Madrid

Madrid - Spain
Madrid is the capital of Spain. Madrid This city is located on the Iberian Peninsula, and is the most highly placed European capital - the average height is 667 meters above the Sea. The city's population has 3, 273 million (2010).
Administrative Division : the city is divided into 21 districts.
Metro: line 12 is the sixth longest in the world and third in Europe.
Aeroprt - Barajas
The city was born near the ancient fortress Madzhirit. Within the walls of this fortress is so called old town, from which depart in different directions ten streets. In the walls of the fort is a famous Puerta del Sol, where the New Year's Eve is going to a lot of people to eat 12 grapes and make a desire.
The city is filled with examples of architecture of 19th and 20th centuries. He is known for its beautiful gardens, laid down in the 17th century. These parks are the Botanical Gardens and Retiro Park. The city is filled with a variety of museums and exhibitions. Of particular importance in the life of Madrid has Pradgo exhibition, which exhibited works by such masters as Zurbaran, Velazquez, Goya, and even Picasso. The Archaeological Museum is famous collection of tracks from all cultures of Spain, from antiquity to modern times.
From an economic point of view, Madrid is a great outlet. There are a huge number of the most assorted shops. A variety of shops, from the large supermarkets to the smallest snack bars, but each of them give you a wide selection of souvenirs and traditional accessories for Spain.
In May, from 8 to 15 the number in Madrid is an amazing idea. In these days of celebration comes to town superintendent of the city - St. Isidro. At this time, the city is transformed into an extraordinary collection of colored paint, lights and fireworks. The streets are theatrical processions, concerts, exhibitions, performance stars and much more. These days, held in Madrid, the most spectacular view of the world - the famous bullfighting

Things to Do in Madrid

Plaza Mayor.
The Royal Palace (panoramic view of the city).
Prado Museum. The museum houses the world's largest collection of Spanish painting.
Queen Sofia Art Center.
The National Archaeological Museum.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
Retiro Park.
Puerta del Sol. The area serves as the zero reference point for road distances in Spain. The city has 42 museums (popular).

Plaza Mayor The Royal Palace The Prado Museum Don Quixote Madrid. Palace of communication Puerta del Sol
Plaza Mayor The Royal Palace (panoramic view of the city). In the area of ​​the Prado Museum. Don Quixote. Madrid. Palace of communication. Puerta del Sol.

From the history of Madrid

The first mention of the city of Madrid belongs to X. At this time, almost the entire Iberian Peninsula was ruled by Muslim Arabs. The Arab Emir Mohammed I of Córdoba settled in present-day Madrid and built the fortress of Al-Qasar. Around the castle formed a settlement which was called Mager, which means "place with many springs".
Later the fortress of Al-Qasar several times passed from hand to hand from the Arabs to the Castilians before, while in 1083 the Castilian King Alfonso VI finally conquered the city of Toledo.
At the same time without bloodshed fortress of Al-Qasar and settlement Mager passed into the hands of Christians.
Capital of Spain Madrid became in 1561 he was elected King of Spain Philip II as the seat of the royal court of perfect for pragmatic reasons. Madrid at the time was a modest village, located between the two ancient capitals of Spain, Toledo and Segovia. The base of the new capital is seriously weakened the significance of these cities, especially Toledo, where power was controlled by the powerful archbishops. In Madrid is no aristocracy, no church did not have much influence. Madrid is also called "deliberate-HYDRATED city", that is a city built on the whim of one man, Philip II.
Philip II ascended the throne in 1556, becoming the most powerful monarch in the world. From his father - Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (in Spain it was named after Charles I, became the first monarch of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty) - he inherited a huge multi-national empire. Then Spain belonged to the majority of Western Europe and South America, as well as large holdings in Asia. With the rule of Philip II attributed the beginning of the "Golden Age" of Spain (from about 1580 to 1680).