Introduction
Madrid is the capital of Spain and of Madrid Province, which is one of Spain's partially self-governing regions. Madrid is a city of contrasting styles. It has preserved its old, crowded center, with palaces, convents, churches, and public buildings dating to the early 17th century. Yet it is also Spain's largest, busiest city, an urban center of arts and industry.
Madrid is situated on the Meseta, a plateau in the center of Spain. Located at 2,100 feet (635 meters) above sea level, Madrid is Europe's highest capital city. The Manzanares River borders it on the west and south. To the north lie the pine-covered Guadarrama mountains.
Places of interest
The heart of Madrid is the Puerta del Sol (Door of the Sun). From this plaza spread the city's busiest streets. Madrid's old quarter is a maze of small streets and squares. They center around the Plaza Mayor, a large city square built in the early 17th century. Only a few buildings from before the 16th century remain. The city's main north-south street is known as the Paseo. Along it are tall modern office buildings, luxury hotels and residences, the parliament building, embassies, and major cultural institutions.
Madrid has more than 40 parks and public gardens. Once the site of a royal palace, the Retiro (Retreat) is now the city's largest park. Madrid's botanical gardens contain some 30,000 species of plants.
Culture
The city's Museum of the Prado is one of the foremost art galleries in Europe. The Prado contains the world's most complete collections of paintings by El Greco, Diego Velázquez, and Francisco de Goya. Madrid's several other art collections and museums include the National Archaeological Museum and museums dedicated to theater, railways, and bullfighting. The National Palace houses one of the world's great collections of body armor and swords.
Madrid is Spain's main center of higher education and includes several of the country's leading universities. Notable among Madrid's many libraries are the National Library and the Library of the Royal Palace.
Economy
Madrid is the second most industrialized city of the country after Barcelona. The capital city is an important center for the manufacturing of automobiles and aircraft. It also produces electric and electronic equipment, optical instruments, plastics, and rubber. Madrid is one of the major publishing centers for the Spanish-speaking world. It is the country's center for banking and insurance, a major tourist site, and a transportation hub.
History
Madrid's written history goes back to the 10th century. It was then a town called Majerit that had grown around a castle. The town was ruled by Moors, or Muslims of mixed Arab, Spanish, and Berber origins. The Christian king Alfonso VI of Castile and León captured the town in 1083. In 1561 the Spanish king Philip II made Madrid the seat of his court. In 1607 Philip III made the city Spain's permanent capital.
France occupied Madrid during the early 19th century. On May 2, 1808, the city residents led a mass uprising against the French troops. During the Spanish Civil War (1936–39), Madrid suffered heavy bombing. The city expanded greatly in the 1950s and '60s. Population (1998 estimate), 2,881,506.
