Dollar Thrifty Travel Guide for Madrid

MADRIDJUST MADE FOR MICHAELFROM JUNE 22 UNTIL JUNE 30, 2012

Table of contents

3

1 Madrid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Understand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Get in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Get around. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Do. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Learn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82Buy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82Eat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92Drink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112Sleep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122Contact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142Cope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142Stay safe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142Get out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

1 City info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Toponym. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Districts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Metropolitan area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252Architecture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272Economy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292Demographics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322Transport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332Other historic buildings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352Notes and references. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

1 Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432Long term events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432Saturday June 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452Monday June 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452Tuesday June 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452Saturday June 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

1 Restaurants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472Top Best Restaurants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472Top Italian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472Top Asian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472Top Vegetarian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

1 Useful info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 492Weather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 492Sunrise/Sunset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502Currency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502Useful phrases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512Emergency numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

1 Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 531 Travel activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Madrid Madrid · Understand

4

Madrid

Madrid

Understand

Location

Madrid is located just northeast of the geographical centerof the Iberian Peninsula, in the middle of the Spanish centralCastillian plateau (Meseta central), at an average altitude of650m. Nearly all of the most famous tourist areas are locatedin the center of the city including Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor,Palacio Real, and Plaza de Colón. The major streets in Madridinclude the Gran Via, Alcalá Street, and Paseo de la Castellana.

Climate

The climate of Madrid is continental; mainly dry and quiteextreme at times. Madrid sees perpetual sunshine and acharacteristically hot and dry summer, and a fairly cold winterwith frequent frosts during the night and the occasionalsnowfall. Spring and autumn are mild with the most rainfallconcentrated in these seasons. Spring and autumn aredefinitely the best times to visit, especially the months of April,May, June, September and October. There is very little rainfallduring summer and also less rainfall during winter. Duringwinter snow occurs sporadically, however snowfall usually lastsonly for a few days, but there is abundant snowfall in theadjacent mountain ranges nearby.

Culture

Royal Palace

The culture of Madrid was dominated by its Royal history,centre of the Spanish Empire. The Royal Palace, big palacesand buildings used by the Spanish Monarch and, enormouscathedrals and churches are plentiful in Madrid. Medievalarchitecture is common although nowadays Madrid is just asmuch a cosmopolitan city as Berlin or London, full of newarchitecture, lifestyle and culture.

Get in

By plane

Madrid Barajas International Airport (IATA: MAD), 902 404704, is located 13km from the Puerta del Sol. It has 4 terminals,including a new low-cost carrier terminal that opened in 2006.

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

The airport is connected to the city by Metro line 8 (pink). Toget to Sol (Madrids center) you will have to take Line 8 to thelast stop (Nuevos Ministerios) and then transfer to line 10 goingsouthbound to Tribunal and then Line 1 to Sol. Metro ticketsto/from the airport cost €2. A Express Bus Service for 2 eurosreaches O'Donell, Cibeles and Atocha .

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

Buses 200 and 204 operate between the airport and PlazaColón 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 thehighway. Night Shuttle operates a night bus between theairport and city center for €9.90 per person. Taxis from theairport to the city center cost ~€32.

There are plans for a commuter train link fromAtocha and Chamartín to the airport, expected to beoperational by 2011 or 2012 (the airport station is underconstruction 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 inEurope.

Two smaller airports, Torrejón and Cuatro Vientos, also serve thecity, however, there are no commercial flights coming in or outof these two airports.

By train

Tropical garden in Atocha

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

Madrid Madrid · Get around

5

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

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

By bus

Madrid has eight enormous international and intercitybus stations. Information on where buses to a particulardestination depart from can be found at the Tourist Office.

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

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

By car

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

Get around

Public Transport

Madrid proudly sports one of the best public transportationnetworks in the world and the second largest metro networkin Europe, second only to London's. Buses and subways forman integrated network and work with the same tickets. Asingle 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. Ticketscan be purchased at Metro stations, news-stands, and estancos(tobacconists').

By metro

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

it is included in the price. You can catch some trains as late as2:00AM, although the official close time for the metro systemis at 1:30AM.

Nights before Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays have anight bus (MetroBúho) service on the same routes as the Metrolines, from rougly 01:00AM to 05:30AM. Stops for these lines aresometimes not in obvious places, especially in the pedestrianareas in the city center.

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

By bus

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

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

By train

Madrid has a system of local trains (Cercanías) that connectoutlying suburbs and villages with the city center. Althoughmost useful for visiting historic or outdoor destinations outsidethe city core, they are also useful for quickly getting from thenorth end of the city (Chamartin and Nuevos Ministros) to thesouth end of the city (Sol and Atocha).

By taxi

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 majorroad or bus stop and wave your hand to signal an availabletaxi passing by. Available taxis have a green libre sign in thewindshield and a green light on top.

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

There are also special surcharges for entering or leavingthe airport/train station. Ask for the written table of tariffsand charges (suplementos) (shown on small stickers on rearwindows, compulsory by law) before paying if you think it's tooexpensive.

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

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

Madrid Madrid · Talk

6

By car

Transportation by private automobile in Madrid can bea nightmare. The Spanish capital suffers from the typicalproblems of most big cities; far too many cars and not enoughspace to accommodate them. Sometimes there can even betraffic jams in the Paseo de la Castellana at 3:00 AM (early tosome Madrileños). The problem is compounded by the narrowstreets in the old town, where a lorry delivering beer barrelsto a local bar can cause a huge tailback. Looking for a placeto park your car Finding a parking space can be very timeconsuming, and difficult if one is not skilled in the art of closeproximity parallel parking. Many Spaniards are also lacking inthis art, prompting them to simply park in the street, blockingother cars in. If you find yourself blocked in by such a practice,honk your horn until the driver returns. If you parallel parkyour car in Madrid, be aware that most Madrileños park bysound alone. They will feel no remorse for repeatedly hittingthe car in front and behind them while trying to get into or outof a tight spot. If you value your car's paint job, or you haverented a car, it may be best to park underground. Though thisis no guarantee for nobody hitting your car, the chances aresomewhat diminished.

In short, renting a car is not only unnecessary, but notrecommended for getting around downtown Madrid, and a caris likely to be more of a liability than an asset. Visitors shouldmake use of Madrid's excellent public transportation instead.Renting a car only makes sense if you are planning to leaveMadrid and drive to the nearby towns.

By bicycle

El Retiro

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

Talk

While knowledge of the English language is increasingamongst the younger generations, the majority of Madrid'sresidents know only a few words - even employees atAmerican businesses such as McDonald's and employees atcash exchange centers rarely speak much English. You canoften find someone with a fair grasp of English at larger hotelsand tourism sites, but it would nevertheless be helpful to knowat least a few common Spanish words and phrases.

Do

There are a number of free, English language periodicals thatyou will find in bars and restaurants that are a great sourceof event information. PopGuide Madrid is Madrid's premierEnglish and German lifestyle magazine and features the bestMadrid has to offer and the latest in film, fashion, musicand art. The monthly InMadrid newspaper has a number ofarticles and information about events around town. Aimedat the 20-35-year-old crowd, European Vibe has listingsfor concerts, exhibitions, bars, restaurants, parties and otherevents happening in Madrid as well as articles about living inthe 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 culturalcenter, located a short walk from Sol, offers up a wide varietyof events and shows including film, music, art displays,dance, theater and more. See the website (in Spanish) for alist of activities.

Flamenco Shows

Corral de la Moreria, . One of the most famous flamencotablaos in the world. It☎s right in the heart of the city, andyou can enjoy a full fledged Spanish meal while you watchperformances by renowned international flamenco musicand dance artists.

Las Tablas, Plaza España, 9 (Walk from Plaza España metro),☎ +34 915 420 520 ([email protected]), . A verypopular 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 trulya treat.

Tablao Flamenco Cardamomo (Cardamomo FlamencoShow), Echegaray 15, . Authentic Flamenco show in thecenter of Madrid, one of the gratest tablaos flamencos allover Spain, typical spanish food during the performance.

Madrid Madrid · Do

7

Concert Venues

Sala Heineken, Princesa 1 (Metro: Plaza España), ☎ +34 915476680, . National touring acts for rock and pop music.

La Riviera, Paseo Bajo de la Virgen (Metro: Puerta del Angelor Principe Pío), ☎ +34 91 3652415, . Another large venue fortouring 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 Sunat the Auditorio Nacional on Calle Principe de Vergara. TheAuditorio Nacional is also the main concert venue for thesymphonic concerts of the Community of Madrid Orchestraand the Madrid symphony Orchestra and the main venue fortouring classical artists and orchestras.

Teatro Real (Royal Theatre). The main opera theatre inMadrid.

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

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

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

Cuartel del Condeduque

Foundation Joan March Auditorium.

Banda Municipal de Madrid. Performs in El Retiro Park in thesummer.

Sports

Football

Three teams from Madrid play in La Liga (Spain's premierdivision). The matches between Real Madrid and Atlético deMadrid are known as "El Derbi Madrileño" (English: MadridDerby).

Real Madrid, . For football fanatics, a trip to the SantiagoBernabeu, the home of local club Real Madrid is not to bemissed. Real Madrid is the most successful football club inSpain and Europe, having been crowned Spanish championsa record 31 times and European champions a record 9 times.Their biggest rivals by far are FC Barcelona, with whichit contests matches known popularly as El Clásico at leasttwice a year. The rivalry between the two sides is by farthe biggest in Spain and one of the most intense in theworld, 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 cantake a self-guided tour of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Itincludes tours around the field, the dressing rooms, the PressRoom and the Real Madrid Museum where the trophiesand other memorabilia are kept. Without a loyalty card, thetypical fees for adults is €15. However, a few days beforea match, the chances are you will not be able to take thefull tour, but only a part of it, with at least the Real MadridMuseum, at a reduced price.

Atlético de Madrid, . Plays games in the Vicente Calderónstadium. The club is one of the most successful in SpanishLeague history, having won both La Liga and the Copa delRey on nine occasions, including a double in 1996. They alsowon the European Cup Winners Cup in 1962, were EuropeanCup runners-up in 1974, Intercontinental Cup winners in1975 and more recently won the UEFA Europa League in2010.

Getafe Club de Fútbol, . Plays games at Coliseum AlfonsoPérez.

Bullfighting

Las Ventas Bullring, (Metro: Ventas), . The birth place ofbullfighting. Unless you find this spectacle distasteful, thisis a must see if you visit Madrid during the bullfightingseason (May, during San Isidro). Tickets may nevertheless beexpensive 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: SanFermin - Orcasur; Bus numbers 23 - 78 - 123), . Held in mid-May at La Caja Mágica.

Movies and film

There are a number of cinemas offering American and Britishfilms in English (along with films in other languages). Theseoriginal films are denoted in the listings by a designation of"V.O." which stands for versión original. Cinemas in Madrid willsometimes have días del espectador (viewer days) with cheaperticket prices, usually on Mondays or Wednesdays. Some of theV.O. theaters to check out are:

Yelmo Cineplex Ideal, Doctor Cortezo 6 (metro: Sol), ☎ +34 913692518, . Probably the best known V.O. theater in Madrid, it

Madrid Madrid · Learn

8

offers the largest selection of movies and is only a short walkfrom Sol.

Cine Doré, la Filmoteca Española, Calle Santa Isabel 3 (metro:Anton Martín), ☎ +34 91 3691125, . This is a wonderful, oldSpanish theater dating from the 1920's. It has three screensand shows mainly "art-house" and critically acclaimed filmsin V.O. In the summertime, they screen movies on the roof.From €2.50.

Princesa, Calle Princesa 3 (metro: Plaza de España), ☎ +34 915414100, .

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

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

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

Renoir Retiro, Calle Narvaez 42 (metro: Ibiza), ☎ +34 915414100

Cinesa Proyecciones 3D, Calle Fuencarral 136 (metro:Quevedo), ☎ +34 902 33 32 31, . This is a great movie theathershowing all of the latest movies. It has both 3D movies andnormal movies. There is also a shop in the movie theatherwhere they sell all kinds of candy, drinks, and popcorn. Greatfor children!> 7.60€(on working days),7.60€ (on weekendsand festives), 6.00€ (reduced priced). Note: an additional2.50€ 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 ina shopping mall know for its ice-skating ring. It is a greatplace where teenagers can hang out since the mall also hasrestaurants, bars, and shops. 7.50€.

There are also a few movie theathers in Madrid where theyshow the orignial version of the movies subtitled in theiroriginal language. The list is provided below.

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

California, Calle Andrés Mellado 53 (metro: Moncloa), ☎ +3491 5440058

Learn

Language Schools

Academia Eureka, Calle del Arenal, 26 - 3º D, 28013 Madrid,☎ +34 915 488 640 ([email protected], fax: +34915 482 580), . Academia Eureka is a Spanish languageschool located in the heart of Madrid near Puerta del Sol.

