Located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula lies the city of Madrid, the capital of Spain. In this article I will talk about the city generally, explain some of the key sites, and talk about the wonderful culture of the city.
Overview of Madrid
The first settlement in modern Madrid was founded in the 9th century when Spain was still under Muslim rule. The area was reconquered by the Christians in the 1080s and more or less since then, the city has grown, becoming the large capital of modern-day Spain. Madrid is the largest city in Spain and the second largest city in the European Union with a population of about 3.5 million people and a metropolitan population of about 7 million people. Madrid covers about 604 square kilometers and is 650 meters above sea level. The city itself has a current GDP of about 135 billion euros, the metropolitan area having a current GDP of about 300 billion euros. Because of that, the city has the fourth highest GDP of an urban center in the European Union. The primary language spoken in the city is Spanish, although many other languages are spoken there like English and French. The primary religion in the city is Christianity, specifically Roman Catholicism although there is a minority of Muslims and Protestants. Madrid is the capital city of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, the administrative division the city is located in, the city making up most of the area. Madrid is also the city of the Spanish royal family.
Sites of Madrid
Madrid also hosts many famous sites renowned around the world. One of these is the Mueso del Prado, a very famous art museum in the city. The museum has many well-known paintings like The Garden of Earthly Delights, The Third of May 1808, Las Meninas, and The Three Graces, and contains many acclaimed artists like Goya, El Greco, Caravaggio, and Rembrandt. Another site would be the Plaza Mayor, a large central square in the city where one could admire the architecture or shop. Similar to the Plaza Mayor, one could go to the Puerta del Sol, another large open area famous in the city. The massive Royal Palace of Madrid houses the royal family and is full of many ornate decorations and paintings. Located just across from the palace lies the Almudena Cathedral, a beautiful Catholic cathedral that was completed very recently in 1993. The city also hosts the Temple of Debod, an ancient Nubian temple located near the palace. The temple was built in the 2nd century BC in modern day Egypt and was donated to Spain in 1968 by the Egyptian government for Spanish efforts to help save Nubian monuments. One could also walk down the Gran Via, a famous street in Madrid, lined with many stores and containing impressive architecture.
Culture of Madrid
Madrid is also very rich in culture. The city, like many other cities in Spain, is famous for its tapas including Spanish ham, Spanish omelets, a variety of cheeses, and olives. The city also has the oldest continuously operated restaurant in the world, called Botin. The restaurant was opened in 1725 and still serves its specialties of lamb and pork which are cooked in the same original oven. Madrid, like Spain generally, tends to eat dinner much later in the day than in other countries like the United States. In Madrid one could also watch a flamenco show, a very famous Spanish dance with fast foot movement and fast playing of the Spanish guitar. Besides food and dancing, Madrid has large festivities for holidays especially around Christmas and Easter. During Christmas, the city is decorated with many lights, and large Christmas trees are put in places like the Puerta del Sol. Many Christmas markets open during this time of year with ones in places like the Plaza Mayor. During Holy Week, some churches in Madrid go on processions carrying large carts holding figures of Jesus or other religious icons taking them around the city.
Conclusion
Overall, I think that Madrid is a wonderful city. I have had the opportunity to visit the city and got to experience many of the amazing things I talked about above. I especially loved Madrid at Christmas time and thought all of the lights and the decorations made the city quite magical. I also thought that the Museo del Prado was very fantastic with all of the super famous artists and paintings housed in the art museum. So, for all of these reasons, one should definitely visit the city of Madrid one day.
