernando IV. Jews and Moors continued to live in the city in their quarter, still known today as the "Moreria", until they were expelled.

Submetropolitan areas A new project, has stated there are more submetropolitan areas inside Madrid metropolitan area:

View of the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral from Debod Temple

When Philip II moved his court permanently to Madrid, the city began to be embellished with various palaces, convents, churches and other historic buildings, most of which have survived to the present. This Madrid, known as the Madrid de los Austrias, is the most artistic and culturally rich of all historical times to the city. The chief architect of the time was Juan Gomez de Mora, stylistic heir of Juan de Herrera and their

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sober traces, but he began to use Baroque elements.The work of this stage is the Plaza Mayor, and many Baroque religious buildings.

Royal Palace of Madrid (western facade) is the largest palace of Western Europe

With the Bourbons began a new era in the city.The Royal Palace of Madrid and the buildings and monuments of the Paseo del Prado (Salón del Prado and Alcalá Gate) deserve special mention. They were constructed in a sober Baroque international style, often mistaken for neoclassical, by the Bourbon kings. Neoclassical also appears at this time, with Juan de Villanueva, author of El Prado Museum building. He is possibly the greatest Spanish architect of those times.

The Gran Via

In the early 20th century began the construction of Gran Vía, with the task of freeing the old town. They used different styles that evolve over time: art nouveau, art deco, expressionist ...

The Edificio Telefónica, of American inspiration, at the highest part of Gran Vía, is usually considered the first skyscraper in Europe. And finally (in the Franco's period) the totalitarian style, the two skyscrapers in the Plaza de España.

Canalejas Square

Plans for the construction of a new cathedral for Madrid dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena began in the 16th century, but the slow construction did not begin until 1879.

Francisco de Cubas, the Marquis of Cubas, was the architect who designed and directed the construction in a Gothic revival style. Construction ceased completely during the Spanish Civil War. The project was abandoned until 1950, when Fernando Chueca Goitia adapted the plans of de Cubas to a neoclassical style exterior to match the grey and white façade of the Palacio Real, which stands directly opposite. and was not completed until 1993, when the cathedral was consecrated by Pope John Paul II. On Calle Princesa, in the heart of the district of Moncloa, lies el Ejército del Aire, the headquarters of the Spanish Air Force. A scaled-down replica of the famous Monastery San Lorenzo del Escorial which lies about 50 kilometers northeast of Madrid, el Ejército del Aire is a classic example of Fascist Neoclassicism in Madrid.

The financial district in downtown Madrid between the streets Raimundo Fernández Villaverde, Orense, General Perón and Paseo de la Castellana, its original conception (and its name) to the "Plan General de Ordenación Urbana de Madrid", approved in 1946. The purpose of this plan was to create a huge block of modern office buildings with metro and railway connections in the expansion area of northern Madrid, just in front of Real Madrid stadium (currently named the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium) and beside the brand new government complex of Nuevos Ministerios. A botanical garden, a library and an opera

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house were also included in the plans, but these were never built.

Environment

Torres Kio

Cuatro Torres Business Area is a business park that was completed in 2008. This block contains the tallest skyscrapers in Madrid and Spain (Torre Espacio, Torre de Cristal, Torre Sacyr Vallehermoso and Torre Caja Madrid). A new commercial and economic area with plenty of skylines is expected to be constructed during the next ten years according to the "Enlargement of Castellana Street Project".

Madrid Barajas International Airport Terminal 4, designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers (winning them the 2006 Stirling Prize), and TPS Engineers, (winning them the 2006 IStructE Award for Commercial Structures) was inaugurated on 5 February 2006. Terminal 4 is one of the world's largest terminal areas, with an area of 760,000 square meters (8,180,572 square feet) in two separate terminals. Consisting of a main building, T4 (470,000 square meter), and satellite building, T4S (290,000 square meter), which are separated by approximately 2.5 km (2 mi). Hong Kong International Airport still holds the title for the world's largest single terminal building (Terminal 1) at 570,000 square meter. The new Terminal 4 is meant to give passengers a stress-free start to their journey. This is managed through careful use of illumination, available by glass panes instead of walls and numerous domes in the roof which allow natural light to pass through. With the new addition, Barajas is designed to handle 70 million passengers annually.

Retiro Park.

Madrid is the European city with the highest number of trees and green surface per inhabitant and it has the second highest number of aligned trees in the world, with 248,000 units, only exceeded by Tokyo. Madrid's citizens have access to a green area within a 15 minute walk. Since 1997, green areas have increased by 16%. At present, 8.2% of Madrid’s grounds are green areas, meaning that there are 16m2 of green area per inhabitant, far exceeding the 10m2 per inhabitant recommended by the World Health Organization.

Retiro Park, trees.

Terminal 4 check in hall in 2008

Parque del Retiro, formerly the grounds of the palace built for Felipe IV, is Madrid's most popular park and the largest park in central Madrid. Its area is more than 1.4 km2 (350 acres) and it is located very close to the Puerta de Alcalá and not far from the Prado Museum. A magnificent park, filled with beautiful sculpture and monuments, galleries, a peaceful lake and host to a variety of events, it is one of Madrid's premier attractions. The park is entirely surrounded by the presentday city. Its lake in the middle once staged mini naval sham battles to amuse royalty; these days the more tranquil pastime of pleasure boating is popular. Inspired by London's crystal

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palace, the palacio de cristal can be found at the south-eastern end of the park.

In the Retiro Park is also the Forest of the Departed (Spanish Bosque de los Ausentes), a memorial monument to commemorate the 191 victims of the 11 March 2004 Madrid attacks.

across the globe. There is an important research facility that started life as a base to develop herbal remedies and to house the species collected from the new-world trips, today it is dedicated to maintaining Europe's ecosystem.

Atocha Railway Station is not only the city's first and most central station but also home to a distinctive indoor garden with 4,000 square meters of tropical plants. Atocha station has become a hothouse destination in itself for plant lovers, with more than 500 species of plant life and ponds with turtle and goldfish in, as well as shops and cafes. It's a nice place to visit on a cold or wet day with its even temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, or even on a scorching summer day as a retreat from the heat.

Campo del Moro gardens.

Casa de Campo, lake.

Casa de Campo is an enormous urban parkland to the west of the city, the largest in Spain and Madrid's main green lung.

Its area is more than 1,700 hectares (6.6 sq mi). It is home to a fairground, the Madrid Zoo, an amusement park, the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, and an outdoor municipal pool, to enjoy a bird's eye view of the park and city take a cable car trip above the tree tops. Casa de Campo's vegetation is one of its most important features. There are, in fact, three different ecosystems: oak, pine and river groves. The oak is the dominant tree species in the area and, although many of them are over 100 years old and reach a great height, they are also present in the form of chaparral and bushes. The pine-forest ecosystem boasts a large number of trees that have adapted perfectly to the light, dry conditions in the park. In addition, mushrooms often emerge after the first rains of autumn. Finally, the river groves, or riparian forests, are made up of various, mainly deciduous, species that grow in wetter areas. Examples include poplars, willows and alder trees. As regards fauna, this green space is home to approximately 133 vertebrate species.

The Royal Botanic Garden or Real Jardin Botanico is an 8hectare botanical garden located in the Plaza de Murillo, next to the Prado Museum. It was an 18th century creation by Carlos III and it was used as a base for the plant species being collected

The Royal Palace is surrounded by three green areas. In front of the palace, are the gardens of the Plaza de Oriente; to the north, the gardens of Sabatini and to the west up to the Manzanares river, the famous Campo del Moro. Campo del Moro gardens has a surface area of 20 hectares and is a scenic garden with an unusual layout filled with foliage and an air of English romanticism. The Sabatini Gardens have a formal Neoclassic style, consisting of well-sheared hedges, in symmetric geometrical patterns, adorned with a pool, statues and fountains, with trees also disposed in a symmetrical geometric shape. Plaza de Oriente can distinguish three main plots: the Central Gardens, the Cabo Noval Gardens and the Lepanto Gardens. The Central Gardens are arranged around the central monument to Philip IV, in a grid, following the barroque model garden. They consist of seven flowerbeds, each packed with box hedges, forms of cypress, yew and magnolia of small size, and flower plantations, temporary.