The school's sole objective is teaching Spanish as a foreignlanguage. Academia Eureka is accredited by the InstitutoCervantes and has been offering Spanish classes since 1988.The school offers optional housing : on-site or with a Spanishfamily and provides after-school activities and excursions.Classes start on Monday and all 6 levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1and C2) are offered. Class sizes are small with a maximum of8 students per class.

Buy

Major credit cards and foreign bank cards are accepted inmost stores, but be aware that it is common practice to beasked for photo-ID ("D.N.I."). If asked for your DNI presentyour passport, residency permit or foreign ID card. Basicallyanything with your photo and name on it will be accepted bymost shopkeepers. The signatures on credit cards are usuallynot checked.

Shopping Districts

In addition to the shopping areas below, there are also agreat number of H&M, Zara, Mango, and Blanco stores all overMadrid, with high fashion clothes and accessories at a lowprice.

Sol-Salamanca districts. The most convenient area fortourists is around Calle de Preciados, between Sol andGran Vía. It´s home to the El Corte Inglés departmentstore, high-street names like Zara.Gran Vía has storeslike H&M, Sephora, Pimkie. The smartest shopping districtis Salamanca, northeast of the center, around Calle Serrano.Top designer names like Chanel, Versace, Hermès, HugoBoss, Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani, Dolce e Gabbanaand Hugo Boss. This area also includes the fluid fabricsand elegant cuts of Spanish designer Adolfo Domínguezlocated on Calle Ortega y Gasset. Head for Calle Serranofor Purificación García, Roberto Verino, Ermenegildo Zegna,Loewe, Carolina Herrera, Manolo Blanik, Cartier, and YvesSaint Laurent. Prada is on Goya street, and on Jorge Juan Styou can find even more luxury shops.

Chueca and Fuencarral Street Area— This part of thecity used to be an abandoned and marginal area. Howeverrecently, it has quickly turned into the most avant-garde andmodern part of Madrid. Thanks to the gay community, oldshops were taken over and turned into the coolest places ofMadrid. Today it is an example of modernity, a paradise forentertainment where everything is possible. The streets arefilled with restaurants, alternative cafés and shops, a goodexample is the Market of Fuencarral (Mercado de Fuencarral,in Spanish) a novel shopping center concept. Apart fromthe purely commercial, this area proposes a wide range ofgastronomy and party clubs by night during the weekends.

Madrid Madrid · Eat

9

Markets

El Rastro, (Metro: La Latina) is only open on Sundaymornings. This is Madrid's largest flea market, featuringrows upon rows of private vendors selling a variety ofhomemade goodies and a plethora of live entertainment.It is very important to note that the Rastro is notoriousfor having an abundance of pickpockets, so watch yourhandbag closely and do not bring along valuables.

Cuesta de Moyano, (near Museo del Prado). A quaintoutdoor book market

Fuencarral Market (Mercado de Fuencarral), Fuencarralstreet 45, between Tribunal and Gran Via (Metro: GranVia), . One of the most daring and dynamic spaces inthe city. Besides shops selling clothes, shoes, accessoriesand decorative items that will delight the most daringand fashion conscious shoppers, this modern market alsooffers 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 projectionsand theater pieces in the old cinema room. The Cinema andactivities are open until midnight. Its 3 floors crowded ofmodern shops are aimed specially for young people.

El Corte Inglés, Several locations, This is Spain's largestdepartment 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 tothe west corner of Plaza Mayor), . Sets the ambience of atraditional market, with the advantages of the new times. Ithas an Iron and Glass Structure from the 20th Century.

Eat

Cuisine

Dishes popular throughout Spain are also widely served inMadrid.

In addition, Madrid has a number of "typical" dishes:

Gallinejas and Entresijos - Portions from different parts oflamb fried in its fat. Very traditional and typical from Madridcity.

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

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

served. The soup, chickpeas and meats are served and eatenseparately.

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

Sopa de Ajo - Garlic soup is a rich and oily soup whichgenerally includes paprika, grated Spanish ham, fried breadand a poached egg. A variation of this soup is known as SopaCastellana.

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

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

Restaurants

Many of the restaurants and cervecerías in the Sol and PlazaMayor area have "generic" poster board advertisements on thesidewalks with pictures advertising various paella dishes. If youare looking for good, authentic Spanish paella, it is usually bestto find a more expensive, "sit-down" type of restaurant thatoffers a variety of paella dishes.

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

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

The Spaniards don't eat lunch until 2 or 3 pm, and dinnerdoesn't start until 9 or 10 pm. As a rule of thumb, restaurantsserve lunch from 1PM (earlier in touristic zones) until 3:30PM,then close and re-open for dinner at 8:00PM, serving until11:00PM. This schedule is usually for restaurants since barsand "mesones" are usually opened all day long offering a widevariety of "tapas" and "bocadillos"(rolls) for a cheap price. Ifyou're really desperate, the standard bunch of fast food chainsdo stay open throughout the day.

Budget

Freiduría de Gallinejas Embajadores, Calle de Embajadores84 (near Glorieta Embajadores, Metro lines L3 and L5),☎ 915175933, . 11:00-23:00. Another classic tapas barin Madrid. Not for conservatives stomachs. Their mostrequested tapas are two of the most typical and traditionaldishes in Madrid since more than 70 years ago: Gallinejas

Madrid Madrid · Eat

10

and Entresijos. A treat for adventurous palates and lamblovers.

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

Museo del Jamon

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

Mid-range

Alhambra, Calle de Victoria 9 (Metro: Sevilla), ☎ +34 915210708. This is a good place to stop in on a hot afternoonfor a cold beer and some Andalusian tapas. Try some of theirsausages and cheeses.

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

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

an area with plenty of places to eat and pubs. It is stillclose enough from city centre but offers a more relaxedsurrounding, making it one specially indicated for families,although there is an ample age range of customers. Bacchusoffers a mixture of innovative and old style tapas. Very goodand 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 conchurros, this Madrid fixture is open 24 hours a day, and is theperfect place to top off a night on the town. Also offers theusual assortment of coffees and teas.

Cocina Mex-Mex, Calle Libertad 33 (metro: Chueca), ☎ +34 91521 7640. This is a small, usually crowded, friendly Mexicanrestaurant 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 greatPeruvian restaurant a short walk from Sol. Be sure to ordersome of their ceviche and try the Pisco Sour cocktail.

Estay, Calle de Hermosilla 46 (metro: Velázquez), ☎ +34 915780470. closed on Sundays. A great place for tapas, theyoffer a large menu, reasonable prices and excellent qualityfood. The Solomillo al Foie is excellent and the deserts arerecommended as well. Very crowded on Friday and Saturdaynights.

Jaen 3, Calle Poitiers 3 (metro: Coslada Estadio Olimpico), ☎+34 63 0036987. An excellent bar de tapas and restaurant. Anice place to enjoy good Spanish food and original lifestylewithout having to spend too much. The place is just outsidecentral Madrid and so it's not influenced by classic touristtraps and you can enjoy some good food and true racionesand the good old Spanish bar life. The owners are nicepeople and you might find yourself chatting with themabout Madrid and Spain. In summer time it has a superbteraza 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), ☎ +3491 5212319. A Madrid landmark in operation for over 100years, this place attracts a standing room only crowd on theweekends. They mainly serve shrimp based tapas dishes soif you're not into shellfish steer clear. Order a plate of theirgarlic 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 canget mixed with chorizo or other items. Also try the pinchomoruno (pork skewers) or any of the other items you see

Madrid Madrid · Drink

11

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

Malacatin, Calle Ruda 5, . Serves all the typical Madridcuisine.

Midnight Rose, Plaza de Santa Ana, 14, . Daily1:30pm-4:30pm, 8:30pm-12am. Restaurant of the ME MadridHotel. Mediterranean cuisine with Asian, American andItalian influences, with emphasis on seasonal Produce.Dining for private parties as well.

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

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

The Penthouse, Plaza de Santa Ana 14, ☎ +34 91 7016000, .Located on the roof of the ME Madrid hotel, terrace-stylerestaurant serving tapas and traditional cuisine. At nightthey 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: Bancode Espana), . A soaring hall on the ground floor of Madrid´sart center combines atmosphere, excellent food and goodcoffee at reasonable prices. A wonderful place for lunch notfar from Madrid´s shopping or museums.

Cafe Commercial, Cafe Commercial (Metro: Bilbao). openedin the 1880´s, this is the oldest cafe in Madrid. Has beenrun by the same family since the early 1900's. There´s amodern internet cafe upstairs, but the downstairs remainstraditional.

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

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

banquet room with a glass floor over ancient remains.Excellent food.

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

La Mallorquina, Puerta del Sol 8, Mayor, 2 (Metro: Sol).Famous for its pastries. Peaceful upstairs room where youcan linger undisturbed over your café con leche andnapolitana 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 tothe bars at 10-11PM.

El Rincón de Fogg. Calle Juan de Urbieta 12. (Metro Pacífico).www.elrincondefogg.com Open daily from 07:00 to 22:00and Friday and Saturday till 00:00. You can have 2 litres ofsangría in a self service dispenser from just €14, or €13 for2 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 eatingand drinking. If you say you've read this, they'll invite you toa glass of rosado wine.

Areia, Calle Horteleza 96 (Metro: Chueca), . Very cool chillout 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 fourposter bed at the back. Drinks: €7 before 22:00 and €8 after22:00.

La Corolla, Visitag Manzana 10 (Metro: La Latina). Specializesin delicious ‘tostas’ (small pieces of toast with differenttoppings) and avocado (aguacate), along with cañas (smallbeers). Tostas + 2 cañas: €10.

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

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

Museo Chicote, Gran Via (Metro: Gran Via), . Daily: 17:00 to02:00. Voted the Best European Bar 2004 by MTV-Campari.Extensive cocktail list. Claims to have served drinks to manyfamous celebrities, including, Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra,Lana Turner, Gary Cooper, Orson Wells, Yul Brynner andErnest Hemingway, Catherine Zeta Jones, Hugh Grant andTim 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

Madrid Madrid · Sleep

12

music and a very nice and original decoration. Extensivecocktail list.

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

Stork Bar (Stork Bar Madrid), Mancebos 2, La Latina (Metro:Latina), ☎ +34913656357 ([email protected]), . CocktailLounge & World food in the heart of La Latina. Great summerterrace and surprising basement brick cave with live musicand karaoke.

Clubs

Clubs generally open at about midnight. If you go in any earlieryou 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 withmodern features, clean rooms and helpful staff. Just over1.5km walk from the Bernabeu Stadium.

Budget

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

Mad Hostel, C/De la Cabeza, 24, 28012 Madrid, Spain (AntonMartin Metro), ☎ +34 915 06 48 40, . checkin: any; checkout:any. Nice, clean, quiet weekend hostel. 5 minutes frommetro, 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 withevery bed. 16 Euro +.

Cat's Hostel, Calle Cañizares 6, ☎ +34 91 3692807([email protected]), . Located in a 17th century palace,but has a modern interior and is clean and secure. Breakfastand internet is included in the price and there is also a bar. Itattracts a young backpackers clientele. Shared dormitoriesfor 4 to 14 people. Dorm bed: €13-20, breakfast included.

Equity Point Madrid aka Hostal Metropol, Calle Montera47 (two steps from Puerta del Sol, 30 seconds walk fromGran Via metro station), ☎ +34 91 5212935, . Featuresall-ensuite rooms (singles, doubles, 4-6 bed dorms). Free

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

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

Hostal Plaza d'Ort, Plaza del Angel 13, ☎ +34 91 4299041, .Cheap hotel with a good location near Plaza de SantaAna. All rooms feature bathrooms, TV and air conditioning.Singles: €30-38; Doubles: €48-58.

Hostal Villagarcía, Calle Fuencarral 10 3º (Metro: Gran Via),☎ +34 91 5220585, . Centrally located, all rooms includebathroom, 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. Friendlystaff. Singles from €30.

Los Amigos Backpackers Hostel, Calle Arenal 26 Piso 4, ☎+34 91 559 2472 ([email protected]), . Verycentral location. Breakfast is offered. There is a lounge area,a kitchen in which you are able to cook your own food, anda bar. The beds are clean, comfortable, and the staff arefriendly. 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 iscatered to young traveleres. Nice kitchen, friendly staff, andfree 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 staffand free wi-fi. All rooms have sink & shower, but most sharebathrooms. Singles: €30-36; Doubles: €42-48.

Mid-range

Abba Atocha Hotel, Santa María de la Cabeza 73, . Greatlocation.

Apartments Gran Via, Mesonero Romanos, 15, ☎ +34679616855 ([email protected]), . Offers twoapartments on the Gran Via street in Madrid. One has one

Madrid Madrid · Sleep

13

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

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

Hotel Madrid Preciados, C/Preciados nº37, ☎ +34 91 454 4401, . 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 ofthe Art Triangle, 1 minute from the new exhibition centre‘Caixa Forum’ and the botanical gardens.).

Hotel San Antonio de la Florida, Paseo de la Florida13 (Metro: Principe Pio), . All rooms have Internetaccess, 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 minutesfrom Puerta del sol), ☎ 902 052 394, . 4-star hotel. Restaurant,bar, and meeting space.

