City of Madrid

by Karol Sowa

1. City of Madrid

2. Route to Madrid from Dąbrowa Górnicza Madrid is located in the centre of Spain , and the two main ways to get there would be by plane from Kraków ( about three and half hours ), or by car, through Germany and France ( about 26 hours ).

3. Madrid is the  capital of Spain , and is home to the Spanish Royal family as well as the Spanish Government. It is a  modern metropolitan city  and an economical and industrial center of Spain, and, with its population of nearly 3,5 million people, is also the biggest city in Spain.It is   located in the centre   of the Iberian Peninsula, and is surrounded by mountains and natural parks. Although it is located in the centre of the country, it has traditionally been the hub between different areas of Spain and is therefore  connected to all major Spanish cities  by train, road or air.

4. Population and society Madrid is the second biggest city in Europe, surpassed only by Berlin. Its metropolitan area has almost 6,7 milion inhabitants . Madrid also has the greatest population density in Spain. Its inhabitants are mainly concentrated in the capital and in a series of municipalities , as opposed to in rural areas with low population density. Its citizens have diverse origins, and Madrid is the province with the highest number of residents born outside its territory and with the largest foreign population .

5. History Originally named Mayrit , the city of Madrid was founded by the emir Muhammad at the close of the ninth century A.D. The city came to prominence during the Arab occupation of the Iberian peninsula, but passed into Christian hands during the Reconquest of Spain by the Christians. The present location of Madrid—in Spain’s center—was established in 1083 by King Alfonso I . Madrid consolidated in the Late Middle Ages as a middle to upper-middle rank town of the Crown of Castile . The development of Madrid as administrative centre began when the court of the  Hispanic monarchy was settled in the town in 1561.

6. Puerta del Sol , literally “door of the sun”, is one of the most famous squares in Madrid and a meeting point for locals and tourists alike. It’s the center of the city and the first stop for most visitors. Here, you’ll find three of the main symbols Madrid is known for. The first is  El Oso y el Madroño  (Statue of the Bear and Strawberry Tree), which represents Madrid’s coat of arms. It’s where you’ll find people impatiently looking at their watches, as this is a popular meeting spot. The second is  Real Casa de Correos  (House of the Post Office), which isn’t known for its impeccable postal services but for its clock instead, where thousands of people gather annually to eat 12 grapes before welcoming the New Year. Third and last is  Kilometer Zero , the starting point for every road in Spain.

7. The  Royal Palace of Madrid  was built in the 18th century and is the official residence of the  Spanish Royal Family . Actually, nowadays, the palace is used exclusively for receptions, ceremonies, and official acts, as the monarchs of Spain have taken up residency in the Zarzuela Palace. The Palace is surrounded by  Campo del Moro Park , to the west, that dates back to the Middle Ages, and the  gardens of Sabatini , which you may visit during the daytime. The changing of Guard at the Royal Palace of Madrid takes place every Wednesday from October to July at 11 am.

8. Gran Vía , the most famous boulevard of Madrid, was built between 1910 and 1929 to connect the Salamanca and Argüelles neighborhoods. It’s filled with shops, restaurants, and some of the city’s most iconic buildings, like the  Metropolis  or the  Carrion building  with the famous Schweppes sign. In the olden days, Gran Vía used to be named  the Spanish Broadway , but every year more theaters and cinemas close down. Regardless, it’s still “the street that never sleeps”, as it’s one of the epicenters of nightlife in Madrid and even most shops stay open until dark.

9. Parque del Retiro   is Madrid’s most famous park and, since opening to the public in 1868, it has become a backwater of history and peace. It was originally built for the enjoyment of King Philip IV. It got somewhat damaged during the War of Independence, but later regained its charm and elegance, becoming a place for commoners and royals. There’s a  scenic lake , where you can rent rowboats or hop in a larger boat that goes around the pond; there’s a  Crystal Palace , a greenhouse turned exhibition gallery; and the  monument to King Alfonso VII , an impressive statue at the end of the lake where musicians usually gather around to entertain passing visitors.

10. Monasterio de Las Descalzas Reales was f ounded in the 16th century and housed in a Renaissance-style royal palace, the Convent of the Barefoot Royals amassed great riches over the years from the dowries of the Spanish noblewomen who were once cloistered here. Today the church and museum (now administered by the Spanish state with permission from the Pope) displays an impressive wealth of paintings, frescoes, statues, tapestries and religious artifacts, such as Saint Sebastian's bones. The richly decorated palace is a must-see on any Madrid itinerary and is conveniently located near the Puerta de Sol. Though no longer of noble extraction, the convent still houses a few nuns.

