Madrid, Spain, is the capital and largest city of Spain and is located on the river Manzanares in the center of both the country and the Community of Madrid (which comprises the city of Madrid and extended suburbs and villages). It’s bordered by the autonomous communities of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha. As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political center of Spain.
Madrid’s landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real (Royal theatre) with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro park; the 19th-century National Library building; an archaeological museum; and three art museums. Madrid is known for the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three museums. One of which is the Prado Museum, famed for such highlights as Diego Velázquez's “Las Meninas” and Francisco de Goya's “La maja vestida” and “La maja desnuda.” The other two museums are the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, established from a mixed private collection, and the Reina Sofia Museum home to Pablo Picasso's “Guernica.” Madrid is also home to the largest bullring or Plaza de Toros in Spain, Las Ventas, established in 1929 and with capacity for 25,000. The bullfighting season begins in March and ends in October.
For affordable dining, visitors can explore the various restaurants and tapas bars in the casual neighborhoods of Malasaña, Chueca, and La Latina. For a more traditional, home-cooked meal, try Casa Ciriaco, Casa Botín and Casa Paco.
Madrid is served by Barajas Airport. Barajas is the main hub of Iberia Airline and the main gateway to the Iberian Peninsula. Spain's railway system, the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles (Renfe) operates the vast majority of Spain's railways. In Madrid, the main rail terminals are Atocha in the south and Chamartín in the north. The Madrid Metro is one of the most extensive in the world and the second-largest metro system in Western Europe, second only to London's Underground. The province of Madrid is also served by an extensive commuter rail network.
The region has a continental Mediterranean climate with cooler winters. Summers certainly get hot, but due to the altitude and dry climate, evenings can be cooler. Most rainfall happens in the autumn and spring.
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Best Western Atlantico
Hotel
Situated in the city center of Madrid, this hotel's guest rooms provide cable satellite television, air conditioning and comfortable surroundings. The Best Western Atlantico Hotel is in a prime location, near museums, restaurants and art galleries like Prado's Museum and Royal Palace.(more)
Barceló Castellana Norte
Hotel
The Barceló Castellana Norte Hotel is a modern and functional newly-built hotel in Madrid, situated in the city’s fastest growing business area, to the north of the Paseo de la Castellana. It is easily accessed via the main highways (A-1, M-11, M-40, M-30 and R-2) and is located just 10 minutes from the airport, 5 minutes from the Juan Carlos I Exhibition Centre (IFEMA) and 3 minutes from the Corte Inglés Sanchinarro shopping centre. It has 144 totally soundproof, modern, bright and comfortable rooms designed to make sure your stay is as enjoyable as possible.(more)
Hostal Barrera
Hotel
This hotel is located in a historical part of Madrid that is known for its architecture. The Hostal Barrera Hotel is close to the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia National Art Museum and Puerta del Sol. Rooms boast flat screen televisions, Wi-Fi internet, air conditioning and other amenities.(more)
Barcelo Aranjuez
Hotel
The hotel Barceló Aranjuez, located in the royal city of Aranjuez to the south of Madrid is a hotel recently built in a contemporary style with everything you need to guarantee you a pleasant stay, with tourist surroundings of great historical and cultural interest, ideal for incentive trips and business meetings. Despite its central location you can enjoy hunting, fishing, playing golf on its 18-hole golf course or you can relax. Look after yourself in the beauty centre, or get yourself toned up in the fitness rooms.(more)
Barceló Torre Arias
Hotel
Hotel Barceló Torre Arias is located in Madrid, just a few minutes’ drive from the IFEMA Trade Fair. A four-star, functional, state-of-the-art hotel designed for both business and pleasure. Hotel in Madrid close to the Calle Alcalá (around nº 420). Close to the airport and trade fair. Good transport links. Easy access both by car (M-40 and A-II) and public transport (Metro and EMT). Hotel in Madrid offering the maximum comfort in rooms with 2.1 m beds, free safety deposit box, 24-hr room service, full bathroom and a 26” LCD flat-screen TV. Free ADSL and Wi-fi Internet throughout the hotel.(more)
Retiro Park (Parque del Retiro)
Attraction
The Retiro Park is closed to cars and is situated behind the Prado museum. This is the most popular park in Madrid with street entertainers throughout and it’s a great place for roller skating, playing football and jogging. The park was first built for the Spanish king Phillip IV and it opened to the general public in the 1880’s. Since it had royal patronage there are many beautiful buildings to be found throughout the park including the Crystal Palace, made entirely out of glass. There is a large lake in the center of the park where you can go boating and there are a number of terrazas (open air bars). Once a year the park plays host to a huge book fair. There is also a stature of Angel Caido, a fallen angel. This is the only statue in the world that plays tribute to a fallen angel.
Meson de la Guitarra
Attraction
Meson de le Guitarra is a great place to sip sangria from clay pitchers, have some tapas and listen to great guitar music. As you enter the cave you realize it is a dimly lit cavern with brick walls made from bricks that are hundreds of years old. The bar opens at 7pm but doesn’t really get going until after 10. Guitarists play Flamenco and Sevillana tunes while the customers clap and along. Sometimes the guitarists invite their friends to join in and the guitar is passed around the room with each one playing a tune. Sometimes groups of men dressed in 16th century outfits, “tuna,” play for spare change and sell their CDs to the tourists.
Plaza Mayor
Attraction
This site was a market place during the middle ages outside the city walls. King Phillip III had it turned into a real square. The square was surrounded by wooden structures some six stories high. Fire destroyed these structures three times but they were always rebuilt. The Plaza Mayor is often the site for festivities, bull fights and royal coronations. The most prominent building on Plaza Mayor is Casa de la Panaderia; once the seat of the powerful baker’s guild. The murals seen throughout were added in 1992.
La Venencia (bar)
Attraction
This is a sherry bar located in the center of Madrid, named after a long narrow tool used to sample wines. The bar is tucked away into the side of a narrow street, hidden from the bustle of the city. When you step across the threshold it is like stepping back in history. You might expect that this was the type of place Hemmingway would have hung out in. There are five different types of sherry to choose from: oloroso, fino, manzanilla and some creations from the bar. There is also a small selection of tapas such as olives, cheese or cured ham. A chalk mark on the worn wooden bar keeps your tab. All you have to do is look down and you’ll know how much you’ve drank.
Sobrino de Botin
Attraction
The Sobrino de Botin was established in 1725 and you can find it in the Guinness book of World Records. It is the oldest eatery in Madrid and the rest of the world for that matter. The story attached to this restaurant goes like this, a young man named Francisco Goya worked at the restaurant as a waiter. He was waiting to get a place in the Royal Academy of Fine Art in Madrid. This young waiter went on to become a master painter. The specialty of the house is cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig). These dishes are mentioned in the closing pages of Hemmingway’s novel, “The Sun Also Rises”.