Pension Paquita, Calle Lacoma 5, ☎ +34 91 739 3831, . Family-run.

Hotel Centro, Calle gran vía 50 (close to Gran vía), ☎ +34 911871 665.

Plaza Mayor Apartments, Plaza Mayor 30 Madrid, ☎ +34 695097 612, . checkin: 12.00; checkout: 23.00. Luxury short-termapartment rental in Madrid at affordable rates. €120-€180/night apartments for up to 5 people.

StopInRoom Apartments, Nuñez de Arce, 4, ☎ +34 695452 899 ([email protected]), . Offers 26 apartments invarious parts of the city. For extra fees can offer groundtransport, catering, language tutoring, and tour guidingalso. Administrative phone +91 522 85 95. €75-€150/night.

Splurge

Adler Hotel Madrid (Adler Hotel Madrid), Calle Velazquez33, Goya 31 (Metro: Velázquez), ☎ +34 914 263220, . 5-starhotel housed in a completely refurbished building equippedwith the modern facilities but whose 19th-century charmand secluded atmosphere have been carefully maintained.45 deluxe rooms and suites.

Asturias, C/ Sevilla 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain, ☎ (+34) 914 296676☎ ([email protected]), . A 2 star Hotel. The Asturias is only200 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

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

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 offlowing banisters, bold colors, and noble décor.

Hotel De Las Letras, Gran via 11, ☎ +34 917 610 906, .Old building with tasteful modern interior. Well sound-proofed against the busy Gran Via outside. Very comfortablebeds. Rooms with TV, hi-fi, mini bar, bath/shower. Optionalbreakfast buffet with wide choice of good quality food anddrinks. Pleasant, comfortable bar.

Hotel Villa Magna, Paseo de la Castellana 22, ☎ +34 915871234, . A 5-star hotel on one of Madrid's most exclusivestreets. 151 rooms and suites. The hotel is surrounded bylandscaped gardens.

Maria Elena Palace, C/ Aduana 19, 28013 Madrid, Spain, . TheHotel María Elena Palace is located just 200 metres awayfrom the Puerta del Sol. Renowned for its magnificent glassdome in the lobby.

Meninas Hotel, Calle Campomanes 7, ☎ +34 91 541 28 05([email protected]), . 4-star hotel in an exquisitehistoric building of the XIX century in the historic centerof Madrid that has been transformed into a state-of-the-artboutique hotel. A classic atmosphere blended with moderndecorative touches - a balance of unpretentious formalityand well tempered cordiality.

Mirasierra Suites Hotel & Spa, Calle de Alfredo Marquerie43, 28034 Madrid, Spain, ☎ (+34) 91 727 79 00, . MirasierraSuites Hotel & Spa is a modern luxury hotel located in Madrid☎s prestigious residential district Mirasierra, overlooking theSierra de Guadarama. The hotel is also home to the VerdilRestaurant .

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

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

Quo Puerta del Sol, Sevilla 4, ☎ +34 91 532 90 49([email protected]), . The turn-of-the-centurygrandeur with modern conveniences and amenities,together with a perfect location in the historical, cultural andcommercial heart of Madrid, make of The Quo Puerta delSol hotel a new place to discover in Spain’s capital. Madrid 'sHotel Quo Puerta del Sol is housed in a emblematic buildingfrom the beginning of the 20th century with unique views

Madrid Madrid · Contact

14

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

Contact

Madrid has a considerable number of unsecured hotspots inthe trendier neighborhoods, such as Chueca.

In almost any part of the city you will find Locutorios, these areplaces where you can call local and long distance at reasonableprices, you also rent a computer to go online, send/receivefaxes, etc.

Cope

China, Calle Arturo Soria, 113, ☎ +34 91-5194242([email protected], fax: +34 91-5192035).

Japan, Calle Serrano, 109, ☎ +34 91-590-7600 (fax: +3491-590-1321)

United States, Calle Serrano 75, ☎ +34 91 587-2200 (fax: +3491 587-2303)

Australia, Torre Espacio, Paseo de la Castellana, 259D, Planta24, ☎ +34 91 353-6600

Stay safe

Madrid is a very safe city. The police are visible, and the cityis equipped with cameras. There are always a lot of people inthe streets, even at night time, so you can walk across the citywithout fear. Travelers who remain aware of their surroundings,and keeps an eye on their belongings will have little to worryabout.

Madrid has a fair amount of nonviolent pickpocket crime soalways watch any bags you have with you especially in theunderground and busier public spaces.

Be careful when carrying luggage. If anyone approaches youwith an outspread map in hand asking for directions as this isvery possibly a bid to distract you while an accomplice stealsyour luggage.

When using ATM machines, remain aware of yoursurroundings, just as you would anywhere. Bring a friend ifyou need to use one after dark. If someone approaches youwhile using an ATM simply hit CANCELAR, retrieve your cardand move on.

Have fun when going out, but do avoid over imbibing, andkeep an eye on your drink. Beware of thieves preying on peopleleaving night clubs who have had a lot to drink. Try not to bringvaluables on a night out with you.

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

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

Get out

Alcalá de Henares - A UNESCO World Heritage site. Alcalá deHenares was the world's first planned university city. It wasthe original model for the Civitas Dei (City of God), the idealurban community. This city has a lot of interesting placesto visit like its university founded in 1499 which becamefamous as a centre of learning during the Renaissance. Oneof the most important features of Alcalá de Henares is thatit is the city where the famous writer of Don Quixote, Miguelde Cervantes, was born where you can visit his natal house.

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

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

El Escorial - A UNESCO World Heritage site. A mountainousretreat home to Spain's largest monastery, the RoyalMonastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. To get there, catch alocal train from either the Atocha or Chamartin stations. It isjust over one hour from Atocha station or around 55 minutesfrom Chamartin station.

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

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

Madrid Madrid · History

15

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

Valle de los Caidos - (Valley of the fallen) The world's largestfree-standing Christian cross. Franco☎s tomb and memorialto Catholics (both in Franco's side and opposite) killed in theCivil War. Construction was ordered by Franco and erectedon rocks through the labor of many Republican prisoners ofwar.

El Pardo - A little village near Madrid (8 km. from thecity center, connected by bus) and close of "Palacio de laZarzuela" (residence of the King of Spain, no visits allowed),surrounded by mountains and the location of the "Palaciode El Pardo" (El Pardo Palace), Franco☎s residence between1940 until his death (1975). It was a former residence of theKings of Spain.

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

History

Main article: History of Madrid

Middle Ages

Although the site of modern-day Madrid has been occupiedsince pre-historic times, in the Roman era this territorybelonged to the diocese of Complutum (present-day Alcaláde Henares). There are archeological remains of a smallvillage during the visigoth epoch, whose name might havebeen adopted later by Arabs. The origins of the modern citycome from the 9th century, when Muhammad I ordered theconstruction of a small palace in the same place that is todayoccupied by the Palacio Real. Around this palace a small citadel,al-Mudaina, was built. The citadel was conquered in 1085 byChristian king Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile in his advancetowards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque as the churchof the Virgin of Almudena (almudin, the garrison's granary). In1329, the Cortes Generales first assembled in the city to adviseAlfonso XI of Castile. Sephardi Jews and Moors continued tolive in the city until they were expelled at the end of the 15thcentury. After troubles and a large fire, Henry III of Castile(1379–1406) rebuilt the city and established himself safelyfortified outside its walls in El Pardo.

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

Modern Age

Plaza Mayor

The Crown of Castile, with its capital at Toledo, and theCrown of Aragon, with its capital at Zaragoza, were weldedinto modern Spain by the Catholic Monarchs (Queen Isabellaof Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon). Though theirgrandson Charles I of Spain (also known as Charles V, HolyRoman Emperor) favoured Seville, it was Charles' son, Philip II(1527–1598) who moved the court to Madrid in 1561. Althoughhe made no official declaration, the seat of the court was thede facto capital. Seville continued to control commerce withSpain's colonies, but Madrid controlled Seville.

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

Puerta de Alcalá.

During the Siglo de Oro (Golden Century), in the 16th/17thcentury, Madrid knew its ultimate glory; El Escorial, the greatroyal monastery built by King Philip II of Spain, invited theattention of some of Europe's greatest architects and painters.Diego Velázquez(painter of Las Meninas and The Surrenderof Breda), regarded as one of the most influential paintersof European history and a greatly respected artist in his owntime, cultivated a relationship with King Philip IV and hischief minister, the Count-Duke of Olivares, leaving us severalportraits that demonstrate his style and skill. El Greco, another

Madrid Madrid · Culture

16

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

Madrid was one of the cultural centers during the SpanishGolden Century. The Spanish court attracted many top Spanishartists and writers to the city, including Miguel de Cervantes(author of Don Quixote de la Mancha) and the aforementionedDiego Velasquez. Furthermore, in the city were born many ofthe great writers of this period: Lope de Vega, Francisco deQuevedo, Calderon de la Barca and Tirso de Molina, and thelast of the great painters of the Golden Age, Claudio Coello. Therenowned Renaissance architect Juan de Herrera designed thePlaza Mayor, which was built in the city during the Habsburgperiod as a central plaza. It is located near another famousplaza, the Puerta del Sol.

New palaces (including the Palacio Real de Madrid) were builtduring Philip V´s reign. However, it would not be until Charles III(1716–1788) that Madrid would become a modern city. CharlesIII was one of the most popular kings in the history of Madrid,and the saying "the best mayor, the king" became popularduring those times. When Charles IV (1748–1819) became kingthe 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.

From 19th century to present day

Plaza de Cibeles

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

Culture

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

Art Galleries and Museums

Madrid is considered one of the top European destinationsconcerning art museums. Best known is the Golden Triangleof Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprisingthree museums. The most famous one is the Prado Museum,known for such highlights as Diego Velázquez's Las Meninasand 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 SofiaMuseum, where Pablo Picasso's Guernica hangs, returning toSpain from New York after more than two decades.

Museo del Prado.

The Museo del Prado is a museum and art gallery that featuresone of the world's finest collections of European art, from the12th century to the early 19th century, based on the formerSpanish Royal Collection. The collection currently comprisesaround 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 4,800 prints and8,200 drawings, in addition to a large number of works of artand historic documents. El Prado is one of the most visitedmuseums in the world, and it is considered to be among thegreatest museums of art. It has the best collection of artworksby Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Rubens, Titian, HieronymusBosch, José de Ribera and Patinir; and works by Rogier van derWeyden, Raphael, Tintoretto, Veronese, Caravaggio, Van Dyck,Albrecht Dürer, Claude Lorrain, Murillo and Zurbarán, amongothers.

Museo Reina Sofía (MNCARS).


17

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) isthe Spain's national museum of 20th century art. The museumis mainly dedicated to Spanish art. Highlights of the museuminclude excellent collections of Spain's greatest 20th centurymasters, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Juan Gris andJulio Gonzalez. Certainly the most famous masterpiece in themuseum is Picasso's painting Guernica. The Reina Sofía alsohosts a free-access library specializing in art, with a collectionof over 100,000 books, over 3,500 sound recordings and almost1,000 videos.

Museo Thyssen Bornemisza.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is an art museum that fillsthe historical gaps in its counterparts' collections: in thePrado's case this includes Italian primitives and works fromthe English, Dutch and German schools, while in the case ofthe Reina Sofia the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, once thesecond largest private collection in the world after the BritishRoyal Collection, includes Impressionists, Expressionists, andEuropean and American paintings from the second half of the20th century, with over 1,600 paintings.

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

Royal Armoury, Royal Palace of Madrid.

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of JuanCarlos I of Spain, but he uses it only for official acts. Itis a baroque palace full of artworks is one of the largestEuropean Royal Palaces, which is characterized by its luxuriousrooms and its rich collections of armors and weapons,pharmaceutical, silverware, watches, paintings, tapestries andthe most comprehensive collection of Stradivarius in the world

The National Archaeological Museum of Spain collectionincludes, among others, Pre-historic, Celtic, Iberian, Greekand Roman antiquities and medieval (Visigothic, Muslim andChristian) objects. Highlights include a replica of the Altamiracave (the first cave in which prehistoric cave paintings werediscovered), Lady of Elx (an enigmatic polychrome stone bust),Lady of Baza (a famous example of Iberian sculpture), Bicheof Balazote (an iberian sculpture) and Treasure of Guarrazar(a treasure that represents the best surviving group of EarlyMedieval Christian votive offerings and the high point ofVisigothic goldsmith's work).

The Museum of the Americas (Spanish: Museo de América)is a National museum that holds artistic, archaeological andethnographic collections from the whole American continent,ranging from the Paleolithic period to the present day. Thepermanent 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 NationalMuseum of Natural History of Spain. The research departments


18

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

The Naval Museum is managed by the Ministry of Defence. TheMuseum's mission is to acquire, preserve, investigate, reportand display for study, education and contemplation, parts, setsand collections of historical, artistic, scientific and technicalrelated to naval activity in order to disseminate the story sea ofSpain; to help illustrate, highlight and preserve their traditionsand promote national maritime awareness.