11. One of Madrid's most unique attractions is the Temple of Debod . Located in the Parque del Oeste and mostly surrounded by an artificial pool of water, the ancient Egyptian temple dates from the second century BC and was dedicated to Amun and later to Isis. The temple was a gift from Egypt to Spain in recognition of Spain's support in saving Abu Simbel's temples from the construction of the Aswan Dam. Inside the temple you can see a series of religious reliefs and admire the temple's architecture. Entrance to the museum is free during the day, but at any hour, visitors can and do come to appreciate its exterior.

12. Containing the largest Christian dome outside of Rome, the Basilica de San Francisco El Grande is an 18th century Roman Catholic basilica built in the Neoclassical style. The interior is richly decorated with murals, paintings and statues and has been restored several times over the years. One of its attractions is the collection of 17th to 19th century Spanish paintings, which includes works from celebrated Spanish painters Goya and Zurbaran . While the basilica was once used as Spain's National Pantheon, today it is a National Monument . Unless there is a religious service, the basilica's museum is open to visitors for most of the day.

13. Puerto de Alcala , l ocated on a large roundabout in Plaza de la Independencia . Th is neoclassical passageway was one of the five ancient entrances to the city. In fact, it got its name because it stands in the road that led to Alcalá de Henares. Its appearance is similar to the triumphal arches built by the Romans, and it was designed by the Italian architect Francesco Sabatini , who finished the construction in 1778. Since then, the statues, engravings and columns that decorate the five arches have undergone five restorations. It’s currently doing splendidly and is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Madrid. 

14. Prado Museum , Spanish  Museo del Prado , art  museum  in Madrid, housing the world’s richest and most  comprehensive  collection of Spanish  painting , as well as masterpieces of other schools of European painting, especially Italian and  Flemish art . The Prado contains the most complete collections in the world of the works of  El Greco ,  Velázquez , and  Francisco de Goya , as well as of such Spanish masters as  José de Ribera   and  Francisco de Zurbarán . 

15. Source: https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/madrid-e-mad-mad.htm Plaza Mayor

16. Real Madrid is one of the best and most titled teams in the history of football.  The  honorific title   real  is Spanish for "royal" and was bestowed to the club by  King Alfonso XIII together with the royal crown in the emblem.  Real Madrid is one of the most widely supported teams in the world. They hold many long -standing rivalries , most notably   El Clásico   with Barcelona and  El Derbi Madrileño   with  Atlético Madrid . The club plays its home matches at Santiago Bernabeu .

17. Madrid is almost in the exact geographic centre of Spain and it is the nation's chief transportation and administrative centre . The city's major industrial products include motor vehicles, aircraft, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, processed food, printed materials, and leather goods . Besides its many manufacturing industries. While Madrid is an important industrial centre , it is more important as a centre of service activities . These include government, banking, publishing, insurance and finance . Madrid is also a major centre of Spain's tourist industry . Industry

18. Events Every year on and around May 15th , Madrid honours its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador , with a packed programme of events featuring concerts, shows and an endless range of activities for all ages. Tradition meets modernity in the week-long festivities that see Madrileños dress up and dance  chotis  in the streets and enjoy picnics with friends and family in the  Pradera de San Isidro Park . 

19. Nowhere in the world, perhaps, is bullfighting as important or as revered as it is in the capital city of Madrid. As the weather begins to warm in mid to late March, the Plaza de las Ventas is once again transformed into a giant venue featuring some of the planet’s most exciting and well-attended bullfight events—a sport locally referred to as corridas.

20. In 1894, Luis Colomo told the story of Ratoncito Pérez to the young King Alphonso, who had just lost a tooth. Ratoncito Pérez was a mouse who lived in a box of cookies with his family in Madrid. He travels through the pipes of the city to reach the bedrooms of children who had just lost a tooth . When the children place their tooth under their pillows, Ratoncito Pérez exchange the tooth for a small gift. The character gained so much popularity that it was the first fictional character paid tribute to by the city council of Madrid with a commemorative plaque.

21. Famous people Madrid is the hometown of many famous people : singers like Julio and Enrique Iglesias , sportsmen like David de Gea , Raul Gonzalez and artists ( Alba Flores, Esther Acebo ).

22. Weather forecast Map of Madrid City Tour

23. Questions How was Madrid named originally ? What is popularly called the „Spanish Broadway”? How is the rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona called ? Who is the patron of Madrid ? How are the famous bull fights called in Spanish? Who was Ratoncito Pérez ?

24. https://www.gostudyspain.es/About-Madrid.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid https://www.gocartours.com/blog/brief-history-madrid https://heyexplorer.com/what-is-madrid-known-for/ https://www.10best.com/destinations/spain/madrid/attractions/historic-sites/ https://www.spainexchange.com/articles/traditions-of-madrid-spain/ Sources :

25. Author: Karol Sowa, 1st year of English Philology