Madrid

Madrid

ES
Population3,332,035
Madrid ( mə-DRID; Spanish: [maˈðɾið] ) is the capital and most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and its monocentric metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU. The municipality covers 604.3 km2 (233.3 sq mi) geographical area. Madrid lies on the River Manzanares in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula at about 650 m (2,130 ft) above mean sea level. The capital city of both Spain and the surrounding autonomous community of Madrid (since 1983), it is also the political, economic, and cultural centre of the country. The primitive core of Madrid, a walled military outpost, dates back to the late 9th century, under the Emirate of Córdoba. Conquered by Christians in 1083 or 1085, it consolidated in the Late Middle Ages as a sizeable town of the Crown of Castile. The development of Madrid as administrative centre fostered after 1561, as it became the permanent seat of the court of the Hispanic Monarchy. The following centuries were characterized by the reinforcement of Madrid's status within the framework of a centralized form of state-building. The Madrid urban agglomeration has the second-largest GDP in the European Union. Madrid is ranked as an alpha world city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. The metropolitan area hosts major Spanish companies such as Telefónica, Iberia, BBVA and FCC. It concentrates the bulk of banking operations in the country and it is the Spanish-speaking city generating the largest number of webpages. Madrid houses the headquarters of the UN Tourism, the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), and the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB). Pursuant to the standardizing role of the Royal Spanish Academy, Madrid is a centre for Spanish linguistic prescriptivism. Madrid organises fairs such as FITUR, ARCO, SIMO TCI and the Madrid Fashion Week. Madrid is home to football clubs Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. Its landmarks include the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631; the 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's historical archives; many national museums, and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which complements the holdings of the other two museums. The mayor is José Luis Martínez-Almeida from the People's Party.

Places to Explore

Curated experiences in Madrid

Circo Price

Circo Price

The Circo Price, also known as El Price, is a 2,142-seat concert venue and former circus in Madrid. The circus …

Museo Naval de Madrid

Museo Naval de Madrid

The Naval Museum (Spanish: Museo Naval) is a naval museum in Madrid, Spain, devoted to the history of the Spanish …

CaixaForum Madrid

CaixaForum Madrid

CaixaForum Madrid is a cultural center in Madrid, Spain. Located in Paseo del Prado in a former power station, it …

Puente de Toledo

Puente de Toledo

The Bridge of Toledo (Spanish: Puente de Toledo) is a bridge located in Madrid, Spain. It was built in a …

Palacio Gaviria

Palacio Gaviria

Atocha (Histórica)

Atocha (Histórica)

Casa de la Panadería

Casa de la Panadería

The Casa de la Panadería is a municipal and cultural building on the north side of the Plaza Mayor in …

Cementerio Británico

Cementerio Británico

The British Cemetery in Madrid (Cementerio británico de Madrid or Cementerio de los Ingleses) was opened in 1854 in the …

Andén 0 - Nave de motores de Pacífico

Andén 0 - Nave de motores de Pacífico

Platform 0 (Spanish: Andén 0) is an exhibition project of the Madrid Metro consisting of the historical Estación de Chamberí, …

Espacio Cultural Serrería Belga

Espacio Cultural Serrería Belga

Puerta de San Vicente

Puerta de San Vicente

The Puerta de San Vicente is a monumental gate located in the Glorieta de San Vicente in Madrid (Spain). Since …

Arco de la Victoria

Arco de la Victoria

Arco de la Victoria ([ˈaɾko ðe la βiɣˈtoɾja], "Arch of Victory") is a triumphal arch built in the Moncloa district …

Casa de las Siete Chimeneas

Casa de las Siete Chimeneas

The House of the Seven Chimneys (Spanish: Casa de las Siete Chimeneas) is a building located in Madrid, Spain. It …

Fuente de Apolo

Fuente de Apolo

Palacio de la Música

Palacio de la Música

The Gran Vía 35 Building, also known as Palacio de la Música is a theater located at Gran Vía 35 …

Museo Lázaro Galdiano

Museo Lázaro Galdiano

The Lázaro Galdiano Museum (Spanish: Museo Lázaro Galdiano) is an art museum in Madrid, Spain. It houses the art collection …

Puente de la Culebra

Puente de la Culebra

Colegiata de San Isidro

Colegiata de San Isidro

St. Isidore's Collegiate Church (Spanish: Real Basílica Colegiata de San Isidro), or simply referred to as the Colegiata, is a …

Casón del Buen Retiro

Casón del Buen Retiro

The Casón del Buen Retiro is an annex of the Museo del Prado complex in Madrid. Following major restoration work, …

La Casa Encendida

La Casa Encendida

La Casa Encendida is a social and cultural centre in central Madrid (on the Ronda de Valencia where it is …

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