El Aquelarre, Francisco de Goya. Lázaro Galdiano Museum.

The Monastery of Las Descalzas Reales resides in the formerpalace of King Charles I of Spain and Isabel of Portugal. Theirdaughter, Joan of Austria, founded this convent of nuns of thePoor Clare order in 1559. Throughout the remainder of the 16thcentury and into the 17th century, the convent attracted youngwidowed or spinster noblewomen. Each woman brought withher a dowry. The riches quickly piled up, and the conventbecame one of the richest convents in all of Europe. It has manyworks of Renaissance and Baroque art, including a recumbentChrist by Gaspar Becerra, a staircase whose paintings werepainted by unknown author (perhaps Velázquez) and they areconsidered the masterpiece of Spanish illusionist paint, andBrussels tapestries inspired in paintings by Rubens.

The Museo Lázaro Galdiano houses an encyclopedic collectionspecializing in decorative arts. The collection includespaintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Claudio Coello, Goya, PedroBerruguete, El Greco, Hieronymus Bosch, Rembrandt, Thomas

Gainsborough, Thomas Lawrence and Joshua Reynolds,sculptures by Giambologna and Verrocchio; 10th centuryByzantine enamel; Arab and Byzantine ivory chests; Hellenistic,Roman, medieval, renaissance , baroque and romantic jewerly;Pisanello and Pompeo Leoni medals; Spanish and Italianceramics; Italian and Arab clothes; and an interesting collectionof weapons including the sword of Pope Innocent VIII.

The Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas (National Museumof 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 15,000objects, of the approximate 40,000 which it has.

The Museo Nacional del Romanticismo (National Museum ofRomanticism) 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 ancientworks of art, artifacts and other antiquities collected by Enriquede Aguilera y Gamboa, XVII Cerralbo Marquis.

The Museo Nacional de Antropología(National Museum ofAntropology) provides an overview of the different culturesin the world, with objects and human remains from aroundthe world, highlighting a Guanche mummy of the island ofTenerife.

The Museo Sorolla is located in the building in which theValencian Impressionist painter had his home and workshop.The collection includes, in addition to numerous works ofJoaquín Sorolla, a large number of objects that possessed theartist, including sculptures by August Rodin.

CaixaForum Madrid.

CaixaForum Madrid is a post-modern art gallery in the centreof Madrid. It is sponsored by the Catalan-Balearic bank laCaixa and located next to the Salón del Prado. Although theCaixaForum is a modern building, it also exhibits retrospectivesof artists from earlier time periods and has evolved into oneof the most visited museums in Madrid. It was constructedby the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron from 2001 to2007, which combined an old unused industrial building andhollowed it out at the base and inside and placed on top


19

further floors which are encased with rusted steel. Next to it isan art installation of green plants growing on the wall of theneighbouring house by French botanist Patrick Blanc. The redof the top floors with the green of the wall next to it form acontrast. The green is in reflection of the neighbouring RoyalBotanical Gardens.

Another art galleries and museums in Madrid are, amongothers:

Casa-Museo José PadillaCasa-Museo Manuel BeneditoMuseo de Antropologia MédicaMuseo De La Farmacia HispanaMuseo Del Reloj Grassy, at Edificio GrassyMuseo Casa de la MonedaMuseo de Historia de MadridMuseo de los OrígenesRoyal Palace of El Pardo

Churches

Almudena Cathedral, Catedral de la Almudena

St. Jerome Church, San Jeronimo el Real

Royal Convent of La Encarnación (façade)

Royal Convent of La Encarnación (altair)

Madrid has a considerable number of Catholic churches, someof them are between the most important Spanish religiousartworks.

The oldest church that survives today is San Nicolás de losServitas, whose oldest item is the bell tower (12th century), inMudejar style. The next oldest temple is San Pedro el Real, withits high brick tower.

St. Jerome Church is a gothic church next to El Prado Museum.The Catholic Monarchs ordered its construction in the fifteenthcentury, as part of a vanished monastery. The monastery'scloister is preserved. It has recently been renovated by RafaelMoneo, with the goal to house the neoclassical collection ofEl Prado Museum, and also sculptures by Leone Leoni andPompeo Leoni.

The Bishop Chapel is a gothic chapel which was built in thesixteenth century by order of the Bishop of Plasencia, Gutierrede Vargas. It was originally built to house the remains of SaintIsidore Laborer (Madrid's patron saint), but it was used as theVargas family mausoleum. Inside are the altairpiece and thetombs of the Vargas family, which were the work of FranciscoGiralte, a disciple of Alonso Berruguete. They are consideredmasterpieces of Spanish Renaissance sculpture.


20

St. Isidore cathedral from the Plaza Mayor

St. Isidore Cathedral was built between 1620–1664 by order ofEmpress Maria of Austria, daughter of Charles V of Germanyand I of Spain, to become part of a school run by the Jesuitswhich still exists today. Its dome is the first example of a domedrawing on a wooden frame covered with plaster, which, givenits lightness makes it easy to support the walls. It was thecathedral of Madrid between 1885 and 1993, which is the timeit took to build the Almudena. The artwork inside were mostlyburned during the Spanish Civil War, but it retained the tombthat holds the incorrupt body of Saint Isidore Laborer and theurn containing the ashes of his wife Maria Torribia.

Royal Convent of La Encarnación is an Augustinian Recollectconvent. The institution, which belonged ladies of the nobility,was founded by Queen Margaret of Austria, wife of Philip IIIof Spain, in the early seventeenth century. Due to the frescoesand sculptures which houses is one of the most prominenttemples in the city. The building's architect was Fray Albertode la Madre de Dios, who built it between 1611 and 1616.The façade responds to an inspiring Herrerian style, with greatausterity,and it was imitated by other Spanish churches. Thechurch's interior is a sumptuous work by the great Baroquearchitect Ventura Rodriguez. In the church are preservedshrines containing the blood of St. Januarius and St. Pantaleon,the second (according to tradition) liquefies every year on thesaint's day on 27 July.

San Antonio de los Alemanes (St. Anthony Church) is a pretty17th century church which was originally part of a Portuguesehospital. Subsequently it was donated to the Germans living inthe city.

St. Anthony church (Rizi's vault)

The interior of the church has been recently restored. It hassome beautiful frescoes painted by Luca Giordano, FranciscoCarreño and Francisco Rizi. The frescoes represent some kingsof Spain, Hungary, France, Germany and Bohemia. They all sitlooking at the paintings in the vault, which represent the life ofSaint Anthony of Padua.


21

St. Anthony of la Florida

Royal Chapel of St. Anthony of La Florida is sometimes namedthe "Goya's Sixtine Chapel". The chapel was built on orders ofKing Charles IV of Spain, who also commissioned the frescoesby Goya. These were completed over a six month period in1798. The frescoes portray miracles by Saint Anthony of Padua,including one which occurred in Lisbon, but which the painterhas relocated to Madrid. On every June 13, the chapel becomesthe site of a lively pilgrimage in which young unwed womencome to pray to St. Anthony and to ask for a partner.

San Francisco el Grande

San Francisco el Grande Basilica was built in neoclassical stylein the second half of the eighteenth century by FrancescoSabatini. It has the fifth largest diameter dome to Christianity.(33 meters in diameter: it's smaller than the dome of the Rome'sPantheon (43.4meters), St. Peter's Basilica (42.4 meters), theFlorence Cathedral (42 meters)and the Rotunda of Mosta (37.2meters) in Malta, but it's larger than St. Paul's Cathedral (30.8meters) in London and Hagia Sophia (31.8 meters) in Istanbul).The church is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, who accordingto legend was established in Madrid during his pilgrimageto Santiago de Compostela. Its interior is sumptuous and it'splenty of artworks, including paintings by Goya and Zurbaran.

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

of 102 meters long and 73 high, built during the 19th and20th century in a mixture of different styles: neoclassicalexterior, neo-Gothic interior and neo-Romanesque crypt andneo-Byzantine abse's paints. The cathedral was built in thesame place which was built the Moorish citadel (al-mudayna)in Madrid. It was consecrated by Pope John Paul II on his fourthtrip to Spain on June 15, 1993, thus being the only Spanishcathedral dedicated by a pope.

Literature

Lope de Vega.

Cervantes Institute headquarters.


22

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 SpanishGolden Century, including: Lope de Vega (Fuente Ovejuna, TheDog in the Manger, The Knight of Olmedo), who reformed theSpanish theater, a work continued by Calderon de la Barca(Life is a Dream), Francisco de Quevedo, Spanish noblemanand writer famous for his satires, which criticized the Spanishsociety 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 theyare all in the Barrio de las Letras (Letters Neigtbourhood).

Other writers born in Madrid in later centuries have beenLeandro Fernandez de Moratín, Mariano José de Larra, Josede Echegaray (Nobel Prize in Literature), Ramón Gómez dela Serna, Dámaso Alonso, Enrique Jardiel Poncela and PedroSalinas.

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

Madrid is also home to another internationally culturalinstitution, the Instituto Cervantes, whose task is thepromotion and teaching of Spanish language as well as thedissemination of the culture of Spain and Latin America.

The National Library of Spain is a major public library, thelargest in Spain. The library's collection consists of morethan 26,000,000 items including 15,000,000 books and otherprinted materials, 30,000 manuscripts, 143,000 newspapersand 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

The nightlife in Madrid is undoubtedly one of the city'smain attractions. Tapas bars, cocktail bars, clubs, jazz lounges,live music venues, flamenco theatres and establishments ofall kinds cater for all tastes and ages. Every night, venuespertaining to the Live Music Venues Association La Nocheen Vivo host a wide range of live music shows. Everythingfrom acclaimed to up-and-coming artists, singer-songwritersto rock bands, jazz concerts or electronic music sessions toenjoy music at its best.

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

Some of the most popular night destinations include theneighbourhoods of: Bilbao, Tribunal, Atocha, Alonso Martinezor Moncloa, together with Puerta del Sol area (including Operaand Gran Via, both adjacent to the popular square) and Huertas(barrio de Las Letras), destinations which are also filled withtourists day and night. The district of Chueca has also becomea hot spot in the Madrilenian night life, especially for the gaypopulation. 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 orstreets with friends and drinking alcohol together (this is called'botellón', from 'botella', bottle), but in recent years, drinking inthe street is punished with a fine and now young madrileñosdrink together all around the city instead of in better-knownplaces.

Bohemian Culture

The city has venues for performing alternative art andexpressive art. They are mostly located in the centre of the cityinclude in Opera, Anton Martin, Chueca and Malasaña. Thereare also several festivals in Madrid including the Festival ofAlternative art the Festival of the Alternative Scene.

The neighbourhood of Malasaña as well as Anton Martin andLavapies hosts several bohemian cafe/galleries. These cafes aretypified with period or retro furniture or furniture found onthe street, a colourful non traditional atmosphere inside, andusually art displayed each month by a new artist, often for sale.Cafes include the retro cafe "Lolina" and bohemian cafes "LaIda", "La Paca" and "Cafe de la Luz" in Malasaña, "La Piola" inHuertas and "Cafe Olmo" and "Aguardiente" in Lavapies.

In the neighbourhood of Lavapies, there are also "hiddenhouses", which are illegal bars or abandoned spaces whereconcerts, poetry reading and the famous Spanish Botellon (astreet party or gathering now illegal but rarely stopped).


23

Classical music and opera

National Auditorium of Music.

The Auditorio Nacional de Música is the main venue forclassical music concerts in Madrid. It is home to the SpanishNational Orchestra, the Chamartín Symphony Orchestra andthe venue for the symphonic concerts of the Community ofMadrid Orchestra and the Madrid Symphony Orchestra. It isalso the principal venue for orchestras on tour playing inMadrid.

The Teatro Real is the main opera house in Madrid, locatedjust in front of the Royal Palace, and its resident orchestrais the Madrid Symphony Orchestra. The theatre stagesaround seventeen opera titles (both own productions and co-productions with other major European opera houses) peryear, as well as two or three major ballets and several recitals.

The Teatro de la Zarzuela is mainly devoted to Zarzuela (theSpanish traditional musical theatre genre), as well as operettaand recitals. The resident orchestra of the theatre is theCommunity of Madrid Orchestra.

The Teatro Monumental is the concert venue of the RTVESymphony Orchestra.

Other concert venues for classical music are the FundaciónJoan March and the Auditorio 400, devoted to contemporarymusic.

Bullfighting

Madrid hosts the largest Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Spain,Las Ventas, established in 1929. Las Ventas is considered bymany to be the world centre of bullfighting and has a seatingcapacity of almost 25,000. Madrid's bullfighting season beginsin March and ends in October. Bullfights are held every dayduring the festivities of San Isidro (Madrid's patron saint) frommid May to early June, and every Sunday, and public holiday,the rest of the season. The style of the plaza is Neomudéjar. LasVentas also hosts music concerts and other events outside ofthe bullfighting season.