These are bounded on either side by rows of statues paths, popularly known as the Gothic kings, and mark the dividing line between the main body of the plaza and the Cabo Noval Gardens at north, and the Lepanto Gardens at south.

Monte de El Pardo.

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Monte de El Pardo is a mediterranean forest inside the city of Madrid. It is one of the best preserved Mediterranean Forests in Europe. The European Union has designated the Monte de El Pardo as a Special Protection Area for bird-life. This meadow, which has been used as hunting grounds by the royalty given the variety of game animals that have inhabited it since the Middle Ages, is home to 120 flora species and 200 vertebrae species. Rabbits, red partridges, wild cats, stags, deer and wild boars live among ilexes, cork oaks, ash trees, black poplars, oaks, junipers and rockroses. Monte del Pardo is part of the Regional Park of the High Basin of the Manzanares, spreading out from the Guadarrama Mountains range to the centre of Madrid, and protected by strong legal regulations.

Just before crossing the city, the River Manzanares forms a valley composed by sandy elements and detritus from the mountain range.

sporting, leisure and cultural interest. Madrid Río provides a link with other green spaces in the city such as Casa de Campo and the Linear Park of the Manzanares River. The main landscaped area in Madrid Río is the Arganzuela Park, covering 23 hectares where pedestrian and cycling routes cover the whole park. The Madrid Río cycle network covers some 30 kilometres and is linked to another bike routes. To the north, Madrid Rio connects to the Senda Real, the Green Ring for Cyclists and the E 7 (GR 10) trail, which goes as far as the Sierra de Madrid mountain range. To the south, Madrid Río provides access to the Enrique Tierno Galván Park and the Linear Park of the Manzanares River, an extensive green zone running parallel to the river as far as Getafe. As well as the cycle routes there are 42 kilometres of paths for walkers and runners. In the Salón de Pinos, a 6-kilometre long tree-lined promenade, there are circuits for aerobic and anaerobic exercise, while near the Puente de Praga bridge a tennis court and seven padel tennis courts.

The theme park Faunia, is a natural history museum and zoo combined, aimed at being fun and educational for children. It comprises eight eco-systems from tropical rain forests to polar regions, and contains over 1,500 animals, some of which roam freely.

Economy Main article: Economy of Madrid

Middle Ages to 20th century

Monte de El Pardo and Soto de Viñuelas inside the city of Madrid.

Soto de Viñuelas, also known as Mount Viñuelas, is a meadowoak forest north of the city of Madrid and east of the Monte de El Pardo. It is a fenced property of 3,000 hectares, which includes important ecological values, landscape and art. Soto de Viñuelas is part of the Regional Park of the High Basin of the Manzanares, a nature reserve which is recognised as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, where it has been classified as Area B, the legal instrument that allows agricultural land use. Soto de Viñuelas also received the statement of Special Protection Area for Birds.

El Capricho is a 14-hectare garden located in the area of Barajas district. It dates back to 1784. The art of landscaping in El Capricho is displayed in three different styles of classical gardenscapes: the ‘parterre’ or French garden, English landscaping and the Italian giardino.

During the end of the Middle Ages, Madrid experienced astronomic growth as a consequence of its establishment as the new capital of the Spanish Empire. As Spain (like many other European countries) continued to centralize royal authority, this meant that Madrid took on greater importance as a center of administration for the Spanish Kingdom.

It evolved to become an important nucleus of artisanal activity that eventually experienced industrial revolution during the 19th century. The city made even greater strides at expansion during the 20th century, especially after the Spanish Civil War, reaching levels of industrialization found in other European capital cities. The economy of the city was then centered on diverse manufacturing industries such as those related to motor vehicles, aircraft, chemicals, electronic devices, pharmaceuticals, processed food, printed materials, and leather goods.

Madrid Rio is a linear park that runs along the bank of the Manzanares River, in the middle of Madrid. It is an area of parkland 10 kilometres long and covers 649 hectares in six districts: Moncloa-Aravaca, Centro, Arganzuela, Latina, Carabanchel and Usera. It is a large area of environmental,

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1992 to 2008

Madrid is a major centre for international business and commerce. It is one of Europe's largest financial centres and the largest in Spain.

Demographics The population of Madrid generally increased from when the city became the national capital in the mid-16th century and stabilised at about 3 million from the 1970s.

From around 1970 until the mid 1990s, the city's population dropped. This phenomenon, which also affected other European cities, was caused in part by the growth of satellite suburbs at the expense of the downtown. Another reason might have been the slowdown in the rate of growth of the European economy.

The demographic boom accelerated in the late 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century due to international immigration, in response to a surge in Spanish economic growth. According to census data, the population of the city grew by 271,856 between 2001 and 2005.

Madrid Stock Exchange

As the capital city of Spain, the city has attracted many immigrants from around the world. About 83.8% of the inhabitants are Spaniards, while people of other origins, including immigrants from Latin America, Europe, Asia, North Africa and West Africa, represented 16.2% of the population in 2007.

The ten largest immigrant groups include: Ecuadorian: 104,184, Romanian: 52,875, Bolivian: 44,044, Colombian: 35,971, Peruvian: 35,083, Chinese: 34,666, Moroccan: 32,498, Dominican: 19,602, Brazilian: 14,583, and Paraguayan: 14,308.

There are also important communities of Filipinos, Equatorial Guineans, Bulgarians, Indians, Italians, Argentines, Senegalese and Poles.

Cuatro Torres Business Area

Districts that host the largest number of immigrants are Usera (28.37%), Centro (26.87%), Carabanchel (22.72%) and Tetuán (21.54%). Districts that host the smallest number are Fuencarral-El Pardo (9.27%), Retiro (9.64%) and Chamartin (11.74%).

AZCA (Business Park)

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City info · Government

Government

Sport

The Santiago Bernabéu, a FIFA elite stadium.

City Hall of Madrid

The City Council consists of 57 members, one of them being the Mayor, currently Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Jiménez. The Mayor presides over the Council.

The Plenary of the Council, is the body of political representation of the citizens in the municipal government.

Some of its attributions are: fiscal matters, the election and deposition of the Mayor, the approval and modification of decrees and regulations, the approval of budgets, the agreements related to the limits and alteration of the municipal term, the services management, the participation in supramunicipal organizations, etc. Nowadays, mayoral team consists of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and 8 Delegates; all of them form The Board of Delegates (the Municipal Executive Committee).

Madrid is home to La Liga football club Real Madrid, who play their home games at the Santiago Bernabéu. Their supporters are referred to as Madridistas or Merengues (Merengues).

Real Madrid is one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world (FIFA selected Real Madrid the best team of the 20th century), having won a record 9 European Cups. Their hometown rivals, Atlético Madrid, are also well supported in the city. The players (and supporters) are referred to as Colchoneros (The Mattress Makers), in reference to the team's red & white jersey colours, which were determined by mattress material being the cheapest at the time of the club's formation.

In 1982, Madrid hosted the FIFA World Cup Final. Along with Barcelona, Glasgow and Lisbon, Madrid is one of only four cities in Europe to contain two UEFA 5-star stadia: Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu and Atlético Madrid's Vicente Calderón both meet the said criteria.

Some of Spain's top footballers are Madrileños (born in Madrid), including Real Madrid former player Emilio Butragueño and co (La Quinta del Buitre, "The Vulture's Quint"), Premier League's Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres and Real Madrid veterans Raúl González, Guti Hernandez and Iker Casillas.

Madrid has tended to be a stronghold of the People's Party, which has controlled the city's mayoralty since 1989. In the 2007 regional and local elections, the conservative People's Party (PP, centre-right political party) obtained 34 seats, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE, centre-left political party) obtained 18 and United Left (IU, left political party) obtained 5.

Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Jiménez has been in office since 2003, when he left the Presidency of the Autonomous Community of Madrid and stood as the candidate to replace outgoing mayor José María Álvarez del Manzano, also from the PP. In the last local elections of 2007, Ruiz-Gallardón increased the PP majority in the City Council to 34 seats out of 57, taking 55.5% of the popular vote and winning in all but two districts.

