although its history is likely to have begun earlier, the demonstrable origins of madrid go back to ix century, with the construction of a small palace ordered by mehmed i. the small palace is now occupied by the palacio real. around the palace small citadel (al-mudaina) was built. near that palace was the river malthough its history is likely to have begun earlier, the demonstrable origins of madrid go back to ix century, with the construction of a small palace ordered by mehmed i. the small palace is now occupied by the palacio real. around the palace small citadel (al-mudaina) was built. near that palace was the river manzanares which was called "al-majrîṭ" by the muslims meaning: "source of water". alfonso vi of castile took over power of toledo and madrid around 1085. he went on reconstructing the mosque as the church of the virgin of almudena (almudin, the garrison's granary).
during 1329, the cortes first assembled in madrid to advise fernando iv. the jaws and moors continued to occupy the city, and well still know as the "moreria" until they were expelled and every mosque and synagogue was utterly obliterated. felip ii made madrid the home of the royal court in 1561 but unfortunately, the city was developing for the next century or so and in 1700 hapsburg spain comes to an end with the death of carlos ii. consequently, phillip v became the first bourbon king in 1700 and ruled until 1746. during the years of 1808 and 1813, the french occupied spain under the napoleon. for the next 100 years spain was ruled by series of kings, two republics and a dictatorship. king juan carlos was sworn in as king of spain on the 22 of november 1975 and it is only two years later that the first democratic elections took place in the country.
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Tipping isn’t essential in Spain though a gratuity can be paid in acknowledgement of good service, at your own discretion. You should bear in mind that many taxi-drivers, waiters and other people in service industries do not earn that much. You should tip around 10% of the bill in restaurants and taxis.
The Spanish love their food and take it very seriously and Madrid offers an interesting andTipping isn’t essential in Spain though a gratuity can be paid in acknowledgement of good service, at your own discretion. You should bear in mind that many taxi-drivers, waiters and other people in service industries do not earn that much. You should tip around 10% of the bill in restaurants and taxis.
The Spanish love their food and take it very seriously and Madrid offers an interesting and delicious collection of fine cuisine. One of the famous local dishes is a hot-pot called ‘madrileo’ and ‘sopa’ de ajo’, or garlic soup. No matter which part of Spain you visit you can be sure that fish will be high on any menu. Madrid consists of the second biggest fish market in the world.
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madrid, the capital of spain is the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the castillian plain 646 meters above sea level and has a population of over three million inhabitants. the city which may be lacking in the architectural beauty compared with other major spanish cities is certainly recognizemadrid, the capital of spain is the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the castillian plain 646 meters above sea level and has a population of over three million inhabitants. the city which may be lacking in the architectural beauty compared with other major spanish cities is certainly recognized for its boundless energy, blue skies, art, culture and some of the most exhilarating and exhausting nightlife in europe. madrid offers many interesting museums, with the world-famous prado national museum leading the way with massive collections of goya and velazquez: madrid by day is a cultural city. but the fun does not end with the sunset. it is nearly impossible to describe madrid's unending list of evening activities. more than 50 million foreigners a year visit spain, yet you can also travel for days and hear nothing but spanish. many people come to madrid for a day or two before striking out for rest of the spain. however, once they realize the infinite possibilities this city has to offer for food, drink and fun, they tend to stay longer…... more info
By Air
Spain's capital city is served by Spain's premier airport, the busy and efficient Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD). It is located 9 miles (15 km) from the centre of Madrid and handles a large number of international and domestic flights
By Bus
Buses (autobús) operate throughout Madrid, with over 150 lines reaching almost every part of the city and surrounding areas. The mBy Air
Spain's capital city is served by Spain's premier airport, the busy and efficient Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD). It is located 9 miles (15 km) from the centre of Madrid and handles a large number of international and domestic flights
By Bus
Buses (autobús) operate throughout Madrid, with over 150 lines reaching almost every part of the city and surrounding areas. The municipal transport system (EMT) operates this extensive, reliable service, which covers a larger area of the city than the underground Metro train - although the buses do tend to be a little slower to reach the destination. In the summer they have air conditioning, which can make traveling in hot weather much more comfortable. Most bus stops have detailed city maps and these include the city's many bus routes. The bus service operates between 05:30 to 23:30 and a bargain ticket (bono bus), valid for ten rides, is available at EMT booths and on the buses. There are also night buses (buhos), with about 20 bus lines, operating between midnight and 06:00.
By Car
Traffic in Spain has increased greatly in the last few years and although the city can become somewhat congested at peak times, a car provides a very convenient way to travel outside of the city centre. If you do not take your own car, there are plenty of car rental firms to choose from, with a wide variety of cars. Car rental can be expensive in the peak season and the best rates may be obtained by booking in advance. Car rental usually includes unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance cover, 24-hour emergency road service and theft protection.