City info City info · Toponym

24

City info

City info

Toponym

Alcalá Street and the Metropolis Building

There are several theories regarding the origin of the name"Madrid". According to legend Madrid was founded by OcnoBianor (son of King Tyrrhenius of Tuscany and Mantua) and wasnamed "Metragirta" or "Mantua Carpetana". Others contendthat the original name of the city was "Ursaria" ("land ofbears" in Latin), due to the high number of these animals thatwere found in the adjacent forests, which, together with thestrawberry tree (Spanish: madroño), have been the emblem ofthe city from the Middle Ages.

The most ancient recorded name of the city Magerit (for*Materit or *Mageterit ?) comes from the name of a fortress builton the Manzanares River in the 9th century AD, and means"Place of abundant water". If the form is correct, it could be aCeltic 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 ofthe current name of the city comes from the 2nd centuryBC. The Roman Empire established a settlement on the banksof 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 Suevesand Vandals, as well as the Sarmatic Alans during the 5thcentury AD, the Roman Empire no longer had the militarypresence required to defend its territories on the IberianPeninsula, and as a consequence, these territories were soonoverrun by the Visigoths. The barbarian tribes subsequentlytook control of "Matrice". In the 7th century, the Islamicconquest of the Iberian Peninsula saw the name changed to"Mayrit", from the Arabic term ☎☎☎☎ "Mayra" (referencing wateras a "trees" or "giver of life") and the Ibero-Roman suffix "it"that means "place". The modern "Madrid" evolved from theMozarabic "Matrit", which is still in the Madrilenian gentilic.

Climate

The Madrid region features a Continental Mediterraneanclimate (Köppen Csa) with cold winters due to altitude (650 mover the sea level in Alicante), including sporadic snowfalls andminimum temperatures often below freezing. Summer tendsto be hot with temperatures that consistently surpass 30 °C(86 °F) in July and August and rarely above 40 °C (104 °F). Dueto Madrid's altitude and dry climate, diurnal ranges are oftensignificant during the summer. Precipitation is concentratedin the autumn and spring. It is particularly sparse duringthe summer, taking the form of one or two showers and/orthunderstorms a month.

Districts

Main article: Districts of Madrid

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

Centro: Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia,Universidad, Sol.Arganzuela: Imperial, Acacias, La Chopera, Legazpi,Delicias, Palos de Moguer, Atocha.Retiro: Pacífico, Adelfas, Estrella, Ibiza, Jerónimos, NiñoJesús.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, CiudadUniversitaria, 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, PalomerasBajas, Palomeras Sureste, Portazgo, Numancia.Moratalaz: Pavones, Horcajo, Marroquina, Media Legua,Fontarrón, Vinateros.Ciudad Lineal: Ventas, Pueblo Nuevo, Quintana, LaConcepción, San Pascual, San Juan Bautista, Colina,Atalaya, Costillares.Hortaleza: Palomas, Valdefuentes, Canillas, Pinar delRey, Apóstol Santiago, Piovera.

City info City info · Metropolitan area

25

Villaverde: San Andrés, San Cristóbal, Butarque, LosRosales, Los Ángeles.Villa de Vallecas: Casco Histórico de Vallecas, SantaEugenia.Vicálvaro: Casco Histórico de Vicálvaro, Ambroz.San Blas: Simancas, Hellín, Amposta, Arcos, Rosas, Rejas,Canillejas, Salvador.Barajas: Alameda de Osuna, Aeropuerto, CascoHistórico de Barajas, Timón, Corralejos.

Metropolitan area

Main article: Madrid metropolitan area

The Madrid Metropolitan Area comprises the city of Madridand forty surrounding municipalities. It has a population ofslightly more than 5.8 million people and covers an area of4.609,7 km². It is the largest metropolitan area in Spain and thethird largest in European Union.

As with many metropolitan areas of similar size, two distinctzones of urbanisation can be distinguished:

Inner ring (primera corona): Alcorcón, Leganés, Getafe,Móstoles, Fuenlabrada, Coslada, Alcobendas, Pozuelo deAlarcón, San Fernando de HenaresOuter 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 themain routes leading out of Madrid.

Submetropolitan areas

A new project, has stated there are more submetropolitan areasinside Madrid metropolitan area:

Architecture

Temple of Debod

Although the site of Madrid has been occupied sinceprehistoric times, the first historical data that concerns the citydates from the middle of the 9th century, when Mohammad Iordered the construction of a small palace (site occupied nowby the Palacio Real). Around this palace there was built a smallcitadel (al-Mudaina). The palace was built overlooking the RiverManzanares, which the Muslims called Mayrit meaning sourceof water (which in turn became Magerit, and then eventuallyMadrid). The citadel was conquered in 1085 by Alfonso VI inhis advance towards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque asthe church of the Virgin of Almudena (almudin, the garrison'sgranary), now the Catedral de la Almudena. In 1329 the Cortesfirst assembled in Madrid to advise Fernando IV. Jews andMoors continued to live in the city in their quarter, still knowntoday as the "Moreria", until they were expelled.

View of the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral from Debod Temple

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

City info City info · Architecture

26

sober traces, but he began to use Baroque elements.The workof this stage is the Plaza Mayor, and many Baroque religiousbuildings.

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

With the Bourbons began a new era in the city.The RoyalPalace of Madrid and the buildings and monuments of thePaseo del Prado (Salón del Prado and Alcalá Gate) deservespecial mention. They were constructed in a sober Baroqueinternational style, often mistaken for neoclassical, by theBourbon kings. Neoclassical also appears at this time, withJuan de Villanueva, author of El Prado Museum building. He ispossibly 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 stylesthat evolve over time: art nouveau, art deco, expressionist ...The Edificio Telefónica, of American inspiration, at the highestpart of Gran Vía, is usually considered the first skyscraper inEurope. 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 Madriddedicated to the Virgin of Almudena began in the 16thcentury, but the slow construction did not begin until 1879.Francisco de Cubas, the Marquis of Cubas, was the architectwho designed and directed the construction in a Gothic revivalstyle. Construction ceased completely during the Spanish CivilWar. The project was abandoned until 1950, when FernandoChueca Goitia adapted the plans of de Cubas to a neoclassicalstyle exterior to match the grey and white façade of the PalacioReal, which stands directly opposite. and was not completeduntil 1993, when the cathedral was consecrated by Pope JohnPaul II. On Calle Princesa, in the heart of the district of Moncloa,lies el Ejército del Aire, the headquarters of the Spanish AirForce. A scaled-down replica of the famous Monastery SanLorenzo del Escorial which lies about 50 kilometers northeastof Madrid, el Ejército del Aire is a classic example of FascistNeoclassicism in Madrid.

The financial district in downtown Madrid between the streetsRaimundo Fernández Villaverde, Orense, General Perón andPaseo de la Castellana, its original conception (and its name) tothe "Plan General de Ordenación Urbana de Madrid", approvedin 1946. The purpose of this plan was to create a huge block ofmodern office buildings with metro and railway connectionsin the expansion area of northern Madrid, just in front ofReal Madrid stadium (currently named the Santiago BernabéuStadium) and beside the brand new government complex ofNuevos Ministerios. A botanical garden, a library and an opera

City info City info · Environment

27

house were also included in the plans, but these were neverbuilt.

Torres Kio

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

Madrid Barajas International Airport Terminal 4, designed byAntonio Lamela and Richard Rogers (winning them the 2006Stirling Prize), and TPS Engineers, (winning them the 2006IStructE Award for Commercial Structures) was inauguratedon 5 February 2006. Terminal 4 is one of the world'slargest terminal areas, with an area of 760,000 square meters(8,180,572 square feet) in two separate terminals. Consistingof a main building, T4 (470,000 square meter), and satellitebuilding, T4S (290,000 square meter), which are separatedby approximately 2.5 km (2 mi). Hong Kong InternationalAirport still holds the title for the world's largest singleterminal building (Terminal 1) at 570,000 square meter. Thenew Terminal 4 is meant to give passengers a stress-freestart to their journey. This is managed through careful useof illumination, available by glass panes instead of walls andnumerous domes in the roof which allow natural light to passthrough. With the new addition, Barajas is designed to handle70 million passengers annually.

Terminal 4 check in hall in 2008

Environment

Retiro Park.

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

Retiro Park, trees.

Parque del Retiro, formerly the grounds of the palace built forFelipe IV, is Madrid's most popular park and the largest parkin central Madrid. Its area is more than 1.4 km2 (350 acres)and it is located very close to the Puerta de Alcalá and notfar from the Prado Museum. A magnificent park, filled withbeautiful sculpture and monuments, galleries, a peaceful lakeand host to a variety of events, it is one of Madrid's premierattractions. The park is entirely surrounded by the present-day city. Its lake in the middle once staged mini naval shambattles to amuse royalty; these days the more tranquil pastimeof pleasure boating is popular. Inspired by London's crystal

City info City info · Environment

28

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

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

Atocha Railway Station is not only the city's first and mostcentral station but also home to a distinctive indoor gardenwith 4,000 square meters of tropical plants. Atocha station hasbecome a hothouse destination in itself for plant lovers, withmore than 500 species of plant life and ponds with turtle andgoldfish in, as well as shops and cafes. It's a nice place to visiton a cold or wet day with its even temperature of 24 degreesCelsius, or even on a scorching summer day as a retreat fromthe heat.

Casa de Campo, lake.

Casa de Campo is an enormous urban parkland to the westof 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 toa fairground, the Madrid Zoo, an amusement park, the Parquede Atracciones de Madrid, and an outdoor municipal pool, toenjoy a bird's eye view of the park and city take a cable cartrip above the tree tops. Casa de Campo's vegetation is one ofits most important features. There are, in fact, three differentecosystems: oak, pine and river groves. The oak is the dominanttree species in the area and, although many of them are over100 years old and reach a great height, they are also present inthe form of chaparral and bushes. The pine-forest ecosystemboasts a large number of trees that have adapted perfectly tothe light, dry conditions in the park. In addition, mushroomsoften emerge after the first rains of autumn. Finally, the rivergroves, or riparian forests, are made up of various, mainlydeciduous, species that grow in wetter areas. Examples includepoplars, willows and alder trees. As regards fauna, this greenspace is home to approximately 133 vertebrate species.

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

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

Campo del Moro gardens.

The Royal Palace is surrounded by three green areas. In frontof the palace, are the gardens of the Plaza de Oriente; tothe north, the gardens of Sabatini and to the west up tothe Manzanares river, the famous Campo del Moro. Campodel Moro gardens has a surface area of 20 hectares and is ascenic garden with an unusual layout filled with foliage andan air of English romanticism. The Sabatini Gardens have aformal Neoclassic style, consisting of well-sheared hedges, insymmetric geometrical patterns, adorned with a pool, statuesand fountains, with trees also disposed in a symmetricalgeometric shape. Plaza de Oriente can distinguish three mainplots: the Central Gardens, the Cabo Noval Gardens and theLepanto Gardens. The Central Gardens are arranged aroundthe central monument to Philip IV, in a grid, following thebarroque model garden. They consist of seven flowerbeds,each packed with box hedges, forms of cypress, yew andmagnolia 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 dividingline between the main body of the plaza and the Cabo NovalGardens at north, and the Lepanto Gardens at south.

Monte de El Pardo.

City info City info · Economy

29

Monte de El Pardo is a mediterranean forest inside the city ofMadrid. It is one of the best preserved Mediterranean Forestsin Europe. The European Union has designated the Montede El Pardo as a Special Protection Area for bird-life. Thismeadow, which has been used as hunting grounds by theroyalty given the variety of game animals that have inhabitedit since the Middle Ages, is home to 120 flora species and200 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 ispart of the Regional Park of the High Basin of the Manzanares,spreading out from the Guadarrama Mountains range to thecentre of Madrid, and protected by strong legal regulations.Just before crossing the city, the River Manzanares forms avalley composed by sandy elements and detritus from themountain range.

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

Soto de Viñuelas, also known as Mount Viñuelas, is a meadow-oak forest north of the city of Madrid and east of the Montede El Pardo. It is a fenced property of 3,000 hectares, whichincludes important ecological values, landscape and art. Sotode Viñuelas is part of the Regional Park of the High Basinof the Manzanares, a nature reserve which is recognised asa biosphere reserve by UNESCO, where it has been classifiedas Area B, the legal instrument that allows agricultural landuse. Soto de Viñuelas also received the statement of SpecialProtection Area for Birds.

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

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

sporting, leisure and cultural interest. Madrid Río providesa link with other green spaces in the city such as Casa deCampo and the Linear Park of the Manzanares River. The mainlandscaped area in Madrid Río is the Arganzuela Park, covering23 hectares where pedestrian and cycling routes cover thewhole park. The Madrid Río cycle network covers some 30kilometres and is linked to another bike routes. To the north,Madrid Rio connects to the Senda Real, the Green Ring forCyclists and the E 7 (GR 10) trail, which goes as far as the Sierrade Madrid mountain range. To the south, Madrid Río providesaccess to the Enrique Tierno Galván Park and the Linear Parkof the Manzanares River, an extensive green zone runningparallel to the river as far as Getafe. As well as the cycle routesthere are 42 kilometres of paths for walkers and runners. In theSalón de Pinos, a 6-kilometre long tree-lined promenade, thereare circuits for aerobic and anaerobic exercise, while near thePuente de Praga bridge a tennis court and seven padel tenniscourts.