Madrid Arena interior

Madrid boasts a prominent place in Spanish basketball, with two clubs in the country's top-level Liga ACB. Real Madrid's basketball section has won 30 Spanish League championships, 22 Spanish Cup championships, 8 Euroleague Championships,

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4 Saporta Cups, 4 Intercontinental Cups and have won 2 Triple Crowns. Madrid's other professional basketball club is Estudiantes that have won 3 Spanish Cup championships.

Madrid hosts the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open. The tournament is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour, and a Premier Mandatory event on the Women's Tennis Association tour. Caja Mágica (The Magic Box, and also known as the Manzanares Park Tennis Centre) is a tennis structure located at Manzanares Park, used for the Madrid Masters tournament.

The city is also host to the Circuito Permanente Del Jarama, a motorsport race circuit.

Historically, the city serves as the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling event, in the same way Paris serves as the conclusive stage of the Tour de France.

Skiing is possible in the nearby mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama, where the ski resorts of Valdesqui and Navacerrada are located.

In the past, Madrid has bid to host the 1972 Summer Olympics, the 2012 Summer Olympics, and the 2016 Summer Olympics, which were host to Munich, London, and Rio de Janeiro respectively. The city has two major annual road running events – the Madrid Marathon and the San Silvestre Vallecana 10 km (6 mi) run – tens of thousands of runners take part in these races each year.

Education Main article: Education in Spain State Education in Spain is free, and compulsory from 6 to 16 years. The current education system is called LOGSE (Ley de Ordenación General del Sistema Educativo).

Universities Madrid is home to a large number of public and private universities. Some of them are among the oldest in the world, and many of them are the most prestigious universities in Spain.

Complutense University of Madrid, founded 1293

The Complutense University of Madrid is the largest university in Spain and one of the oldest universities in the world. It has 10,000 staff members and a student population of 117,000.

Nearly all academic staff are Spanish. It is located on two campuses, in the university quarter Ciudad Universitaria at Moncloa in Madrid, and in Somosaguas. The Complutense University of Madrid was founded in Alcala de Henares, old Complutum, by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499. Nevertherless, its real origin dates back from 1293, when King Sancho IV of Castile built the General Schools of Alcalá, which would give rise to Cisnero's Complutense University. During the course of 1509–1510 five schools were already operative: Artes y Filosofía (Arts & Philosophy), Teología (Theology), Derecho Canónico (Canonical Laws), Letras (Liberal Arts) and Medicina (Medicine). In 1836, during the reign of Isabel II, the University was moved to Madrid, where it took the name of Central University and was located at San Bernardo Street.

Subsequently, in 1927, a new university area was planned to be built in the district of Moncloa-Aravaca, in lands handed over by the King Alfonso XIII to this purpose. The Spanish Civil War turned the "Ciudad Universitaria" into a war zone, causing the destruction of several schools in the area, as well as the loss of part of its rich scientific, artistic and bibliographic heritage.

In 1970 the Government reformed the High Education, and the Central University became the Complutense University of Madrid. It was then when the new campus at Somosaguas was created to house the new School of Social Sciences.

The old Alcalá campus was reopened as the independent UAH, University of Alcalá, in 1977. Complutense also serves to the population of students who select Madrid as their residency during their study abroad period. Students from the United States for example, might go to Madrid on a program like API (Academic Programs International) and study at Complutense for an intense immersion into the Spanish Language. The beautiful setting of the campus allows students living temporarily in Madrid to have access to all of the city's public features including Retiro Park, El Prado Museum, and much more. After studying at the University, students return

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home with a fluent sense of Spanish as well as culture and diversity.

Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Universidad Camilo José Cela, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca Campus de Madrid, Saint Louis University Madrid Campus and Universidad San Pablo CEU (all of them private).

Madrid is also home to the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid and many other private educational institutions.

Business schools

School of Mines, Technical University of Madrid.

The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Technical University of Madrid), is the top technical university in Spain. It is the result of the merge of different Technical Schools of Engineering.

The Autonomous University of Madrid was instituted under the leadership of the famous physicist, Nicolás Cabrera. The Autonoma is widely recognised for its research strengths in theoretical physics. Known simply as la Autónoma in Madrid, its main site is the Cantoblanco Campus, situated 10 miles (16 km) to the northeast of the capital (M-607) and close to the municipal areas of Madrid, namely Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo. Located on the main site are the Rectorate building and the Faculties of Science, Philosophy and Fine Arts, Law, Economic Science and Business Studies, Psychology, Higher School of Computing Science and Engineering, and the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education. The Medical School is sited outside the main site and beside the Hospital Universitario La Paz. The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, whose philosophy is to create responsible free-thinking people with a sensitivity to social problems and an involvement in the concept of progress based on freedom, justice and tolerance. The undergraduate degrees in Business Administration, Economics and Law are ranked first, first and second respectively among those offered by public and private universities in Spain, and its Master and PhD programs also rank top in the country. The Department of Economics is among the 50 best worldwide, and in the top 10 in Econometrics.

IE Business School (formerly Instituto de Empresa) has its main campus on the border of the Chamartín and Salamanca districts of Madrid. IE Business School recently ranked ☎1 in WSJ's 2009 rankings for Best MBA Programs under 2 years. It scored ahead of usual stalwarts, INSEAD and IMD, giving it top billing amongst International MBA programs. Although based in Barcelona, both IESE Business School and ESADE Business School also have Madrid campuses. These three schools are the top-ranked business schools in Spain, consistently rank among the top 20 business schools globally, and offer MBA programs (in English or Spanish) as well as other business degrees. Other Madrid universities that have MBA programs include:

Transport Madrid is served by highly-developed communication infrastructures, making the Spanish capital the leading logistics hub for both Spain and all of southern Europe. It also boasts a network of motorways, encompassing both ring roads and radial roads, and provides the backbone for Spain’s railway network, thereby providing effective connections with not only other parts of the region, but also the rest of Spain and Europe as a whole. Madrid ranks alongside Tokyo and Paris as one of the world’s three largest high-speed railway hubs. Madrid is also home to the Madrid-Barajas airport, Spain’s flagship airport and one of the largest to be found worldwide.

Some other prestigious universities include Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, rebuilt at Alcalá de Henares in 1975; and the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, involved in a number of academic exchange programmes, work practice schemes and international projects with over 200 Higher Education Institutions in Europe, Latin America, North America and Asia.

Other universities in Madrid, some of them private, are: Rey Juan Carlos University (public), Universidad Alfonso X,

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Air

for low-cost carriers, and the second one, expected to be built between the two municipalities of El Álamo and Navalcarnero, which will only take over the routes operating in Cuatro Vientos Airport.

National rail Main article: Cercanías Madrid

Atocha railway station Madrid Metro Map

Madrid Barajas Airport (T4 Station)

Main article: Madrid-Barajas Airport Madrid is served by Barajas Airport. Barajas is the main hub of Iberia Airlines. It consequently serves as the main gateway to the Iberian peninsula from Europe, America and the rest of the world. Current passenger volumes range upwards of 49.8 million passengers per year, making it the country's largest and busiest airport, and in 2009 it was the world's 11th busiest airport and Europe's fourth busiest airport. Given annual increases close to 10%, a new fourth terminal has been constructed. It has significantly reduced delays and doubled the capacity of the airport to more than 70 million passengers per year. Two additional runways have also been constructed, making Barajas a fully operational four-runway airport.

Spain's railway system, the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles (Renfe) operates the vast majority of Spain's railways.

Cercanías Madrid is the commuter rail service that serves Madrid and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Cercanías Renfe, the commuter rail division of Renfe. The total length spans 339.1 km. Main rail terminals are Atocha in the south and Chamartín in the north.

The most important project in the next decade is the Spanish high speed rail network, Alta Velocidad Española AVE. Currently, an ambitious plan includes the construction of a 7,000 kilometre (4,350 mi) network, centred on Madrid. The overall goal is to have all important provincial cities be no more than 4 hours away from Madrid, and no more than 6 hours away from Barcelona. As of 2008, AVE high-speed trains link Atocha station to Seville, Málaga, Córdoba, Ciudad Real and Toledo in the south and to Cuenca, Albacete, Valencia, Zaragoza, Lleida, Tarragona and Barcelona in the east. AVE trains also arrive from Valladolid in the north.

RENFE offers:

Located within the city limits of Madrid, just 9 km (5.6 mi) from the city's financial district and 13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of the Puerta del Sol, Madrid's historic centre. The airport name derives from the adjacent district of Barajas, which has its own metro station on the same rail line serving the airport.

