Madrid is the capital and largest city of
Spain, located more or less in the centre of the country , between the cities of
Valencia and
Salamanca (albeit at a certain distance). Being placed over the Castilian plateau of central Spain, the city is about 650 m above sea level.
The architecture and culture of Madrid have been greatly influenced by its history; it was in fact the capital of what was once the rich
Spanish Empire. However, Madrid was not the only Spanish capital, because this was once
Toledo, until Felipe II decided to move it to Madrid.
From the sixteenth century onwards Madrid has not stopped growing, and it has enriched itself with palaces and important institutions such as the
Universidad de Alcalá de Henares.
It is currently one of the most interesting and cosmopolitan destinations in Europe, where there are many places of tourist interest, such as the
Prado Museum, which is considered one of the most important art galleries in the world, or the
Reina Sofia National Museum, with its great collection of modern artworks and some of the masterpieces of
Picasso (such as Guernica), Miró,Kandinsky, Dali and Bacon.
In Madrid you cannot miss the
Royal Palace, a wonderful example of neoclassical architecture, which is no longer the official residence of the Royal Family, who currently resides at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, outside Madrid.
Plaza Mayor (Main Square), that now is the seat of the Municipal Council of the Central District, is also worth a visit. Every Sunday they organize here the Numismatics Market, and during the winter many shows of street artists.
Indeed there are many tourist attractions in Madrid, so as it is not easy to draw up an exhaustive list; however, in addition to what we have already cited, for football fans we would like to mention the
Santiago Bernabeu stadium, located in the north of Madrid and owned by one of the strongest football teams in the world, the Real Madrid.
If you want to discover Madrid, its historical centre and the many wonders it holds, take advantage of our special offers and book a hotel in
the city.
We recommend to you some of our most booked hotels in Madrid:
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Rafaelhoteles Ventas Madrid - 4 stars
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Hotel Gran Atlanta Madrid - 4 stars
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Best Western Hotel Mayorazgo Madrid - 4 stars
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Hotel Celuisma Florida Norte Madrid - 4 stars
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Hotel Tryp Cibeles Madrid - 4 stars
