Madrid Tourist Info
Location
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain, located in the centre of the peninsula plain 646 meters above sea level and spans a total of 698 km² (233.3 sq mi).
The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million (2011); the entire population of the metropolitan area.
Information As the capital city, a cosmopolitan city, a business center, seat of government, Spanish Parliament, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political centre of Spain. Madrid is characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife. According to legend the original name of the city was "Ursaria" ("land of bears" in Latin), due to the high number of these animals that were found in the adjacent forests, which, together with the arbutus ("madroño" in Spanish), have been the emblem (The Bear and the Strawberry Tree) of the city from the Middle Ages. |
Events Madrid goes wild each May in honour of the city's patron Saint, San Isidro, with a traditional round of partying, feasting and dancing in the streets that goes on for about 10 days around the designated saint's day, 15 May. And regular bullfights in "Las Ventas" Bullring. Arco is Europe's largest contemporary art fair and turns Madrid into the centre of the international art world during its five-day run each year. Festimad is a Spain's rock music event of the year, Festimad hosts well known and up and coming rock bands for a two-day party that attracts thousands of people from all over Spain. Held at the Butarque Leganes Stadium just outside Madrid. |
Attractions • Royal Palace • Santa Cruz Palace • Royal Theater • Almudena Cathedral • Debod Temple • Prado Museum • Queen Sofia Museum • Fine Arts Museum • Archaeological Museum • Puerta del Sol • Gran Via Street • Plaza Mayor Square • Plaza España Square • Santa Ana Square • Cibeles Square • Alcala Gate • Victory Arch • Atocha Station • City Hall • Bullfighting Las Ventas • Botanical Garden • Buen Retiro Park • Casa de Campo Park • El Rastro Market • AZCA Buildings |
Autumn Festival in Spring
From 9 May to 3 June, Madrid is celebrating a new edition of the Autumn Festival in Spring, which will be kicked off by Peter Brook, one of contemporary European theatre's most influential directors, and the company Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord. In all, 23 theatre, music and contemporary dance productions will be put on by 23 companies from nine countries, offering the best in international performing arts to all audiences.
Los Vivancos
After touring 30 countries and being watched by over 1 million spectators worldwide, the seven brothers from Barcelona return to Spain with a production that explores the limits of the supernatural. Featuring music by Fernando Velázquez-the man behind the soundtrack of The Orphanage- and in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil director Daniele Finzi Pasca, Los Vivanco's show is a story of good and evil that blends pure flamenco with ballet, martial arts, tap dancing and magic. 18 April to 3 June at Nuevo Teatro Alcalá.