AVE Alaris Altaria Talgo

The Councillor of Transports of the Community of Madrid, Manuel Lamela, announced in 2007 that the city will also be served by two new airports which are expected to be fully operative in 2016, the first of which will be located in Campo Real, it will be initially be used for cargo flights, but also as hub

Metro Main article: Madrid Metro

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City info

City info · Other historic buildings

A modern metro train (type 2000)

Serving a population of some four million, the Madrid Metro is one of the most extensive and fastest-growing metro networks in the world. With the addition of a loop serving suburbs to Madrid's south-west "Metrosur", it is now the second largest metro system in Western Europe, second only to London's Underground. In 2007 Madrid's metro system was expanded and it currently runs over 283 kilometres (176 miles) of line. The province of Madrid is also served by an extensive commuter rail network of 370 kilometres (230 miles) called Cercanías.

The system is the sixth longest metro in the world after London, New York, Moscow, Seoul and Shanghai, though Madrid is approximately the fiftieth most populous metropolitan area in the world. Its fast growth in the last 20 years has also put it among the fastest growing networks in the world, on par with the Shanghai Metro and the Beijing Subway. Unlike normal Spanish road and rail traffic, Madrid Metro trains use left-hand running on some lines due to historical reasons.

Buses This railway network is ably supported by an ever-expanding network of city buses. The overall length of the bus network of Madrid’s Municipal Transport Corporation (Empresa Municipal de Transportes, or EMT) at yearclose 2008, when 426 million passengers were transported, stood at 3,690 kilometres, marking a 31% increase over the last eight years. These routes are serviced by a growing fleet of over 2,000 vehicles, while the network as a whole is undergoing a continuous improvement process with a view to attaining the utmost standards of speed, quality and sustainability.

Madrid's motorway hub network.

Madrid is the most important hub of Spain's motorway network and is surrounded by four orbital motorways: M30, M40, M45 and M50. M30 circles the central districts and is the inner ring motorway of Madrid. Significant portions of M30 runs underground and its urban motorway tunnels have sections of more than 6 km (3.73 mi) in length and 3 to 6 lanes in each direction, between the south entry of the Avenida de Portugal tunnel and the north exit of the M-30 south bypass there are close to 10 km (6.21 mi) of continuous tunnels.

M40 is a ring motorway which borders Madrid at a mean distance of 10.07 kilometres (6.26 mi) and it has a total length of 63.3 km (39.33 mi). M45 is a partial ring around the city serving the metropolitan area of Madrid. It was built to help alleviate the congestion of the M40 from the southern to the northeastern, runs between the M40 and the M50 where the two ring motorways are more separated. M50 is the outer of the Madrid orbital motorways and has a total length of 85 km (52.82 mi).

It services mainly the metropolitan area at a mean distance of 13.5 km (8.39 mi).

Other historic buildings

Roads Main article: List of autopistas and autovías in Spain

Cisneros House.

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Casa de la Villa.

St. Michael's Basilica.

San Ginés Church.

St. Barbara's Church.

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City info · Other historic buildings

Spanish Ministry of Agriculture.

Royal Observatory.

Bank of Spain.

Congress of Deputies.

Palacio de Cristal.

Palacio de Linares.

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City info · Other historic buildings

Spanish Air Force Headquarters.

Hospital de Maudes.

Carrión Building.

Torres Blancas.

38

City info

City info · Notes and references

casas de esta villa". In Oficinas de la Ilustración Española y Americana. http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/ SirveObras/12253853120148273432435/ p0000002.htm. Retrieved 13 August 2008. (Spanish) ^ a b c d e f "El Madrid Medieval (Medieval Madrid). Includes Pre-historic, roman and medieval up to the Catholic Monarchs times." (in Spanish). History of Madrid.. José Manuel Castellanos. http://elmadridmedieval.jmcastellanos.com/. Retrieved 28 October 2007. ^ INE.es Instituto Nacional de Estadística (National Statistics Institute) ^ Eurostat a b ^ "World Urban Areas: Population & Density" (PDF).

Demographia. http:// www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf. Retrieved 10 August 2008.

^ a b Eurostat, UrbanAudit.org, accessed on 12 March 2009. Data for 2004. ^ a b Thomas Brinkoff, Principal Agglomerations of the World, accessed on 12 March 2009. Data for 1 January 2009.

Arch of la Victoria.

Casa Gallardo Royal Palace of Madrid

Notes and references ^ "Los fuegos que conmocionaron Madrid" (in spanish). 20minutos.es. 6 September 2006. http:// www.20minutos.es/noticia/149137/0/cronologia/ incendios/madrid/. Retrieved 13 August 2008. (Spanish) ^ D. Ramón de Mesonero Romanos (1881). "El antiguo Madrid: paseos históricos-anecdóticos por las calles y

^ a b United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Urbanization Prospects (2007 revision), (United Nations, 2008), Table A.12. Data for 2007. ^ Member of the Governing Council. Delegate for Economy, Employment and Citizen Involvement. Page 6 ^ "Global city GDP rankings 2008– 2025".

Pricewaterhouse Coopers. https:// www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/imagelibrary/ downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=1562. Retrieved 20 November 2009. ^ Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Study Group and Network, Loughborough University. "The World According to GaWC 2008". http://www.lboro.ac.uk/ gawc/world2008t.html. ^ "Global Power City Index 2009" (PDF). http:// www.mori-m-foundation.or.jp/english/research/ project/6/pdf/GPCI2009_English.pdf.

Retrieved 2011-04-14. ^ "Madrid is the most touristic city of Spain".

Madridiario.es.

30 January 2007. http://www.madridiario.es/2007/Enero/feria/ feriamadrid/8577/turistas-madrid.html. Retrieved 18 October 2010. ^ "Monocle's World's Most Liveable Cities Index 2009".

Monocle.com. 10 June 2009. http://www.monocle.com/ Magazine/volume-3/Issue-25/. Retrieved 18 October 2010. ^ "Top 20 liveable cities – 10 Madrid". Monocle.com. http://www.monocle.com/ sections/affairs/Magazine-Articles/Top-20-liveablecities---10-Madrid/. Retrieved 18 October 2010. ^ Greenest cities in Europe. City Mayors (2010-03-03).

Retrieved on 2010-12-16.

39

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City info · Notes and references

^ "Madrid". Indiana.edu. 10 July 2006. http:// www.indiana.edu/~overseas/flyers/mad_ies.html. ^ "Madrid: Overview".

Easy expat.

11 August 2006. http://www.easyexpat.com/madrid_en/ overview_geography.htm. ^ "Madrid History – Museums – Suggested Itineraries Madrid".

Indigoguide.com. http:// www.indigoguide.com/spain/madrid-history.htm.

Retrieved 3 February 2010. ^ Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, éditions errance 2003. p. 258. ^ "El origen del nombre.". JLL & JRP. 16 August 2006. http://www.nova.es/~jlb/mad_es05.htm. ^ JMcatellanos.com Pre-historic times in Madrid (Spanish Only) ^ a b c d e f "Madrid, de territorio fronterizo a región metropolitana. Madrid, from being the "frontier" to become a Metropole." (in Spanish). History of Madrid.. Luis Enrique Otero Carvajal (Profesor Titular de Historia Contemporánea. Universidad Complutense.

Madrid). http://www.ucm.es/info/ hcontemp/leoc/madrid%20I.htm☎INDICE. Retrieved 28 October 2007. ^ "Climate in Madrid".

Meteomad. http:// www.meteomad.net/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=32.

Retrieved 6 October 2010. ^ "Mediterranean". Globalbioclimatics.org. http:// www.globalbioclimatics.org/form/tb_med.htm.

Retrieved 13 April 2010. ^ a b "Valores Climatológicos Normales. Madrid" (in Spanish). AEMet. May 2011. http://www.aemet.es/es/ elclima/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos? l=3195&k=mad. Retrieved 4 May 2010. ^ "Faunia – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre" (in (Spanish)). Es.wikipedia.org. 12 January 2010. http:// es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faunia. Retrieved 25 January 2010. ^ "Overview: Economy of Madrid". EasyExpat. 16 August 2006. http://www.easyexpat.com/madrid_en/ overview_economy.htm. ^ "Madrid Economy" (PDF). Empresa Municipal Promoción de Madrid. http://www.esmadrid.com/ recursos/doc/en/Negocio/ ObservatorioEconomico/829557579_161200885839.pdf.