By Metro / Subway
The Metro is Madrid's underground train system and provides a cheap, fast and very convenient way to travel around Madrid. The subway is probably the best way to travel in Madrid and consists of an extensive network of ten lines and over 120 trains, which cover most of the city. During the summer months, the Metro can get extremely hot and crowded, although some trains are now air conditioned.
Metro stations are indicated by a red, blue and white sign and the trains run from 06:00 to 01:30. Tickets can be purchased at station ticket booths or machines and 'ten-journey tickets' can be shared by more than one person traveling, and these are also valid for bus travel.
By Taxi
Taxis are plentiful and competitively priced, providing a reasonable alternative way to travel, particularly when the cost can be shared amongst a small group. All official taxis are white with a red stripe and blue shield. Most drivers are honest and taxis can be hailed on main streets at all times, both day and night. If a taxi is available for hire, a 'libre' (free) sign is displayed in the windscreen. Standard rates are shown on the meter and there are supplements for baggage, extra passengers, trips at nights and also for those departing from railway stations or the airport. When taking taxis from the airport, bus and train stations, it is always advisable to use the official taxi ranks and avoid non-metered cars, which are expensive and usually charge premium rates.
By Train
Madrid has three main train stations, which all link to metro lines and operate between 05:30 to 23:00 and seat reservations are often required.
* Chamartín, Augustans de Fox - just off the Passes de la Castellana, this station connects Madrid with the north and east
* Norte, Paseo del Rey - opposite the Campo del Moro, Norte connects with north-west Madrid
* Atocha, Plaza de Carlos V - close to the city centre and south of the Prado, this station connects with the west and south and includes the high-speed AVE trains which travel to Cordoba and Sevilla. Atocha also serves as the hub of the Cercanías local train network
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madrid, the capital of spain is the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the castillian plain 646 meters above sea level and has a population of over three million inhabitants. the city which may be lacking in the architectural beauty compared with other major spanish cities is certainly recognizemadrid, the capital of spain is the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the castillian plain 646 meters above sea level and has a population of over three million inhabitants. the city which may be lacking in the architectural beauty compared with other major spanish cities is certainly recognized for its boundless energy, blue skies, art, culture and some of the most exhilarating and exhausting nightlife in europe. madrid offers many interesting museums, with the world-famous prado national museum leading the way with massive collections of goya and velazquez: madrid by day is a cultural city. but the fun does not end with the sunset. it is nearly impossible to describe madrid's unending list of evening activities. more than 50 million foreigners a year visit spain, yet you can also travel for days and hear nothing but spanish. many people come to madrid for a day or two before striking out for rest of the spain. however, once they realize the infinite possibilities this city has to offer for food, drink and fun, they tend to stay longer…... more info
There are several theories regarding the origin of the name "Madrid". According to legend Madrid was founded by Ocno Bianor (son of King Tyrrhenius of Tuscany and Mantua) and was named "Metragirta" or "Mantua Carpetana". Others contend that 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 strawberry tree ("madroo" in Spanish), have been the emblem of the city from the Middle Ages.
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My wife and i spent our 23rd anniversary in The Westin Palace Hotel in Madrid --- the hotel is wonderful and located just near the Prado Musuem --we found the city to be a great place with lots of history, pride, sports, lovely monuments and a buzzing night life with not to miss flamenco performance at Corral restaurant --- the TEATRO KAPITAL nightclub is unbelievable with 7 floors of music and an open air terrace bar on the top floor --- the traffic at 3am on Saturday night was like a rush hour in any other normal city --- we witnessed the finishing of the Spanish Tour cycle race from our hotel window--- after that the cleaning brigade moved in with their trucks and washed the streets. Madrid Card is a must, which allows free entry to almost all the museums plus the open air bus tours and lots of discounts at many establishments including the Corral restaurant!
Highly recommend it to all!
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Very lively place full of life even in the wee hours of the night. Very hip and good amount of night-life.
Good weather at this time of the year (1st week of Sept).
However from tourist point of view you didn't have many places within Madrid to visit.
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My father, his wife, and I visited Madrid and our blood relatives there; We're from the Philippines, and my father and I have Spanish bloodlines (I have a feeling my stepmother also has Spanish ties). Madrid is a wonderful city, full of lovely and engaging people, tasty cuisine, and fascinating architecture. It goes without saying that I sampled the best sangria there!! I will try to locate and upload photos from that trip soon.
Mmm... Spanish men are some of the best-looking out there, in my opinion :)
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Wonderful place Madrid. Catch the daggy bus to get around for an allround veiew to begin with, then head out on foot..
Awesome tapas bars, nightlife and piazza's. Head toLa Latina for nightlife, very cool and hip.
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