Madrid

Madrid is the capital city of Spain, which is located in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula. Sprawling over an area of 607 sq. km, Madrid is the largest city of Spain. To the west of the city, lies the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain slope; while to the east lies the river basins. Aranjuez is situated towards the southern boundary of the city. With a population of over 3.4 million, Madrid is the third largest city in the European Union.

Life in Madrid began around 1000 BC, when Iberian and Celtic tribes settled along the banks of rivers Manzanares and Jarama. Soon, the Romans occupied the place and after their decline, the Visigoth tribe settled in the region.

In 1086, Alfonso VI took over the city; however, the real growth and prosperity of Madrid began under the rule of Alfonso VIII. Madrid became the capital of Spain in 1561, when Philip II established his court in the area.

During the 18th century, under the rule of Charles III, construction of historical buildings started in the city of Madrid. In the 19th century, Madrid was attacked by Napoleon's army. After the decline of Napoleon, Madrid again stared flourishing.

In 1936, when civil war happened in Spain, Madrid was highly affected. Soon, the city recovered from the devastation caused by the war and started prospering again. Eventually, Madrid became a parliamentary monarchy and financial capital of Spain in 1978.

Currently, Madrid is ranked third in the list of urban agglomerations with the largest GDP in the European Union. Madrid is also a major financial centre of Southern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. Due to its flourishing economy and high standard of living, Madrid is ranked 10th in the list of most livable cities in the world, by Monocle magazine.

Besides being the business centre, Madrid also plays a major role of being the cultural capital of Spain. The city has several monuments and museums due to which it is popularly known as the 'city of great monuments'. The cosmopolitan culture of the city is reflected by the number of pubs, nightclubs, cafes and discos that are dotted across the city.

Renowned for its racial and cultural diversity, Madrid is mostly inhabited by Castilians, who believe in Roman Catholicism and speak Castilian, Catalanian and English. The city is also inhabited by people of other ethnic groups like Andalucians, Catalonians, Valencians and Gallegos.

People from Latin America, North Africa, China, Ecuador, Romania, Peru and Middle East have also migrated to Madrid. The cultural diversity, along with sightseeing, shopping, activities and others, attract tourists to the beautiful city of Madrid year-round.

During the months of April, May, June, September and October, which comprise the spring and fall seasons, Madrid enjoys a pleasant weather. Thereby, these seasons are considered ideal for planning a trip to the city.