Retrieved 15 August 2008. ^ "City Mayors reviews the richest cities in the world in 2005". Citymayors.com. 11 March 2007. http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/ richest-cities-2005.html. Retrieved 8 July 2009. ^ Colpisa. "Ocho regiones españolas superan ya el PIB medio de la Unión Europea. La Verdad".

Laverdad.es. http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/20080218/ economia/ocho-regiones-espanolassuperan-20080218.html. Retrieved 8 July 2009.

^ "The world's best financial cities". City Mayors. http:// www.citymayors.com/economics/financial-cities.html. ^ "El salario medio bruto se acerca a 2.000 euros en el segundo trimestre del año". elmundo.es. 2007-09-20. http://www.elmundo.es/ mundodinero/2007/09/20/ economia/1190291524.html. Retrieved 2009-07-08. ^ "World's richest cities in 2008".

City Mayors. http://www.citymayors.com/economics/ richest_cities.html. Retrieved 2009-07-08. ^ "World's most expensive cities in 2009 – Ranking".

City Mayors. http://www.citymayors.com/economics/ expensive_cities2.html.

^ a b "Foreign Population in the city of madrid. A study by the Dirección General de Estadística of the municipality of Madrid" (PDF). http://www.munimadrid.es/ UnidadesDescentralizadas/UDCEstadistica/ Publicaciones/PoblacionExtranjera/1Julio2007/ Extranjeros_Julio07.pdf. Retrieved 13 April 2010. ^ "Pleno de Madrid (Spanish Only)" (in (Spanish)).

Munimadrid.es. http://www.munimadrid.es/portal/site/ munimadrid/ menuitem.5fbdbaf471a1b0aa7d245f019fc08a0c/? vgnextoid=da51a5a66b2ce010VgnVCM1000000b205a0aRCRD&vg Retrieved 13 April 2010. ^ "Local Government Organization (Spanish Only)" (in (Spanish)). Munimadrid.es. http://www.munimadrid.es/ portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/El-Ayuntamiento/ Gobierno-y-Administracion/Junta-de-Gobierno-de-laCiudad-de-Madrid/Junta-de-Gobierno-de-la-Ciudadde-Madrid? vgnextfmt=especial3&vgnextoid=f22aad613938d010VgnVCM1000 Retrieved 13 April 2010. ^ "Museo del Prado, official english webpage". http:// www.museodelprado.es/en/. ^ "Museo Reina Sofía (MNCARS), official english webpage". http://www.museoreinasofia.es/ index_en.html. ^ Jonathan Kandell, "Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza, Industrialist Who Built Fabled Art Collection, Dies at 81," New York Times, 28 April 2002. ^ "Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, official english webpage". http://www.museothyssen.org/en/thyssen/ home. ^ "The Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando Museum, Madrid".

Gomadrid.com. http://www.gomadrid.com/museums/ bellas-artes.html. Retrieved 2011-04-14. ^ ^ .http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/PalaciosReales/Palacio-Real-de-Madrid.aspx ^ Ignacio Sánchez Ramírez – info @ visionados . com.

"Museo Arqueológico Nacional | Inicio". Man.mcu.es. http://man.mcu.es/. Retrieved 2011-06-01. ^ "Museo de América". Museodeamerica.mcu.es. http:// museodeamerica.mcu.es. Retrieved 2011-06-01.

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^ "Portada".

MNCN. 2011-05-27. http:// www.mncn.csic.es/. Retrieved 2011-06-02. ^ "Patrimonio Nacional – Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales". Patrimonionacional.es. http:// www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Monasterios-yConventos/Monasterio-de-las-Descalzas-Reales.aspx.

Retrieved 2011-04-14. ^ "Fundación Lázaro Galdiano museum website".

Flg.es. http://www.flg.es/museo/museo.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-14. ^ "Museo de Artes Decorativas".

Mnartesdecorativas.mcu.es. http:// mnartesdecorativas.mcu.es. Retrieved 2011-06-01. ^ "Museo del Romanticismo".

Museoromanticismo.mcu.es. http:// museoromanticismo.mcu.es. Retrieved 2011-06-01. ^ "Museo Cerralbo". Museo Cerralbo. http:// museocerralbo.mcu.es. Retrieved 2011-06-01. ^ "Museo Nacional de Antropología".

Mnantropologia.mcu.es. http:// mnantropologia.mcu.es/. Retrieved 2011-06-01. ^ "Museo Sorolla".

Museo Sorolla. http:// museosorolla.mcu.es/. Retrieved 2011-06-01. ^ "Real Decreto 1109/1993, de 9 de julio, por el que se aprueba los Estatutos de la Real Academia Española". Noticias.juridicas.com.

2011-01-21. http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/ Admin/rd1109-1993.html. Retrieved 2011-04-14. ^ Libray's website ^ MSO.net - http://www.mso.net.&☎32;"Things to do in Madrid – Popular sightseeing activities & things to do in Madrid". Directline-citybreaks.co.uk. http:// www.directline-citybreaks.co.uk/Madrid%20Things %20To%20Do. Retrieved 14 June 2010. ^ "11 Festival Escena Contemporánea".

Escenacontemporanea.com. http:// escenacontemporanea.com/2011/. Retrieved 14 June 2010. ^ "Festival Alternativo de las Artes Escénicas, Madrid, Spain – Things to Do Reviews".

NileGuide.com. http://www.nileguide.com/destination/ madrid/things-to-do/festival-alternativo-de-las-artesescenicas/369837. Retrieved 14 June 2010. ^ Addis Network S.L.. "SpainTube – Art Madrid ¿Alternativo o complementario a ARCO? – Galeria Arte Rita Castellote/Arte Contemporaneo en Madrid".

Galeriaritacastellote.es. http:// www.galeriaritacastellote.es/content/132/158/0/1/1/ SpainTube-Art-Madrid-Alternativo-o-complementarioa-ARCO.htm. Retrieved 14 June 2010. ^ France, Jon. "The 5 Best Cafés in Madrid | Venere Travel Blog". Venere.com. http://www.venere.com/blog/ madrid-cafes/. Retrieved 14 June 2010. ^ "Madrid's Bohemian Best: Exploring Lavapiés – La Castiza". En.momondo.com. http://en.momondo.com/ blogs/lacastiza/archive/2009/10/28/lavapi-233-s.aspx.

Retrieved 14 June 2010.

^ "Madrid Neighbourhoods: Lavapiés... Going out, eating, drinking, and bohemian cool! – Notes from Madrid – Tapas bars, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife in Madrid". Notesfrommadrid.com. 15 November 2007. http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/category/bybarrio/lavapies/. Retrieved 14 June 2010. ^ "El Rastro & Lavapiés". Whatmadrid.com. http:// www.whatmadrid.com/lavapies.html. Retrieved 14 June 2010. ^ "Auditorio Nacional de Música". Time Out. http:// www.timeout.com/madrid/music/venue/13683/ auditorio-nacional-de-musica. Retrieved 19 August 2009. ^ "Orquesta Sinfónica Chamartín-Historia (in Spanish)". Orquesta Sinfónica Chamartín. 20 February 2008. http://www.oschamartin.org/osc/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=35.

Retrieved 28 August 2008. ^ "Teatro Real (Timeout Madrid)". http:// www.timeout.com/madrid/music/venue/13686/teatroreal. Retrieved 31 January 2009. ^ History of the Teatro de la Zarzuela ^ "''Teatro de la Zarzuela – Timeout Madrid''".

Timeout.com. http://www.timeout.com/madrid/music/ venue/13687/teatro-de-la-zarzuela. Retrieved 13 April 2010. ^ "La Orquesta Sinfónica (in Spanish)". RTVE. http:// www.rtve.es/orquesta/orquesta/index.php. Retrieved 24 August 2009. ^ Valiente, Emeterio (25 April 2010). Course record for Cherogony, while Gebrselassie 'jogs' to 10 km (6.21 mi) victory – Madrid Marathon report. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-04-29. ^ "Sistema Educativo LOE by the Spanish Ministry of Education(Spanish Only)" (in (Spanish)).