The theme park Faunia, is a natural history museum and zoocombined, aimed at being fun and educational for children. Itcomprises eight eco-systems from tropical rain forests to polarregions, and contains over 1,500 animals, some of which roamfreely.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Madrid

Middle Ages to 20th century

During the end of the Middle Ages, Madrid experiencedastronomic growth as a consequence of its establishmentas the new capital of the Spanish Empire. As Spain (likemany other European countries) continued to centralize royalauthority, this meant that Madrid took on greater importanceas a center of administration for the Spanish Kingdom.It evolved to become an important nucleus of artisanalactivity that eventually experienced industrial revolutionduring the 19th century. The city made even greater stridesat expansion during the 20th century, especially after theSpanish Civil War, reaching levels of industrialization found inother European capital cities. The economy of the city wasthen centered on diverse manufacturing industries such asthose related to motor vehicles, aircraft, chemicals, electronicdevices, pharmaceuticals, processed food, printed materials,and leather goods.

City info City info · Demographics

30

1992 to 2008

Madrid Stock Exchange

Cuatro Torres Business Area

AZCA (Business Park)

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

Demographics

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

From around 1970 until the mid 1990s, the city's populationdropped. This phenomenon, which also affected otherEuropean cities, was caused in part by the growth of satellitesuburbs at the expense of the downtown. Another reasonmight have been the slowdown in the rate of growth of theEuropean economy.

The demographic boom accelerated in the late 1990s andearly first decade of the 21st century due to internationalimmigration, in response to a surge in Spanish economicgrowth. According to census data, the population of the citygrew by 271,856 between 2001 and 2005.

As the capital city of Spain, the city has attracted manyimmigrants from around the world. About 83.8% of theinhabitants are Spaniards, while people of other origins,including immigrants from Latin America, Europe, Asia, NorthAfrica and West Africa, represented 16.2% of the population in2007.

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, EquatorialGuineans, Bulgarians, Indians, Italians, Argentines, Senegaleseand Poles.

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

City info City info · Government

31

Government

City Hall of Madrid

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

The Plenary of the Council, is the body of politicalrepresentation of the citizens in the municipal government.Some of its attributions are: fiscal matters, the election anddeposition of the Mayor, the approval and modificationof decrees and regulations, the approval of budgets, theagreements related to the limits and alteration of themunicipal term, the services management, the participationin supramunicipal organizations, etc. Nowadays, mayoral teamconsists of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and 8 Delegates; allof them form The Board of Delegates (the Municipal ExecutiveCommittee).

Madrid has tended to be a stronghold of the People's Party,which has controlled the city's mayoralty since 1989. In the2007 regional and local elections, the conservative People'sParty (PP, centre-right political party) obtained 34 seats, theSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE, centre-left politicalparty) 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 Communityof Madrid and stood as the candidate to replace outgoingmayor José María Álvarez del Manzano, also from the PP. Inthe last local elections of 2007, Ruiz-Gallardón increased the PPmajority in the City Council to 34 seats out of 57, taking 55.5%of the popular vote and winning in all but two districts.

Sport

The Santiago Bernabéu, a FIFA elite stadium.

Madrid is home to La Liga football club Real Madrid, who playtheir home games at the Santiago Bernabéu. Their supportersare referred to as Madridistas or Merengues (Merengues).Real Madrid is one of the most prestigious football clubs inthe world (FIFA selected Real Madrid the best team of the20th century), having won a record 9 European Cups. Theirhometown rivals, Atlético Madrid, are also well supportedin the city. The players (and supporters) are referred to asColchoneros (The Mattress Makers), in reference to the team'sred & white jersey colours, which were determined by mattressmaterial being the cheapest at the time of the club's formation.In 1982, Madrid hosted the FIFA World Cup Final. Along withBarcelona, Glasgow and Lisbon, Madrid is one of only fourcities in Europe to contain two UEFA 5-star stadia: Real Madrid'sSantiago Bernabéu and Atlético Madrid's Vicente Calderónboth meet the said criteria.

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

Madrid Arena interior

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

City info City info · Education

32

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

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

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

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

Skiing is possible in the nearby mountains of the Sierrade Guadarrama, where the ski resorts of Valdesqui andNavacerrada 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 Janeirorespectively. The city has two major annual road runningevents – the Madrid Marathon and the San Silvestre Vallecana10 km (6 mi) run – tens of thousands of runners take part inthese races each year.

Education

Main article: Education in Spain

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

Universities

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

Complutense University of Madrid, founded 1293

The Complutense University of Madrid is the largest universityin Spain and one of the oldest universities in the world. It has10,000 staff members and a student population of 117,000.Nearly all academic staff are Spanish. It is located on twocampuses, in the university quarter Ciudad Universitaria atMoncloa in Madrid, and in Somosaguas. The ComplutenseUniversity of Madrid was founded in Alcala de Henares, oldComplutum, by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499. Nevertherless, itsreal origin dates back from 1293, when King Sancho IV ofCastile built the General Schools of Alcalá, which wouldgive rise to Cisnero's Complutense University. During thecourse of 1509–1510 five schools were already operative:Artes y Filosofía (Arts & Philosophy), Teología (Theology),Derecho Canónico (Canonical Laws), Letras (Liberal Arts) andMedicina (Medicine). In 1836, during the reign of Isabel II, theUniversity was moved to Madrid, where it took the name ofCentral University and was located at San Bernardo Street.Subsequently, in 1927, a new university area was planned to bebuilt in the district of Moncloa-Aravaca, in lands handed overby the King Alfonso XIII to this purpose. The Spanish Civil Warturned the "Ciudad Universitaria" into a war zone, causing thedestruction of several schools in the area, as well as the lossof part of its rich scientific, artistic and bibliographic heritage.In 1970 the Government reformed the High Education, andthe Central University became the Complutense University ofMadrid. It was then when the new campus at Somosaguaswas created to house the new School of Social Sciences.The old Alcalá campus was reopened as the independentUAH, University of Alcalá, in 1977. Complutense also servesto the population of students who select Madrid as theirresidency during their study abroad period. Students fromthe United States for example, might go to Madrid on aprogram like API (Academic Programs International) and studyat Complutense for an intense immersion into the SpanishLanguage. The beautiful setting of the campus allows studentsliving temporarily in Madrid to have access to all of the city'spublic features including Retiro Park, El Prado Museum, andmuch more. After studying at the University, students return

City info City info · Transport

33

home with a fluent sense of Spanish as well as culture anddiversity.

School of Mines, Technical University of Madrid.

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

The Autonomous University of Madrid was instituted underthe leadership of the famous physicist, Nicolás Cabrera. TheAutonoma is widely recognised for its research strengths intheoretical 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 themunicipal areas of Madrid, namely Alcobendas, San Sebastiánde los Reyes, Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo. Located onthe main site are the Rectorate building and the Facultiesof Science, Philosophy and Fine Arts, Law, Economic Scienceand Business Studies, Psychology, Higher School of ComputingScience and Engineering, and the Faculty of Teacher Trainingand Education. The Medical School is sited outside the mainsite and beside the Hospital Universitario La Paz.

The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, whose philosophy is tocreate responsible free-thinking people with a sensitivity tosocial problems and an involvement in the concept of progressbased on freedom, justice and tolerance. The undergraduatedegrees in Business Administration, Economics and Law areranked first, first and second respectively among those offeredby public and private universities in Spain, and its Master andPhD programs also rank top in the country. The Department ofEconomics is among the 50 best worldwide, and in the top 10in Econometrics.

Some other prestigious universities include Universidad deAlcalá de Henares, rebuilt at Alcalá de Henares in 1975; andthe Universidad Pontificia Comillas, involved in a numberof academic exchange programmes, work practice schemesand international projects with over 200 Higher EducationInstitutions 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,

Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Universidad Camilo JoséCela, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Universidad Europeade Madrid, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca Campus deMadrid, Saint Louis University Madrid Campus and UniversidadSan Pablo CEU (all of them private).

Madrid is also home to the Escuela Superior de Música ReinaSofía, the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madridand many other private educational institutions.

Business schools

IE Business School (formerly Instituto de Empresa) has itsmain campus on the border of the Chamartín and Salamancadistricts of Madrid. IE Business School recently ranked ☎1 inWSJ's 2009 rankings for Best MBA Programs under 2 years. Itscored ahead of usual stalwarts, INSEAD and IMD, giving it topbilling amongst International MBA programs. Although basedin Barcelona, both IESE Business School and ESADE BusinessSchool also have Madrid campuses. These three schools are thetop-ranked business schools in Spain, consistently rank amongthe top 20 business schools globally, and offer MBA programs(in English or Spanish) as well as other business degrees. OtherMadrid universities that have MBA programs include:

Transport

Madrid is served by highly-developed communicationinfrastructures, making the Spanish capital the leadinglogistics hub for both Spain and all of southern Europe. Italso boasts a network of motorways, encompassing both ringroads and radial roads, and provides the backbone for Spain’srailway network, thereby providing effective connections withnot only other parts of the region, but also the rest of Spainand Europe as a whole. Madrid ranks alongside Tokyo andParis as one of the world’s three largest high-speed railwayhubs. Madrid is also home to the Madrid-Barajas airport, Spain’sflagship airport and one of the largest to be found worldwide.

City info City info · Transport

34

Air

Madrid Barajas Airport (T4 Station)

Main article: Madrid-Barajas Airport

Madrid is served by Barajas Airport. Barajas is the main hubof Iberia Airlines. It consequently serves as the main gatewayto the Iberian peninsula from Europe, America and the restof the world. Current passenger volumes range upwards of49.8 million passengers per year, making it the country'slargest and busiest airport, and in 2009 it was the world's11th busiest airport and Europe's fourth busiest airport. Givenannual increases close to 10%, a new fourth terminal has beenconstructed. It has significantly reduced delays and doubledthe capacity of the airport to more than 70 million passengersper year. Two additional runways have also been constructed,making Barajas a fully operational four-runway airport.

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 ofthe Puerta del Sol, Madrid's historic centre. The airport namederives from the adjacent district of Barajas, which has its ownmetro station on the same rail line serving the airport.

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

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

National rail

Main article: Cercanías Madrid

Atocha railway station

Madrid Metro Map

Spain's railway system, the Red Nacional de FerrocarrilesEspañoles (Renfe) operates the vast majority of Spain's railways.Cercanías Madrid is the commuter rail service that servesMadrid and its metropolitan area. It is operated by CercaníasRenfe, the commuter rail division of Renfe. The total lengthspans 339.1 km. Main rail terminals are Atocha in the south andChamartín in the north.

The most important project in the next decade is theSpanish high speed rail network, Alta Velocidad Española AVE.Currently, an ambitious plan includes the construction of a7,000 kilometre (4,350 mi) network, centred on Madrid. Theoverall goal is to have all important provincial cities be no morethan 4 hours away from Madrid, and no more than 6 hours awayfrom Barcelona. As of 2008, AVE high-speed trains link Atochastation to Seville, Málaga, Córdoba, Ciudad Real and Toledo inthe south and to Cuenca, Albacete, Valencia, Zaragoza, Lleida,Tarragona and Barcelona in the east. AVE trains also arrive fromValladolid in the north.

RENFE offers:

AVEAlarisAltariaTalgo

Metro

Main article: Madrid Metro

City info City info · Other historic buildings

35

A modern metro train (type 2000)

Serving a population of some four million, the Madrid Metro isone of the most extensive and fastest-growing metro networksin the world. With the addition of a loop serving suburbs toMadrid's south-west "Metrosur", it is now the second largestmetro system in Western Europe, second only to London'sUnderground. In 2007 Madrid's metro system was expandedand it currently runs over 283 kilometres (176 miles) of line. Theprovince of Madrid is also served by an extensive commuterrail 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 isapproximately the fiftieth most populous metropolitan area inthe world. Its fast growth in the last 20 years has also put itamong the fastest growing networks in the world, on par withthe Shanghai Metro and the Beijing Subway. Unlike normalSpanish road and rail traffic, Madrid Metro trains use left-handrunning on some lines due to historical reasons.

Buses

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

Roads

Main article: List of autopistas and autovías in Spain

Madrid's motorway hub network.

Madrid is the most important hub of Spain's motorwaynetwork and is surrounded by four orbital motorways: M30,M40, M45 and M50. M30 circles the central districts and isthe inner ring motorway of Madrid. Significant portions ofM30 runs underground and its urban motorway tunnels havesections of more than 6 km (3.73 mi) in length and 3 to 6lanes in each direction, between the south entry of the Avenidade Portugal tunnel and the north exit of the M-30 south by-pass there are close to 10 km (6.21 mi) of continuous tunnels.M40 is a ring motorway which borders Madrid at a meandistance of 10.07 kilometres (6.26 mi) and it has a total length of63.3 km (39.33 mi). M45 is a partial ring around the city servingthe metropolitan area of Madrid. It was built to help alleviatethe congestion of the M40 from the southern to the north-eastern, runs between the M40 and the M50 where the two ringmotorways are more separated. M50 is the outer of the Madridorbital motorways and has a total length of 85 km (52.82 mi).It services mainly the metropolitan area at a mean distance of13.5 km (8.39 mi).

