Madrid is a city of constant renewal and the changes of recent years have placed it at the forefront of European cities. Thanks to its geographical position and its historical ties with all the countries of the continent, Madrid is today the gateway to Europe and a city that brings together all peoples and their cultures, becoming the political, economic and cultural center of Spain, receiving more than 5 million visitors a year from all over the world, and quickly becoming a multicultural and hospitable capital city. The city of Madrid has a rich cultural heritage that has gone through a period of rapid change. At the same time, Madrid is a city that blends traditional art with openness to new ideas, and is a pioneer in European music, opera, dance, cinema, painting, architecture and design. The 10-minute-long Art Gallery houses the most famous works of the world's great painters. From Goya, Velázquez, Tisiano or Greco in the Museo Nacional del Prado, to avant-garde wizards such as Dalí, Picasso and Miro in the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte de la Reina Sofía, to Dolero, Canaletto, Brouaiguet, Gavoussin and Gadinsky in the Museo Tessen-Bornemisza. Cultural institutions are constantly improving and implementing development programs year after year, offering local people and tourists a wider and more diverse range of cultural events, such as repertoires, exhibitions and festivals, making the city more open and vibrant.
A walk around Madrid is an exploration of the artistic styles of the different historical periods, and in the streets of Madrid's Calle Austria and Calle de los Bornes, visitors can see some of the most characteristic monuments of the city's history. For example, the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza de la Villa, the Royal Palace or the Botanical Gardens. Madrid*** has 1,962 ancient buildings, including landmarks such as Puerta de Alcalá, the Sibillas Bridge, Puerta del Sol or the Palacio de Coles, monuments that also make Madrid a true museum city. It is the only city in the world with a radius of 100 kilometers and it is surrounded by four UNESCO-designated Cities of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity: Toledo, ávila, Segovia and Alcalá de Henares. Embodying a combination of history and art, Madrid has a vibrant culture and history that encompasses architecture, heritage and historical artifacts from the Roman period that are still intact today. Any visitor to Madrid will undoubtedly recognize that it is one of the world's most joyful and lively capitals by day, by night and even at dawn. Especially on weekends, karaoke, discos, bars, jazz bars, clubs, live music and receptions are filled with people from all walks of life. Due to the favorable weather conditions throughout the year, it is a Madrid tradition to take recreational activities to the streets. The Spanish capital hosts the famous Flamenco Festival and the most important event of the bullfighting season, the San Isidro Fair, held in the Las Pendas bullring. For artists success in Madrid is a business card recognized by the world. Madrid is becoming more and more like Broadway. The five to six musicals that are performed on Madrid's stages each season are a success over and over again. The Autonomous Community of Madrid has a well-developed education industry, with 13 universities and colleges within its jurisdiction*** and more than 300,000 students enrolled. The region spends more than 2% of its GDP on research and development (R&D) each year, and accounts for 31.2% of the country's total R&D expenditures. R&D technicians account for 30 percent of the country's .
Famous Universities:
Complutense University of Madrid
Polytechnic University of Madrid
King Juan Carlos University
Autonomous University of Madrid
Carlos III University of Madrid As in the rest of Spain, naturally, the most popular sport in the Autonomous Community of Madrid is soccer. Two of the most famous teams are Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. These two teams have been rivals since many years and are now in the same Spanish First Division. Some of the more important teams are Rayo Vallecano and Getafe, who also play in La Liga today. Besides soccer, basketball, cycling, motorcycling, tennis and handball are also quite popular in the Autonomous Community of Madrid.
In 2014, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid eliminated their respective rivals and both made it to the Champions League final, the first time since the Champions League was organized that a crosstown derby was staged, which was eventually won by Real Madrid in overtime. That is, the Spanish Prime Minister's Palace, located in the northwest suburbs of Madrid. 1606, King Philip III of the West, a large construction, open up the land of the feudal lords, the beginning of the construction of this garden. 1617, Philip III gave the master of the garden at the time of Antonio for the "Moncloa" Count. The name "Palazzo de la Moncloa" was passed down through the centuries, and in the 18th century it became known as "Palazzo de la Moncloa". For hundreds of years it was the residence of princes and nobles. At the beginning of this century, the Spanish Society of Arts was responsible for the management and restoration, and later opened as a museum. 1936, the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the Palace of Moncloa became a key site of the rival sides, and was seriously damaged. After the end of the civil war, Franco ordered the reconstruction of the Palace of Moncloa, completed in 1953, used as a state guesthouse to receive heads of state and government. After the reconstruction of the Palace of Moncloa, although the name remains, but the architectural style and interior decoration is completely new. 1970 and 1989 again expanded, adding a number of new buildings, but the style is still harmonized with the original complex, the two as one.