Mec.es. Archived from the original on 12 April 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080412073035/ http://www.mec.es/educa/sistema-educativo/loe/ sistema-educativo-loe.html. Retrieved 13 April 2010. ^ "Universidad Complutense". Missouri-St. Louis University. 10 July 2006. http://www.umsl.edu/services/ abroad/universities/complutense.html. ^ "Complutense University of Madrid". UCM. http:// portal.ucm.es/en/web/en-ucm/seven-centuries-ofhistory. ^ "Universidad Autónoma". Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. 10 July 2006. http://www.uam.es. ^ ""El Mundo" 50 Carreras 2008". http:// www.elmundo.es/especiales/2008/05/ cultura/50carreras/index.html. ^ ""El Mundo" 250 Masters 2007". http:// aula2.elmundo.es/aula/especiales/2007/250masters/ index.html. ^ "Department of Economics, U. Carlos III de Madrid". http://www.eco.uc3m.es. ^ "www.econphd.net". http://www.econphd.net/ rankings.htm.

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^ "ACI Passenger Traffic Data – 2009". Airports.org.

2010-08-05. http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/ display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp? zn=aci&cp=1-5-54-55-9812_666_2__.

Retrieved 2011-04-14. ^ "Madrid Metro". Robert Schwandl. 17 August 2006. http://urbanrail.net/eu/mad/madrid.htm. ^ Madrid city council webpage "Mapa Mundi de las ciudades hermanadas". Ayuntamiento de Madrid. http://www.munimadrid.es/portal/site/ munimadrid/ menuitem.dbd5147a4ba1b0aa7d245f019fc08a0c/? vgnextoid=4e84399a03003110VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4e98823d3a37a010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&vgn Madrid city council webpage.

42

Events

Events · Long term events

frequency Friday, Saturday

Events

Events

Titulo Del Musical

Long term events The 18th Century Italian Painting place Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23,Madrid,28014,Spain start 09:00h frequency Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday description The Italian paintings of the 18th Century are a treat to adore. Visit the Museo Nacional del Prado and you will get to see all of them, at peace with inscriptions below them specifying the history behind each painting and the in-depth analysis. Apart from the painting by Corrado Giaquinto you can see the works of many other celebrated painters too. event url http://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/painting/italianpainting/the-18th-century/

Amphibian And Reptile Collection (Colección De Anfibios Y Reptiles) place Calle de José Gutiérrez Abascal 2,Madrid,28006,Spain start 10:00h frequency Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday description As you go through this Colección de Anfibios Y Reptiles, you will get educated about different types of reptiles and amphibians. Most of these are exotic and belong to Spanish fauna. Very educative for children, these fossils are a part of treasured collection of the museum. event url

http://www.mncn.csic.es/Menu/Coleccionesydocumentacin/

Colecciones/Anfibiosyreptiles/seccion=1197&idioma=es_ES.do

Joan Miro place Paseo de la Castellana 41,Madrid,28046,Spain description Joan Miro's abstract sculptures are something to look out for at Museo de Escultura al Aire Libre. Creating magic with his designs, this sculptor's work has won accolades all around the world. Mere-Ubu, a woman-bird figure at the museum will surely fascinate you and make you marvel at the masterpiece created by Joan. event

url

http://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/El-

Ayuntamiento/Cultura-y-Ocio/Museo-Arte-Publico-%28antiguo-Museo-de-laCastellana%29?

place San Bernardo, 5,Madrid,28009,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

Mi Misterio Del Interior place Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

El Experimento Secreto De Dios place Calle de Lavapiés 11,Madrid,28005,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

Histeriotipos: AcompaÑada

Mejor

Soltera

Que

Mal

place Calle de Lavapiés 11,Madrid,28005,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

Mariua: El Musical place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

Primital Bros En Concierto place Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

Si Te He Visto...no Me Acuerno! place Calle de Lavapiés 11,Madrid,28005,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

Monologos De Humor - Pablo Segobriga (Micromagia Y Mentalismo) place Doctor Urquiola 23,Madrid,28047,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

Cuatro Estaciones Y Un Dia place Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo 15,Madrid,28004,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

LA ErÓtica place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

Relatos ErÓticos place San Bernardo, 5,Madrid,28009,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

Caer En Querer - Love In Fall (Visible 2012 - 8ª Edición Visible Madrid) place Calle Zurita 20,Madrid,28012,Spain frequency Thursday, Friday

Impro Evolution Showccer place Calle de Lavapiés 11,Madrid,28005,Spain frequency Thursday, Friday

Día De La Música - Friday

vgnextfmt=default&vgnextoid=252434f3409ab010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&vgnextchannel=0c369e242ab26010VgnVCM100000dc0ca8c0RCRD&idCapitulo=1254326

Flamenco En Directo place Plaza de España 9,Madrid,28008,Spain description Every night you can enjoy a flamenco performance at Las Tablas. Note that the time of the event varies depending upon the day. Contact the venue or visit the website for further information. event url http://www.lastablasmadrid.com/ENTRADAINGLES.html

Besos Del Sur - Flamenco Y Danza Española place Panamá 1 ,Madrid,28009,Spain

place Paseo de la Chopera 14,Madrid,28045,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday event url http://www.diadelamusica.com

El Tartufo place Calle Francisca Conde 7,Madrid,28029,Spain frequency Friday, Sunday

Monologos De Humor - Carolina Noriega place Doctor Urquiola 23,Madrid,28047,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

43

Events

Events · Long term events

Monologos De Humor - Luis Larrodera

De Risas Y Tapas En Casateatro Janagah

place Calle Hermosilla 77,Madrid,28001,Spain frequency Friday, Saturday

place Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Ana Moura- Ana Moura place Calle de Cea Bermúdez 1,Madrid,28003,Spain start 20:30h frequency Friday, Saturday

Bersuit place Calle Arenal 11,Madrid,28013,Spain start 21:00h frequency Friday, Saturday

Toni Zenet place Calle de Alcalá 42,Madrid,28014,Spain start 21:30h frequency Friday, Saturday

Dead Capo place Calle Duque de Osuna 8,Madrid,28015,Spain start 23:00h frequency Friday, Saturday

Vértigo. Skrillex place Avenida de la Industria 82,Humanes de Madrid,28970,Spain start 23:30h frequency Friday, Saturday distance 20.5 km. approximate from city center

Paint Glow place Paseo Virgen del Puerto 67,Madrid,28005,Spain start 23:59h frequency Friday, Saturday

El Rey LeÓn, El Musical Que Conmueve Al Mundo place Calle Gran Vía 57,Madrid,28013,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Mejorcita De Lo MÍo place Calle Zurita 20,Madrid,28012,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Carmen De Bizet place Plaza Tirso de Molina, 1,Madrid,28012,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Bueno, Bonito Y Un Buen-rato De Magia teatro+cena place Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Burundanga place C/ MANUELA MALASAÑA, 6,Madrid,28004,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Comicos De Cerca Y Humor 5 Estrellas place Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Cuadro Flamenco Corral De LA Pacheca place c/ Juan Ramón Jiménez, 26,Madrid,28036,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

El Manual De LA Buena Esposa place Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo 15,Madrid,28004,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

LA Ratonera place Carrera de San Jerónimo, 24,Madrid,28014,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Como Por Un Tubo place Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo 15,Madrid,28004,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

LA Venganza De LA Petra place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Mi Madre, Serrat Y Yo place C/ Ercilla, 29,Madrid,28000,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

Academia Loca De Magia En LA Casa De LA Hechiceria place Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Diversion En Familia Y Mucho Mas place Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Mi Padre, Sabina Y Yo place C/ Ercilla, 29,Madrid,28000,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

Cuestiones Con Ernesto Che Guevara place C/ Ercilla, 29,Madrid,28000,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Flamenco En Directo Las Tablas place Plaza de España 9,Madrid,28008,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

Las Carboneras - Tablao Flamenco place Plaza del Conde de Miranda 1,Madrid,28004,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

44

Events

Events · Saturday June 23

Brokers De Yllana place Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Wednesday, Saturday

Encerrona-pepe Viyuela place Calle Gran Vía 66,Madrid,28013,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Wednesday, Saturday