Other historic buildings

Cisneros House.


36

Casa de la Villa.

San Ginés Church.

St. Michael's Basilica.

St. Barbara's Church.


37

Royal Observatory.

Congress of Deputies.

Palacio de Linares.

Spanish Ministry of Agriculture.

Bank of Spain.

Palacio de Cristal.


38

Hospital de Maudes.

Carrión Building.

Spanish Air Force Headquarters.

Torres Blancas.

City info City info · Notes and references

39

Arch of la Victoria.

Casa Gallardo

Royal Palace of Madrid

Notes and references

^ "Los fuegos que conmocionaron Madrid" (inspanish). 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 antiguoMadrid: paseos históricos-anecdóticos por las calles y

casas de esta villa". In Oficinas de la Ilustración Españolay 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 andmedieval up to the Catholic Monarchs times." (inSpanish). History of Madrid.. José Manuel Castellanos.http://elmadridmedieval.jmcastellanos.com/. Retrieved 28October 2007.^ INE.es Instituto Nacional de Estadística (NationalStatistics Institute)^ Eurostat

^ a b "World Urban Areas: Population& Density" (PDF). Demographia. http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf. Retrieved 10August 2008.

^ a b Eurostat, UrbanAudit.org, accessed on 12 March2009. Data for 2004.

^ a b Thomas Brinkoff, Principal Agglomerations of theWorld, accessed on 12 March 2009. Data for 1 January2009.

^ a b United Nations Department of Economic and SocialAffairs, World Urbanization Prospects (2007 revision),(United Nations, 2008), Table A.12. Data for 2007.^ Member of the Governing Council. Delegate forEconomy, Employment and Citizen Involvement. Page 6^ "Global city GDP rankings 2008–2025". Pricewaterhouse Coopers. https://www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=1562. Retrieved20 November 2009.^ Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Study Groupand Network, Loughborough University. "The WorldAccording 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. Retrieved2011-04-14.^ "Madrid is the most touristic cityof Spain". Madridiario.es. 30 January2007. http://www.madridiario.es/2007/Enero/feria/feriamadrid/8577/turistas-madrid.html. Retrieved 18October 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 October2010.^ "Top 20 liveable cities – 10Madrid". Monocle.com. http://www.monocle.com/sections/affairs/Magazine-Articles/Top-20-liveable-cities---10-Madrid/. Retrieved 18 October 2010.^ Greenest cities in Europe. City Mayors (2010-03-03).Retrieved on 2010-12-16.


40

^ "Madrid". Indiana.edu. 10 July 2006. http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/flyers/mad_ies.html.^ "Madrid: Overview". Easy expat. 11August 2006. http://www.easyexpat.com/madrid_en/overview_geography.htm.^ "Madrid History – Museums – SuggestedItineraries 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 fronterizoa región metropolitana. Madrid, from being the"frontier" to become a Metropole." (in Spanish). Historyof Madrid.. Luis Enrique Otero Carvajal (ProfesorTitular de Historia Contemporánea. UniversidadComplutense. Madrid). http://www.ucm.es/info/hcontemp/leoc/madrid%20I.htm☎INDICE. Retrieved 28October 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" (inSpanish). 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 January2010.^ "Overview: Economy of Madrid". EasyExpat. 16August 2006. http://www.easyexpat.com/madrid_en/overview_economy.htm.^ "Madrid Economy" (PDF). Empresa MunicipalPromoción de Madrid. http://www.esmadrid.com/recursos/doc/en/Negocio/ObservatorioEconomico/829557579_161200885839.pdf.Retrieved 15 August 2008.^ "City Mayors reviews the richest citiesin the world in 2005". Citymayors.com. 11March 2007. http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/richest-cities-2005.html. Retrieved 8 July 2009.^ Colpisa. "Ocho regiones españolas superan yael PIB medio de la Unión Europea. La Verdad".Laverdad.es. http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/20080218/economia/ocho-regiones-espanolas-superan-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 a2.000 euros en el segundo trimestre delaño". 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 bythe Dirección General de Estadística of the municipalityof 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&vgnextchannel=f4ea39b48936c010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD.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-la-Ciudad-de-Madrid/Junta-de-Gobierno-de-la-Ciudad-de-Madrid?vgnextfmt=especial3&vgnextoid=f22aad613938d010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&vgnextchannel=18b9e3d5d3e07010VgnVCM100000dc0ca8c0RCRD.Retrieved 13 April 2010.^ "Museo del Prado, official english webpage". http://www.museodelprado.es/en/.^ "Museo Reina Sofía (MNCARS), officialenglish 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 englishwebpage". http://www.museothyssen.org/en/thyssen/home.^ "The Real Academia de BellasArtes de San Fernando Museum, Madrid".Gomadrid.com. http://www.gomadrid.com/museums/bellas-artes.html. Retrieved 2011-04-14.^^ .http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/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.


41

^ "Portada". MNCN. 2011-05-27. http://www.mncn.csic.es/. Retrieved 2011-06-02.^ "Patrimonio Nacional – Monasterio de lasDescalzas Reales". Patrimonionacional.es. http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Monasterios-y-Conventos/Monasterio-de-las-Descalzas-Reales.aspx.Retrieved 2011-04-14.^ "Fundación Lázaro Galdiano museum website".Flg.es. http://www.flg.es/museo/museo.htm. Retrieved2011-04-14.^ "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 dela 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 doin Madrid – Popular sightseeing activities & thingsto 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 June2010.^ "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-artes-escenicas/369837. Retrieved 14 June 2010.^ Addis Network S.L.. "SpainTube – Art Madrid¿Alternativo o complementario a ARCO? –Galeria Arte Rita Castellote/Arte Contemporaneoen Madrid". Galeriaritacastellote.es. http://www.galeriaritacastellote.es/content/132/158/0/1/1/SpainTube-Art-Madrid-Alternativo-o-complementario-a-ARCO.htm. Retrieved 14 June 2010.^ France, Jon. "The 5 Best Cafés in Madrid | VenereTravel Blog". Venere.com. http://www.venere.com/blog/madrid-cafes/. Retrieved 14 June 2010.^ "Madrid's Bohemian Best: Exploring Lavapiés – LaCastiza". 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 fromMadrid – Tapas bars, restaurants, shopping, and nightlifein Madrid". Notesfrommadrid.com. 15 November2007. http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/category/by-barrio/lavapies/. Retrieved 14 June 2010.^ "El Rastro & Lavapiés". Whatmadrid.com. http://www.whatmadrid.com/lavapies.html. Retrieved 14 June2010.^ "Auditorio Nacional de Música". Time Out. http://www.timeout.com/madrid/music/venue/13683/auditorio-nacional-de-musica. Retrieved 19 August2009.^ "Orquesta Sinfónica Chamartín-Historia (inSpanish)". Orquesta Sinfónica Chamartín. 20 February2008. 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/teatro-real. 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 April2010.^ "La Orquesta Sinfónica (in Spanish)". RTVE. http://www.rtve.es/orquesta/orquesta/index.php. Retrieved24 August 2009.^ Valiente, Emeterio (25 April 2010). Course record forCherogony, while Gebrselassie 'jogs' to 10 km (6.21 mi)victory – Madrid Marathon report. IAAF. Retrieved on2010-04-29.^ "Sistema Educativo LOE by the SpanishMinistry of Education(Spanish Only)" (in (Spanish)).Mec.es. Archived from the original on 12 April2008. 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. LouisUniversity. 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-of-history.^ "Universidad Autónoma". Universidad Autónoma deMadrid. 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.


42

^ "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__. Retrieved2011-04-14.^ "Madrid Metro". Robert Schwandl. 17 August 2006.http://urbanrail.net/eu/mad/madrid.htm.^ Madrid city council webpage "Mapa Mundide las ciudades hermanadas". Ayuntamientode Madrid. http://www.munimadrid.es/portal/site/munimadrid/menuitem.dbd5147a4ba1b0aa7d245f019fc08a0c/?vgnextoid=4e84399a03003110VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4e98823d3a37a010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=especial1&idContenido=1da69a4192b5b010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRDMadrid city council webpage.

Events Events · Long term events

43

Events

Events

Long term events

The 18th Century Italian Paintingplace Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23,Madrid,28014,Spainstart 09:00hfrequency Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,Saturday, Sundaydescription The Italian paintings of the 18th Century area treat to adore. Visit the Museo Nacional del Prado andyou will get to see all of them, at peace with inscriptionsbelow them specifying the history behind each paintingand the in-depth analysis. Apart from the painting byCorrado Giaquinto you can see the works of many othercelebrated painters too.event url http://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/painting/italian-

painting/the-18th-century/

Amphibian And Reptile Collection (ColecciónDe Anfibios Y Reptiles)place Calle de José Gutiérrez Abascal2,Madrid,28006,Spainstart 10:00hfrequency Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,Saturday, Sundaydescription As you go through this Colección deAnfibios Y Reptiles, you will get educated about differenttypes of reptiles and amphibians. Most of these are exoticand belong to Spanish fauna. Very educative for children,these fossils are a part of treasured collection of themuseum.event url http://www.mncn.csic.es/Menu/Coleccionesydocumentacin/

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

Joan Miroplace Paseo de la Castellana 41,Madrid,28046,Spaindescription Joan Miro's abstract sculptures aresomething to look out for at Museo de Escultura al AireLibre. Creating magic with his designs, this sculptor'swork has won accolades all around the world. Mere-Ubu,a woman-bird figure at the museum will surely fascinateyou and make you marvel at the masterpiece created byJoan.event url http://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/El-

Ayuntamiento/Cultura-y-Ocio/Museo-Arte-Publico-%28antiguo-Museo-de-la-

Castellana%29?

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

Flamenco En Directoplace Plaza de España 9,Madrid,28008,Spaindescription Every night you can enjoy a flamencoperformance at Las Tablas. Note that the time of the eventvaries depending upon the day. Contact the venue or visitthe website for further information.event url http://www.lastablasmadrid.com/ENTRADAINGLES.html

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

frequency Friday, Saturday

Titulo Del Musicalplace San Bernardo, 5,Madrid,28009,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

Mi Misterio Del Interiorplace Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

El Experimento Secreto De Diosplace Calle de Lavapiés 11,Madrid,28005,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

Histeriotipos: Mejor Soltera Que MalAcompaÑadaplace Calle de Lavapiés 11,Madrid,28005,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

Mariua: El Musicalplace Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

Primital Bros En Conciertoplace Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

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

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

Cuatro Estaciones Y Un Diaplace Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo15,Madrid,28004,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

LA ErÓticaplace Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

Relatos ErÓticosplace San Bernardo, 5,Madrid,28009,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

Caer En Querer - Love In Fall (Visible 2012 - 8ªEdición Visible Madrid)place Calle Zurita 20,Madrid,28012,Spainfrequency Thursday, Friday

Impro Evolution Showccerplace Calle de Lavapiés 11,Madrid,28005,Spainfrequency Thursday, Friday

Día De La Música - Fridayplace Paseo de la Chopera 14,Madrid,28045,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturdayevent url http://www.diadelamusica.com

El Tartufoplace Calle Francisca Conde 7,Madrid,28029,Spainfrequency Friday, Sunday

Monologos De Humor - Carolina Noriegaplace Doctor Urquiola 23,Madrid,28047,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

Events Events · Long term events

44

Monologos De Humor - Luis Larroderaplace Calle Hermosilla 77,Madrid,28001,Spainfrequency Friday, Saturday

Ana Moura- Ana Mouraplace Calle de Cea Bermúdez 1,Madrid,28003,Spainstart 20:30hfrequency Friday, Saturday

Bersuitplace Calle Arenal 11,Madrid,28013,Spainstart 21:00hfrequency Friday, Saturday

Toni Zenetplace Calle de Alcalá 42,Madrid,28014,Spainstart 21:30hfrequency Friday, Saturday

Dead Capoplace Calle Duque de Osuna 8,Madrid,28015,Spainstart 23:00hfrequency Friday, Saturday

Vértigo. Skrillexplace Avenida de la Industria 82,Humanes deMadrid,28970,Spainstart 23:30hfrequency Friday, Saturdaydistance 20.5 km. approximate from city center

Paint Glowplace Paseo Virgen del Puerto 67,Madrid,28005,Spainstart 23:59hfrequency Friday, Saturday

El Rey LeÓn, El Musical Que Conmueve AlMundoplace Calle Gran Vía 57,Madrid,28013,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Mejorcita De Lo MÍoplace Calle Zurita 20,Madrid,28012,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Carmen De Bizetplace Plaza Tirso de Molina, 1,Madrid,28012,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Bueno, Bonito Y Un Buen-rato De Magia -teatro+cenaplace Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Burundangaplace C/ MANUELA MALASAÑA, 6,Madrid,28004,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Comicos De Cerca Y Humor 5 Estrellasplace Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

