About Madrid
Madrid, the capital of Spain, with its cosmopolitan air and its growing amount of tourists who visit it the whole year round, still is the open city it has always been and its well known night life has not lost any of its vitality. This modern air harmoniously contrasts with its important old quarters and its cultural traditions.
Madrid is a city of great monuments. Among its highlights are the medieval center dating back to the Habsburg Empire and the Prado Museum.
Madrid has many world-know tourist attractions that you can not miss:
- Puerta del Sol
- Plaza Mayor
- The Royal Palace (Palacio Real)
- Parque del Retiro
- Puerta de Alcalá
- Cibeles Fountain
- Retiro Park
- Botanical Gardens
- Astronomical Observatory
- Fountain of Neptune
- Fountain of Apollo
- Plaza de Oriente
The Main Art Galleries in Madrid
- Prado Museum (Museo del Prado)
- Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
- Museo Sorolla
- Museo de América
- National Library and Archaeological Museum
- Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace)
CLIMATE:
The climate of Madrid is dry, warm and pleasant. It's altitude and proximity to mountains causes some wide variations in winter and summer temperatures. In summer the heat at midday can be intense, with pleasantly cool evenings. Winters, by contrast, bring temperatures dropping to just below freezing. Rain in Madrid is a rarity, with a short rainy season in late October and some showers in spring.
GASTRONOMY:
In this city, gastronomy is culture, leisure and business. There is a vast range of culinary variety on offer: in Madrid you can find everything, from traditional homemade dishes to the most innovative and creative cuisine. We are lucky enough to enjoy international food from all over the globe, made with the best raw ingredients, and the stoves of the city offer some of the most surprising dishes of modern cuisine.
CULTURE AND TRADITION:
For a young city, tradition is an absolute must: talking about folklore is also talking about the future. In Madrid, flamenco, zarzuela operettas and the world of bullfighting are always present, even in its most avant-garde aspects. Musicals, independent cinema, theatre, flamenco, opera and jazz are forms of entertainment that can only be enjoyed in big capital cities. Surely Madrid must be one of the few cities in the world where, every night, you can choose from going to hear a tenor, watch a ballerina or see the premiere of a Thai film.
In the evening a flamenco show is a popular choice for visitors and there is a good range of performances available ranging from large scale spectaculars for tourist groups to smaller shows in more intimate surroundings.
REGION TRANSPORTATION:
Its great transportation network makes getting around to any place you wish easy and quick, adding to this the best and most exclusive hotel accommodation network. Tradition and vanguard live together harmoniously, welcoming a dynamic and modern society. The Community of Madrid is a must if you want to get to know the Spanish culture.
For more information, please visit the following websites:
http://www.esmadrid.com
http://www.turismomadrid.es
http://www.madrid.org
http://www.descubremadrid.com
http://www.metromadrid.es
http://madrid.es
http://webmadrid.com