Violines Y Trompetas. place Plaza del Carmen 1,Madrid,28013,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Saturday June 23 Corral De LA Moreria Tablao Flamenco place Calle de Morería 17,Madrid,28005,Spain

666 De Yllana place Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain

Eleuterio, Historia De Un Hombre Libre place Calle Antillón 19,Madrid,28011,Spain

Tick, Tick Boom place Calle de Jorge Juan 62,Madrid,28009,Spain

Desparejados

Maldito Naranjito

place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

place Calle de Jorge Juan 62,Madrid,28009,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

Mas Mellizos Que Nunca

No Me Rayes Que Me Embuclo Noches Locas De Cabaret, Mentiras Y Pecados

place Calle Gran Vía 66,Madrid,28013,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

Tocala Otra Vez Sam

Alucina, Un EspectÁculo De Hipnosis

place Calle del Barquillo 24,Madrid,28004,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

place Calle de Lavapiés 11,Madrid,28005,Spain

De Buena Familia

Historia De España En 70 Minutos

place Calle Zurita 20,Madrid,28012,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

Jamming Improvisación Teatral place San Bernardo, 5,Madrid,28009,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

Time Al Tiempo place Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain

Clot & Chof place Calle Canarias 16,Madrid,28045,Spain place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

Monday June 25 El Viaje De MartÍn

Cenizas A Las Cenizas De Harold Pinter

place AVDA. DE LA CABRERA, 96,Madrid,28751,Spain

place C/ Del Amparo, 94,Madrid,28000,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

distance 51.5 km. approximate from city center

Schubertiadas. 2 Veladas En Casa De Schubert

¿por Que A Nosotros?

place Calle de Alcalá 42,Madrid,28014,Spain start 00:30h

place Calle Canarias 16,Madrid,28045,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

LA Bella Durmiente place Calle del Doctor Cortezo 5,Madrid,28012,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Saturday, Sunday

Tuesday June 26 In Joy With Paramount Comedy

place Calle Primitiva Gañan 5,Madrid,28026,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

place Calle del Arenal 11,Madrid,28013,Spain start 20:00h description The best comedians come to Joy Madrid every Tuesday night at 8pm for a fun filled session of laughter.

Eloisa Esta Debajo De Un Almendro

event url http://www.joy-eslava.com/Joy_Madrid/Monologos/Monologos.html

Los Viajes De Maya Y Gallardo.

place Calle de Santa Isabel 19,Madrid,28012,Spain start Saturday June 23 frequency Monday, Saturday

Saturday June 30 Corral De LA Moreria Tablao Flamenco

45

Events

Events · Saturday June 30

place Calle de Morería 17,Madrid,28005,Spain

666 De Yllana place Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain

Eleuterio, Historia De Un Hombre Libre place Calle Antillón 19,Madrid,28011,Spain

Tick, Tick Boom place Calle de Jorge Juan 62,Madrid,28009,Spain

Desparejados place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

No Me Rayes Que Me Embuclo place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

Noches Locas De Cabaret, Mentiras Y Pecados place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

Time Al Tiempo place Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain

Alucina, Un EspectÁculo De Hipnosis place Calle de Lavapiés 11,Madrid,28005,Spain

Historia De España En 70 Minutos place Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

46

Restaurants

Restaurants · Top Best Restaurants

Da'Cuchuffo Madrid

Restaurants

Restaurants

Top Best Restaurants Lua

place C/Zurbano, 85, 28010 Madrid, Spain

Casanis Madrid

Cuisine French Price $38 - $60 place Ventura de la Vega 9, 28014 Madrid, Spain

El Club Allard

Cuisine Fusion place calle Ferraz 2, Madrid, Spain

Panela & Co

place Lopez de Hoyos, 10, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Da'Cuchuffo Madrid

Cuisine Italian, Fusion Price $30 place Juan Alvarez Mendizabal 34, 28008 Madrid, Spain

Diverxo

Price $26 - $99 place Pensamiento 28, 28010 Madrid, Spain

Malacatin

place Calle Ruda, 5, 28005 Madrid, Spain

Price $28 place Juan Alvarez Mendizabal 34, 28008 Madrid, Spain

En Guay Si Pizza

place Rodriguez San Pedro 34, 28015 Madrid, Spain

Vesuvio

place Calle Hortaleza 4, Madrid, Spain

Camoati

Price $40 place Calle de Alfonso VI, 3, 28005 Madrid, Spain

La Vita e Bella

Price $6 - $11 place Plaza de San Ildefonso, 5, Madrid, Spain

Trattoria Malatesta

Price $17 - $28 place Calle de los Coloreros 5, 28013 Madrid, Spain

L'Ulivo d'Oro

place C/ Segovia, 8, 28005 Madrid, Spain

Di Bocca

Price $25 - $46 place calle de gran via 59, Madrid, Spain

Il Pizzaiolo

Price $15 - $27 place Hortaleza, 84, 28004 Madrid, Spain

La Mallorquina

Cuisine Bakery place Puerta del Sol 8, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Mama Gus

Cuisine Spanish Price $21 - $32 place Blasco de Garay 96, 28003 Madrid, Spain

Phuket Thai

Venta El Buscon

Miyama

Cuisine Thai place c/ Atocha, 115, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Pinchos Udaberri

Cuisine Japanese place Flor Baja 5, Madrid, Spain

Lo Scolapasta

Cuisine Asian fusion, Contemporary Price $77 place Calle Aduana 12, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Lieu Restaurante

Cuisine Asian, Barbecue, International, Japanese Price $57 place Virgen de los Peligros 10, 28013 Madrid, Spain

place Calle Victoria, 5-7, 28012 Madrid, Spain Cuisine Basque, Spanish Price $8 - $42 place Calle Bolivia, 30, Madrid, Spain Cuisine Italian Price $29 - $35 place C/ de la Amnistia, 6, 28013 Madrid, Spain Cuisine French, International, Spanish

Minotauro Kalypso Cuisine European

Miyama

Cuisine Japanese place Flor Baja 5, Madrid, Spain

Top Italian Lo Scolapasta

Price $27 - $35 place C/ de la Amnistia, 6, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Top Asian

Cubik

Spott

Pui's Thai Tapas

Cuisine Asian, Tapas, Thai Price $12 - $33 place Calle de Jose Antonio de Armona 7, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Oam Thong

Cuisine Thai Price $58 place Corazon de Maria, 7, 28002 Madrid, Spain

Kabuki

Cuisine Japanese, Sushi place Avenida Presidente Carmona, 2, 28020 Madrid, Spain

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Restaurants

Restaurants · Top Vegetarian

Hanakura

Cuisine Japanese Price $17 - $59 place C/ Murillo 4, 28010 Madrid, Spain

Yataki Sushi Bar

Cuisine Asian Price $23 - $53 place Calle De Antonio Perez, 26 (semiesq. Velazquez, 150), Madrid, Spain

Toma

Cuisine Asian fusion, Bar, Contemporary, Eclectic, Fusion, International Price $27 - $31 place C/ Conde Duque 14, 28015 Madrid, Spain

Top Vegetarian Al Natural

Price $24 place Calle Zorrilla, 11, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Viva la Vida

place Costanilla de San Andres 16 | Plaza de la Paja, 91 366 33 Madrid, Spain

La Biotika

place Amor de Dios 3, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Restaurante Vegetariano Yerbabuena place C/ Bordadores 3, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Siam