De Risas Y Tapas En Casateatro Janagahplace Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Cuadro Flamenco Corral De LA Pachecaplace c/ Juan Ramón Jiménez, 26,Madrid,28036,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

El Manual De LA Buena Esposaplace Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo15,Madrid,28004,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

LA Ratoneraplace Carrera de San Jerónimo, 24,Madrid,28014,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Como Por Un Tuboplace Calle Corredera Baja de San Pablo15,Madrid,28004,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

LA Venganza De LA Petraplace Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Mi Madre, Serrat Y Yoplace C/ Ercilla, 29,Madrid,28000,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

Academia Loca De Magia En LA Casa De LAHechiceriaplace Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Diversion En Familia Y Mucho Masplace Plaza De Arteixo 14,Madrid,28029,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Mi Padre, Sabina Y Yoplace C/ Ercilla, 29,Madrid,28000,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

Cuestiones Con Ernesto Che Guevaraplace C/ Ercilla, 29,Madrid,28000,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Flamenco En Directo Las Tablasplace Plaza de España 9,Madrid,28008,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

Las Carboneras - Tablao Flamencoplace Plaza del Conde de Miranda 1,Madrid,28004,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

Events Events · Saturday June 23

45

Brokers De Yllanaplace Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Wednesday, Saturday

Encerrona-pepe Viyuelaplace Calle Gran Vía 66,Madrid,28013,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Wednesday, Saturday

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

Maldito Naranjitoplace Calle de Jorge Juan 62,Madrid,28009,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Mas Mellizos Que Nuncaplace Calle Gran Vía 66,Madrid,28013,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Tocala Otra Vez Samplace Calle del Barquillo 24,Madrid,28004,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

De Buena Familiaplace Calle Zurita 20,Madrid,28012,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

Jamming Improvisación Teatralplace San Bernardo, 5,Madrid,28009,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

Cenizas A Las Cenizas De Harold Pinterplace C/ Del Amparo, 94,Madrid,28000,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

¿por Que A Nosotros?place Calle Canarias 16,Madrid,28045,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

LA Bella Durmienteplace Calle del Doctor Cortezo 5,Madrid,28012,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Saturday, Sunday

Los Viajes De Maya Y Gallardo.place Calle Primitiva Gañan 5,Madrid,28026,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Eloisa Esta Debajo De Un Almendroplace Calle de Santa Isabel 19,Madrid,28012,Spainstart Saturday June 23frequency Monday, Saturday

Saturday June 23

Corral De LA Moreria Tablao Flamencoplace Calle de Morería 17,Madrid,28005,Spain

666 De Yllanaplace Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain

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

Tick, Tick Boomplace Calle de Jorge Juan 62,Madrid,28009,Spain

Desparejadosplace Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

No Me Rayes Que Me Embucloplace Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

Noches Locas De Cabaret, Mentiras YPecadosplace Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

Time Al Tiempoplace Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain

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

Clot & Chofplace Calle Canarias 16,Madrid,28045,Spain

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

Monday June 25

El Viaje De MartÍnplace AVDA. DE LA CABRERA, 96,Madrid,28751,Spaindistance 51.5 km. approximate from city center

Schubertiadas. 2 Veladas En Casa DeSchubertplace Calle de Alcalá 42,Madrid,28014,Spainstart 00:30h

Tuesday June 26

In Joy With Paramount Comedyplace Calle del Arenal 11,Madrid,28013,Spainstart 20:00hdescription The best comedians come to Joy Madridevery Tuesday night at 8pm for a fun filled session oflaughter.event url http://www.joy-eslava.com/Joy_Madrid/Monologos/Monologos.html

Saturday June 30

Corral De LA Moreria Tablao Flamenco

Events Events · Saturday June 30

46

place Calle de Morería 17,Madrid,28005,Spain

666 De Yllanaplace Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain

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

Tick, Tick Boomplace Calle de Jorge Juan 62,Madrid,28009,Spain

Desparejadosplace Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

No Me Rayes Que Me Embucloplace Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

Noches Locas De Cabaret, Mentiras YPecadosplace Calle Mayor 6,Madrid,28013,Spain

Time Al Tiempoplace Calle del Pez 10,Madrid,28004,Spain

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

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

Restaurants Restaurants · Top Best Restaurants

47

Restaurants

Restaurants

Top Best Restaurants

Luaplace C/Zurbano, 85, 28010 Madrid, Spain

Casanis MadridCuisine FrenchPrice $38 - $60place Ventura de la Vega 9, 28014 Madrid, Spain

El Club AllardCuisine Fusionplace calle Ferraz 2, Madrid, Spain

Panela & Coplace Lopez de Hoyos, 10, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Da'Cuchuffo MadridCuisine Italian, FusionPrice $30place Juan Alvarez Mendizabal 34, 28008 Madrid, Spain

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

Malacatinplace Calle Ruda, 5, 28005 Madrid, Spain

La MallorquinaCuisine Bakeryplace Puerta del Sol 8, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Mama GusCuisine SpanishPrice $21 - $32place Blasco de Garay 96, 28003 Madrid, Spain

Venta El Busconplace Calle Victoria, 5-7, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Pinchos UdaberriCuisine Basque, SpanishPrice $8 - $42place Calle Bolivia, 30, Madrid, Spain

Lo ScolapastaCuisine ItalianPrice $29 - $35place C/ de la Amnistia, 6, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Lieu RestauranteCuisine French, International, Spanish

Minotauro KalypsoCuisine European

MiyamaCuisine Japaneseplace Flor Baja 5, Madrid, Spain

Top Italian

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

Da'Cuchuffo MadridPrice $28place Juan Alvarez Mendizabal 34, 28008 Madrid, Spain

En Guay Si Pizzaplace Rodriguez San Pedro 34, 28015 Madrid, Spain

Vesuvioplace Calle Hortaleza 4, Madrid, Spain

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

La Vita e BellaPrice $6 - $11place Plaza de San Ildefonso, 5, Madrid, Spain

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

L'Ulivo d'Oroplace C/ Segovia, 8, 28005 Madrid, Spain

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

Il PizzaioloPrice $15 - $27place Hortaleza, 84, 28004 Madrid, Spain

Top Asian

Phuket ThaiCuisine Thaiplace c/ Atocha, 115, 28012 Madrid, Spain

MiyamaCuisine Japaneseplace Flor Baja 5, Madrid, Spain

CubikCuisine Asian fusion, ContemporaryPrice $77place Calle Aduana 12, 28013 Madrid, Spain

SpottCuisine Asian, Barbecue, International, JapanesePrice $57place Virgen de los Peligros 10, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Pui's Thai TapasCuisine Asian, Tapas, ThaiPrice $12 - $33place Calle de Jose Antonio de Armona 7, 28012 Madrid,Spain

Oam ThongCuisine ThaiPrice $58place Corazon de Maria, 7, 28002 Madrid, Spain

KabukiCuisine Japanese, Sushiplace Avenida Presidente Carmona, 2, 28020 Madrid,Spain

Restaurants Restaurants · Top Vegetarian

48

HanakuraCuisine JapanesePrice $17 - $59place C/ Murillo 4, 28010 Madrid, Spain

Yataki Sushi BarCuisine AsianPrice $23 - $53place Calle De Antonio Perez, 26 (semiesq. Velazquez,150), Madrid, Spain

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

Top Vegetarian

Al NaturalPrice $24place Calle Zorrilla, 11, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Viva la Vidaplace Costanilla de San Andres 16 | Plaza de la Paja, 91366 33 Madrid, Spain

La Biotikaplace Amor de Dios 3, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Restaurante Vegetariano Yerbabuenaplace C/ Bordadores 3, 28013 Madrid, Spain

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

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

Viva la Vidaplace Huertas 57, Madrid, Spain

Useful info Useful info · Weather

49

Useful info

Useful info

Weather

Rain Wind

22.06.2012 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

23.06.2012 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


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

25.06.2012 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





27.06.2012 02–08 h 26° 0 mm 4 m/s Gentle 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

28.06.2012 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

Useful info Useful info · Sunrise/Sunset

50

Rain Wind

29.06.2012 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


20–02 h 35° 0 mm 5 m/s Gentle Breeze to West-southwest

30.06.2012 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


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 EURUnited States Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.27 USDYen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101.46 JPYPound Sterling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.81 GBPCzech Koruna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.68 CZKDanish Krone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.43 DKKForint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285.83 HUFLitas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.45 LTLNew Zloty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.25 PLNSwedish Krona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.84 SEKSwiss Franc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.20 CHFNorwegian Krone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.50 NOKCroatian Kuna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.53 HRKAustralian Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.24 AUDCanadian Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.29 CADYuan Renminbi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.06 CNYHong Kong Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.83 HKDRupiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,983.57 IDRRepublic of Korean Won . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,462.48 KRWRinggit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.02 MYRNew Zealand Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.59 NZDPhilippines Peso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.75 PHPSingapore Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.61 SGDBaht . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.18 THBRand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.43 ZAR

Useful info Useful info · Useful phrases

51

Useful phrases

English SpanishWelcome Bienvenido (sg) Bienvenidos (pl)

Hello ¡Hola!

Hello(on phone) ¡Diga! ¡Dígame! ¿Sí? ¿Bueno? ¡Hola! ¿Aló?

Good morning Buenos días

Good afternoon Buenas tardes

Good evening Buenas tardes / Buenas noches

Good night, Night night, Nighty Night, Good night, sleep tight,hope the bedbugs don't bite!

Buenas noches

Goodbye Adiós, Hasta luego, Hasta la vista, Hasta mañana

How are you? ¿Cómo está usted? (frm) ¿Cómo estás? (inf )

Reply Bien gracias, ¿y usted? (frm) Bien gracias, ¿y tú? (inf )

Long time no see ¡Cuánto tiempo! ¡Tanto tiempo sin verte!

What's your name? ¿Cómo te llamas? (inf ) ¿Cómo se llama Usted? (frm)

My name is ... Me llamo ... Mi nombre es ...

Where are you from? ¿De dónde eres? (inf ) ¿De dónde es usted? (frm)

I come from ... Soy de ...

Pleased to meet you Mucho gusto Encantado

Good luck ¡Buena suerte!

Cheers! Bottoms up! Down the hatch! Mud in your eye! ¡Salud!

Bon appetit! Enjoy your meal! (frm) Enjoy! Tuck in! Get stuck in!Eat already! (inf/slang) Happy eating! Get your laughing gearround this! (inf/slang)

¡Buen provecho! ¡Buen apetito! ¡Que aproveche!

Bon voyage / have a good journey ¡Buen viaje!

Excuse me ¡Perdón! ¡Perdone! ¡Discúlpe!

Sorry ¡Perdón! ¡Perdone! ¡Lo siento!

How much is this? / How much does this cost? ¿Cuánto cuesta? ¿Cuánto cuesta esto?

Please Por favor

Thank you Thank you very much Thank you kindly Thanks alot Many thanks Thanks Cheers Ta (used mainly in northenEngland)

Gracias Muchas gracias

You're welcome Don't mention it My pleasure No problem Noprobs Not a problem No worries No big deal

De nada No hay de qué

Where's the toilet / lavatory / bathroom / restroom / powderroom / gents/ladies? Where's the loo / bog / dunny / little boys'/girls' room? (inf/slang)

¿Dónde están los aseos ¿Dónde están los sanitarios? ¿Dóndeestá el baño? ¿Dónde está el cuarto de baño?

Have a nice day ¡Que pase un buen día!

Get well soon Que te mejores Que te mejores pronto ¡Recupérate pronto!Pronta recuperación

Would you like to dance with me? ¿Querría bailar conmigo? (frm) ¿Querrías bailar conmigo? (inf )¿Quisiera bailar conmigo? (frm) ¿Quisieras bailar conmigo? (inf )

I love you Te amo / Te quiero

I don't understand No entiendo No comprendo

Please say that again ¿Me lo puede repetir, por favor? ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?

Please speak more slowly Por favor hable más despacio

Can you please write it down? ¿Puede escribirlo, por favor?

How do you say ... in english? ¿Cómo se dice ... en español?

Do you speak english? ¿Habla usted español? (frm) ¿Hablas español? (inf )

Yes, a little Sí, hablo un poquito de español Sí, un poco

Leave me alone! ¡Déjeme en paz!

Help! ¡Ayúdame! ¡Socorro! ¡Auxilio!

Useful info Useful info · Emergency numbers

52

Emergency numbers

Police: 112Medical: 112Fire: 112

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

Maps Maps · Underground

53

Maps

Maps

Underground

Maps Maps · City center west

54

City center west

Maps Maps · City center east

55

City center east

Travel activities Travel activities ·

56

Travel activities

Travel

activities


57


58


59


60


61


62

References References ·

63

References

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

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, Christopherand 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 fordetails. 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

Documents

Dollar Thrifty Travel Guide for Madrid