Moncloa Palace is not only the seat of government, but also a national museum of cultural relics, the palace holds a large number of valuable historical relics. Prado Palace
Built in 1758, it is a typical neo-classical style. Originally a museum of natural sciences, in 1819 it was changed to a museum of painting, with a collection of about 5,000 paintings and sculptures, which vividly records the evolution of the Spanish art style over the centuries, and many of the treasures are regarded as the jewels in the history of European painting. Here you can focus on the masterpieces of the Spanish masters of all times, especially the works of the three great masters of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Greco, Velázquez and Goya. Thyssen Museum
Named after Baron Henrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, the artworks belong to the private collection of the Thyssen family. The collection began in 1920, more than 800 pieces from the early Flemish and Italian art styles to the twentieth century expressionism, pop art works fully demonstrated the interpretation of the history of Western art, the main painters such as Titian, Goya, Van Gogh, Picasso, etc. In 1992 the art collection was officially displayed in Madrid in an eighteenth-century building, which was donated to Spain the following year. Many art critics consider it to be the most important private collection in the world. Plaza Grande
Designed by the famous architect Herrera, construction began in 1590 and was completed around 1617, late in the reign of Philip III. The square was a rectangular shape, surrounded by balconies of buildings, and in 1848 Queen Isabel II ordered the statue of Philip III on horseback, located in the Park of the House of Fields, to be moved to the center of the square. It was restored at the end of the 18th century, as it was twice burned by fire. At that time, the square was mainly used for important civil and religious ceremonies, but nowadays it is a place for Madrid citizens and foreign tourists to walk and relax. Plaza de Espa?a
One of the most representative places in Spain and Madrid, in the center of the square stands a monument to Cervantes, the great master of Spanish literature, the monument and in front of the monument there are some of the characters in the chivalric novel Don Quixote, such as Don Quixote, a gentleman who steers his horse forward, and a donkey riding a donkey followed by a bronze statue of his servant, Sancho Panza, and so on. Directly behind the Cervantes Monument are two skyscrapers more than 100 meters high - the Spanish Tower and the Madrid Tower. Plaza Columbus
Located in the center of the city with heavy traffic, the most important building in the square is the Columbus Monument, built in 1886, for the sculptor Merida's work, the marble statue of Columbus stands on the neo-Gothic base. To the east of the monument is the "Park of Great Discoveries". To the east of the monument is the "Park of Discoveries", where a large stone statue depicting the discovery of the American continent is placed in front of the monument. Below the plaza is Madrid's cultural center and a multi-story underground parking garage. Europe Gate
Located in Plaza de Castilla in the north of Madrid, the Gateway to Europe consists of two towers of the same shape, leaning towards each other. Each of the two buildings has 27 floors and is 115 meters high, with a tilt angle of about 15 degrees and an area of about 1,170 square meters per floor. Each floor has eight high-speed elevators, which operate at a speed of 4 meters per second and have a capacity of 21 passengers. There is a helipad on top of both floors with a load capacity of 4 tons. The building project by the U.S. John Bulger Institute of Architecture design, structural design by the U.S. Robertson Engineering Associates completed by Spain's own construction companies responsible for the construction. 1990 August construction, all works in May 1996 was completed. The Royal Theatre
Built in 1818, due to several interruptions in the project, until November 1, 1850 was opened for the first time to perform the opera. 1925 because of safety reasons and stop performing, and then maintenance, the project lasted 40 years, in 1965 was converted into a symphony concert hall. 1991 decided to rebuild the Opera House, the completion of the restoration project on October 11, 1997, and once again It was opened again on October 11, 1997, after the completion of the restoration work. The reconstruction cost 21 billion pesetas, or nearly 200 million dollars. Among them, only the stage machinery and equipment will cost 5 billion pesetas, accounting for about a quarter of the total investment, is currently the world's most advanced stage equipment.
The Royal Theatre has a floor area of 71,000 square meters, with a stage space 75 meters high and an area of 1,030 square meters in front of and behind the stage. In addition to this there is a rehearsal stage of the same size as the stage performance part. The rehearsal space for orchestra, chorus and dance team is spacious and comfortable. Seats *** 1700, in addition to the royal box. The interior of the entire theater is lavishly decorated and richly decorated, both in the royal court style and with a modern style. Tomb of the Kings of Escorial
Located in the western suburbs of Madrid about 50 kilometers. Formally known as the Monastery of San Lorenzo, it was built by Philip II to commemorate the defeat of the French invaders at the Battle of San Quintin in 1557. The work took 22 years and was completed in 1584. When viewed from the air, the entire complex looks like an inverted oven rack. It is said that the saint St. Lorenzo was roasted to death on one of these ovens. The day of the victory at the Battle of San Quintin coincided with the naming day of St. Lorenzo, so it was named after him, and there is a statue of him at the main entrance.