Price $27 - $33 place Calle San Bernardino, 6, 28015 Madrid, Spain

Vegaviana

Price $23 - $28 place Calle Pelayo, 35, 28004 Madrid, Spain

Viva la Vida

place Huertas 57, Madrid, Spain

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Useful info

Useful info · Weather

Useful info

Useful info

Weather

Rain 22.06.2012

23.06.2012

24.06.2012

25.06.2012

26.06.2012

27.06.2012

28.06.2012

Wind

11–17 h

24°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to East-northeast

17–23 h

31°

0 mm

3 m/s Light Breeze to Southwest

23–05 h

23°

0 mm

3 m/s Light Breeze to West

05–11 h

18°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to North-northeast

11–17 h

25°

0 mm

1 m/s Light Air to East-southeast

17–23 h

34°

0 mm

4 m/s Gentle Breeze to Southwest

23–05 h

25°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to West-southwest

05–11 h

18°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to North-northeast

11–17 h

28°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to East-northeast

17–23 h

35°

0 mm

1 m/s Light Air to Southwest

02–08 h

25°

0 mm

5 m/s Gentle Breeze to NorthEast

08–14 h

22°

0 mm

3 m/s Light Breeze to NorthEast

14–20 h

34°

0 mm

1 m/s Light Air to South-southeast

20–02 h

36°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to West-southwest

02–08 h

26°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to North-northeast

08–14 h

23°

0 mm

3 m/s Light Breeze to NorthEast

14–20 h

36°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to Southwest

20–02 h

37°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to Southwest

02–08 h

26°

0 mm

4 m/s Gentle Breeze to NorthEast

08–14 h

24°

0 mm

3 m/s Light Breeze to NorthEast

14–20 h

35°

0 mm

3 m/s Light Breeze to South-southwest

20–02 h

35°

0 mm

6 m/s Moderate Breeze to Southwest

02–08 h

27°

0 mm

1 m/s Light Air to South-southeast

08–14 h

24°

0 mm

1 m/s Light Air to SouthEast

14–20 h

36°

0 mm

6 m/s Moderate Breeze to Southwest

20–02 h

35°

0 mm

5 m/s Gentle Breeze to West

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Useful info

Useful info · Sunrise/Sunset

Rain 29.06.2012

30.06.2012

Wind

02–08 h

25°

0 mm

2 m/s Light Breeze to West-southwest

08–14 h

23°

0 mm

1 m/s Light Air to South-southwest

14–20 h

34°

0 mm

5 m/s Gentle Breeze to Southwest

20–02 h

35°

0 mm

5 m/s Gentle Breeze to West-southwest

02–08 h

24°

0 mm

3 m/s Light Breeze to West

08–14 h

22°

0 mm

1 m/s Light Air to South-southwest

14–20 h

35°

0 mm

5 m/s Gentle Breeze to Southwest

20–02 h

35°

0 mm

5 m/s Gentle Breeze to West-southwest

Sunrise/Sunset Sun will rise at 06:45:03 and will set at 21:48:44 in local time.

Currency The currency from Spain is the Euro (EUR).

1 EUR costs: Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00 EUR United States Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.27 USD Yen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101.46 JPY Pound Sterling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.81 GBP Czech Koruna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.68 CZK Danish Krone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.43 DKK Forint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285.83 HUF Litas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.45 LTL New Zloty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.25 PLN Swedish Krona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.84 SEK Swiss Franc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.20 CHF Norwegian Krone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.50 NOK Croatian Kuna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.53 HRK Australian Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.24 AUD Canadian Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.29 CAD Yuan Renminbi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.06 CNY Hong Kong Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.83 HKD Rupiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,983.57 IDR Republic of Korean Won . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,462.48 KRW Ringgit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.02 MYR New Zealand Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.59 NZD Philippines Peso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.75 PHP Singapore Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.61 SGD Baht . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.18 THB Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.43 ZAR

50

Useful info

Useful info · Useful phrases

Useful phrases English

Spanish

Welcome Hello Hello(on phone) Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Good night, Night night, Nighty Night, Good night, sleep tight, hope the bedbugs don't bite!

Goodbye How are you?

Reply Long time no see What's your name?

My name is ...

Where are you from?

I come from ...

Pleased to meet you Good luck Cheers! Bottoms up! Down the hatch! Mud in your eye!

Bon appetit! Enjoy your meal! (frm) Enjoy! Tuck in! Get stuck in!

Eat already! (inf/slang) Happy eating! Get your laughing gear round this! (inf/slang) Bon voyage / have a good journey Excuse me Sorry How much is this? / How much does this cost?

Please Thank you Thank you very much Thank you kindly Thanks a lot Many thanks Thanks Cheers Ta (used mainly in northen England) You're welcome Don't mention it My pleasure No problem No probs Not a problem No worries No big deal Where's the toilet / lavatory / bathroom / restroom / powder room / gents/ladies? Where's the loo / bog / dunny / little boys'/ girls' room? (inf/slang) Have a nice day Get well soon Would you like to dance with me?

I love you I don't understand Please say that again Please speak more slowly Can you please write it down?

How do you say ... in english?

Do you speak english?

Yes, a little Leave me alone!

Help!

Bienvenido (sg) Bienvenidos (pl) ¡Hola! ¡Diga! ¡Dígame! ¿Sí? ¿Bueno? ¡Hola! ¿Aló?

Buenos días Buenas tardes Buenas tardes / Buenas noches Buenas noches Adiós, Hasta luego, Hasta la vista, Hasta mañana ¿Cómo está usted? (frm) ¿Cómo estás? (inf ) Bien gracias, ¿y usted? (frm) Bien gracias, ¿y tú? (inf ) ¡Cuánto tiempo! ¡Tanto tiempo sin verte! ¿Cómo te llamas? (inf ) ¿Cómo se llama Usted? (frm) Me llamo ... Mi nombre es ... ¿De dónde eres? (inf ) ¿De dónde es usted? (frm) Soy de ...

Mucho gusto Encantado ¡Buena suerte! ¡Salud! ¡Buen provecho! ¡Buen apetito! ¡Que aproveche!

¡Buen viaje! ¡Perdón! ¡Perdone! ¡Discúlpe! ¡Perdón! ¡Perdone! ¡Lo siento! ¿Cuánto cuesta? ¿Cuánto cuesta esto?

Por favor Gracias Muchas gracias

De nada No hay de qué ¿Dónde están los aseos ¿Dónde están los sanitarios? ¿Dónde está el baño? ¿Dónde está el cuarto de baño? ¡Que pase un buen día!

Que te mejores Que te mejores pronto ¡Recupérate pronto!

Pronta recuperación ¿Querría bailar conmigo? (frm) ¿Querrías bailar conmigo? (inf ) ¿Quisiera bailar conmigo? (frm) ¿Quisieras bailar conmigo? (inf ) Te amo / Te quiero No entiendo No comprendo ¿Me lo puede repetir, por favor? ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?

Por favor hable más despacio ¿Puede escribirlo, por favor? ¿Cómo se dice ... en español? ¿Habla usted español? (frm) ¿Hablas español? (inf ) Sí, hablo un poquito de español Sí, un poco ¡Déjeme en paz! ¡Ayúdame! ¡Socorro! ¡Auxilio!

51

Useful info

Useful info · Emergency numbers

Emergency numbers Police: 112 Medical: 112 Fire: 112 Notes: National – 091; Local Police – 092; Ambulance – 061; Fire – 080,085; Civil Guard – 062; Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) 088.

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Maps

Maps · Underground

Maps

Maps

Underground

53

Maps

Maps · City center west

City center west

54

Maps

Maps · City center east

City center east

55

Travel activities

Travel activities ·

Travel

Travel activities

activities

56

Travel activities

Travel activities ·

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Travel activities

Travel activities ·

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Travel activities

Travel activities ·

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Travel activities

Travel activities ·

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Travel activities

Travel activities ·

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Travel activities

Travel activities ·

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References

References ·

Reasonable care has been taken in creating this personalized travel guide by combining information from the sources identified under the section 'references'. However, the information is provided 'as is' and there is no warranty about the information in the guide being accurate, complete or up to date. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, all liability arising from the use of this guide will be denied. Verifying critical information (like visas, health and safety) before you travel is recommended.

References

References

Madrid data is from Wikitravel, urls: – http://www.wikitravel.com This page was last edited at 15:56, on 10 July 2011 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Hari Vishnu, Christopher and Claus Hansen, Wikitravel user(s) Zepppep, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

City info data is from Wikipedia, urls: – http://www.wikipedia.com Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Events data is from Eventful, urls: – www.eventful.com Weather data is from Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation yr.no, urls: – http://www.yr.no/place/Spania/Madrid/Madrid/ Sunset data is from Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation yr.no, urls: – http://www.yr.no/place/Spania/Madrid/Madrid/ Currency data is from Xavier Finance Api, urls: – http://finance.xaviermedia.com/ Maps data is from Yahoo Local Maps, OpenStreetMap, Qype, urls: – http://maps.yahoo.com – http://www.openstreetmap.org – http://www.qype.com Cover data is from Flickr, urls: – http://flickr.com

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