The architectural style is solemn and dignified, a revivalist masterpiece, renowned in the history of world architecture. Complex is a quadrilateral, by the cathedral, abbey, royal palace, mausoleums, libraries, museums, the four corners of the tower, *** there are 16 inner courtyard, 86 sets of stairs, 88 spring wells, 2,000 windows, 13 chapels. It contains a large number of precious relics. The four walls of the inner chamber of the mausoleum are decorated with copper and dark marble, and the coffins of the Spanish monarchs are placed here and can be visited.
Valley of the Dead
The Valley of the Dead is located in a valley in the Guadarrama Mountains, about 8 kilometers from the Royal Tombs of Escorial. It was completed in 1959, after almost 20 years. It was built mainly to commemorate the victims of the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. Because of its beautiful scenery, it is now also a more famous scenic spot outside Madrid. There are monasteries and cathedrals, especially the cathedral built in a hollowed out hill, magnificent, spectacular, the zenith as high as 46 meters, painted with a huge picture of Christ; built on the hill above the cross, as high as 150 meters, the length of the cross beam is 46 meters.
Buried in the cathedral are Jose Antonio, founder of the Spanish Phalangists, and Francisco Franco, the dictator.
Gastronomy
Madrid lives up to its reputation as Spain's capital with fresh, plentiful food from all over the country. From Galicia and País Vasco in the north to paella in Valencia in the east, whatever the region, it retains its local flavor.
Madrid's famous gastronomic dishes, such as madrid broth (cocido madrile?o), tripe (callos), garlic soup (sopa de ajo), escargot (caracoles), potato omelette (tortilla de patatas), grilled sea bream (besugo al horno), can be savored at some of the best restaurants in the city. some well-known restaurants can be savored.
Other desserts commonly eaten by Madrile?os include bartolillos, barquillos, bu?uelos, mazapan and turrón.
Shopping
The area around the Plaza Grande (Plaza Mayor) sells mainly traditional items, such as all kinds of weavings, ropes, hats, and religious items. Boutiques for popular items, on the other hand, are concentrated on Calle Almirante and Calle Conde de Xiquena, where some of the most famous Spanish and international designers have set up store. Also in the Salamanca district are first-class stores selling jewelry, shoes, leather goods, furniture and other boutiques.
Some large department stores are dotted around Princess Street, Goya Street, Calle Castellana and Puerta del Sol.
If you're looking for a bargain, head to the open-air Rastro market near Calle Castellana, which is open on Saturdays and Sundays. You'll find lots of unexpected goodies, antiques, records, paintings, jewelry, clothes and even some old cards.
In addition, Madrid hosts a number of book fairs every May, including a used book fair on the Paseo de Recoletos at the beginning of May, the Madrid Book Fair in Plaza Isabel II, and a large book fair in the Ritz Park from the end of May to the beginning of June, where important publishers from around the world come to exhibit.
Maddox Traveler's Special Note: As the capital city of Madrid is considered a big city, the entire city is divided into 21 districts, but most of the must-see sightseeing attractions for tourists are concentrated in the old city center, with Puerta del Sol as the core radiating in all directions. There are also many beautiful buildings in the area, which are ideal for walking tours. Those who enjoy museums and art can take an indoor tour of the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofia Gallery on the east side of the city center, while on the west side of the city center there are the beautiful Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace of Madrid to explore.
Security: Although Madrid is not as prone to thievery as Barcelona or Valencia, the deteriorating economic climate in recent years has led to a high crime rate in the city. Visitors to the city's crowded Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are advised to keep their belongings close to their hearts and to remain vigilant at all times, and to be especially aware of people who deliberately pretend to be friendly and accost them. Visitors are advised not to walk through remote and dark areas and not to be alone at night. Passports and valuables in particular need to be kept safe, keep an eye on your bag in crowded places, and take only enough cash for your trip.
Other precautions: Spanish people's work and rest time is generally late, generally 1-2 hours later than the Chinese custom, and there is a habit of lunch breaks, need to pay special attention to in the arrangement of travel plans. Especially during Daylight Saving Time, there is a leisurely siesta from 14:00 to 17:00 p.m. Dinner is prepared after 20:00 p.m., and the nightlife doesn't start until after midnight.
City distances Amsterdam: 1735 km Athens: 4029 km Barcelona: 621 km Berlin: 2360 km Brussels: 1556 km Copenhagen: 2539 km Stockholm: 3163 km Lisbon: 644 km London: 1725 km Oslo: 3133 km Paris: 1260 km Rome: 2086 Seville: 538 km Valencia: 352 km Vienna: 2444 km