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Modern-day Madrid beats to a different rhythm than
the rest of Spain. Life in Madrid is on the street, the local tradition
being to "tapear" (meander) from bar to bar taking a glass
of fino and a mouthful of tapas. Madrid is a stage on which its inhabitants
play. Exuding warmth and vitality, Madrid will surely work its magic
on you.
History
The first concrete references to Madrid emerged
around the 10th century. At that time it was surrounded by cities of
far greater importance, such as Toledo, Segovia and Valladolid. In fact
it was little more than a fortified village when Felipe II decided to
make it the permanent capital of the Spanish Empire in 1561. Valladolid
briefly assumed the role of capital in 1601 but this lasted for only
5 years and during the 17th century Madrid attracted not only civil
servants, but also writers such as Cervantes and Calderon.
During the 18th century the city was cleaned up
by Carlos III , at that time it had a reputation for being one of the
dirtiest cities in Europe. He was also instrumental in developing the
intellectual life of the city. The invasion of Napoleon at the beginning
of the 19th century spelt the beginning of a long period of wars and
political uncertainty. In 1931 the Second Republic was proclaimed in
Madrid. Franco's troops first attempted, and failed, to take Madrid
in 1936, and the subsequent siege and slow grinding advance of the Francoists
lasted until the civil war ended in 1939.
Climate
In general you can rely on pleasant or hot temperatures
just about everywhere in Spain from April to early November. The temperatures
normally range from 15°C to 35°C. In Madrid it is slightly cooler,
although temperatures can climb above 30° C in July and August.
Rain in most areas is heaviest from around October to April, though
from year to year, rainfall is inconsistent to say the least. Madrid
and the Central region regularly freeze in December, January and February
and snowfalls in the mountains start as early as October with some snow
cover all year on the highest mountains. Weather in the high mountains
is generally unreliable.
Five
day weather forecast
City Sights
Museo del Prado
The Prado, which was built towards the end of the 18th century, has
a whole string of rooms devoted to the works of a trio of Spain's greatest
- Velazquez, Goya and El Greco. These three elements are the cream,
but there is plenty of good work by a range of Flemish, Italian and
other painters too.
It is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 7pm, and on Sundays
and holidays it closes at 2pm.
Puerta del Sol
Once the site of a city gate, the Puerta del Sol, is Madrid's most central
point. Just to the north of the statue of Carlos III, stands a statue
of a bear nuzzling a madrono (strawberry tree). This is a favourite
meeting place for locals and the city's symbol.
Plaza Mayor
West of the Puerta del Sol, the heart of Medieval Madrid beats in the
17th century Plaza Mayor. It was for a long time a popular stage for
Royal festivities and now is a popular place to drink expensive coffee!
Palacio Real
When the Alcazar burned down in 1734, Felipe V took the opportunity
to build a palace that would dwarf its European counterparts both in
size and architectural magnificence. With some 2800 rooms, it is certainly
large. Carlos III was the first monarch to move in, but the present
king is rarely in residence 50 rooms are open to the public.
Plaza de Oriente
Just across from the Palace, stands the majestic Plaza de Oriente. The
square is dominated by an equestrian statue of Felipe IV, but does in
fact have some 44 statues of monarchs.
Day Trips
Toledo
Less than an hour from Madrid is a remarkable medieval city bristling
with monumental splendour. They still call it La Ciudad Imperial, and
for a while the city looked set to become the heart of a united Spain.
Twisting lanes and blind alleys, extraordinarily decorated internal
patios, steep cobbled streets and sheer architectural diversity make
this place an absolute must.
Alcala de Henares
Approximately 35 kms east of the city, is dear to the hearts of many
Spaniards, as the birthplace of the country's literary figurehead, Miguel
de Cervantes Saavedra. The city entered a period of greatness after
the founding of the university here in 1486. The university was for
a long time one of the countries main seats of learning.
Salamanca
This university town is approximately 2 hours north west of the city
by bus or train. It is, like Cambridge or Oxford, very much a student
town, steeped in history. It also has a university founded in 1218,
which became the equal of Oxford and Bologna. Don't miss the Plaza Mayor,
generally considered to be Spain's most engaging central plaza.
Nights out
Madrid has the wide selection of cafes, bars restaurants
and nightclubs that you would expect from a city of its size. Spaniards
are renowned for heading out late so those night owls amongst you will
be in their element. Whether it's a good Tapas and a bottle of Sangria
that you enjoy or dancing the night away in one of Madrid's many nightclubs
you won't be short of options.
Activities
On Sunday morning, the Embajadores area of Madrid
seems to contain half the city's population as all and sundry converge
on El Rastro, the city's flea market. Starting from Plaza de Cascorro,
its main axes are Calle de Ribeira de Curtidores and Calle de Embajadores.
Much of what is on sale is rubbish, but the atmosphere alone is worth
the effort. There are a good many junk and antique stores dotted about
here, and more contemporary shops in the Mercado Puerta de Toledo, just
west of the Rastro area. Calle del Prado is a good place to look for
high class furniture and other antique items. The best known department
store in Madrid and throughout Spain is El Corte Ingles.
There are some good bookshops at La Casa del Libro
at Gran Via 29-31 and the Libreria Turner at Calle de Genova 3, both
have good selections of books in English.
Special Events
| Third week of May |
Fiestas de San Isidro Labrador
Madrid's single greatest fiesta is without
doubt the one that celebrates the city's patron saint, Saint Isidro.
It starts with the pregón, a speech delivered by the mayor,
on the middle Friday or Saturday of the month and goes on for
a week. There are free music performances around the city, and
the country's most prestigious feria, or bullfight season, takes
place at the huge Plaza De Toros Monumental de las Ventas. |
| 24 June |
The fiesta de San Juan
Held in the Parque del Buen Retiro over the seven days leading up
to 24 June. |
| 2nd week of August |
The second week of August celebrates
the consecutive festivals of San Cayetano in Lavapiés, San
Lorenzo in La Latina and La Paloma (around Calle de Calatrava in
La Latina). |
| Last week of September |
The Fiesta de Otoño
The autumn festival is held in the Chamartin barrio of Madrid.
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Where Can I Find The……?
Tourist Office
The main tourist office is on the ground floor of the Torre de Madrid,
Calle de la Princesa 1 (the entrance is around the corner on Plaza de
España). It is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm, and on
Saturday from 9am to 1pm. The office at Barajas airport is open Monday
to Friday from 8am to 8 p.m and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
There is another tourist office at Plaza Mayor 3. It is open Monday
to Friday from 10am to 8pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
Post and Communications
The main post office is in the ornate and unmistakable Palacio de Communicaciones
on Plaza de la Cibeles. The postcode for poste restante (lista de correos)
at the main office is 28080. For stamps (which you can also buy at tobacconists),
the post office is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 10pm and Saturday
from 8.30 to 8pm. The two main telefonica offices are open daily from
9.30am to 11.30pm. They have telephone cabins, telex services and phone
directories for the whole country. They are located at Paseo de los
Recoletos 37-41 (metro Colon) and Gran Via 30 (metro Callao or Gran
Via. The telephone code for Madrid is 91.
Foreign Consulates
The British Embassy can be found at Calle de Fernando el Santo 16, 28010
and the contact details are as follows:
Tel: (91) 700 8200
Fax: (91) 700 8272
E-mail: press.public@embbrit.es
Web site: www.embbrit.es
Banks
There is a wide range of banks and cash machines available throughout
the city. When changing cash or cheques, always ask about the commission.
This can vary from bank to bank American Express ( 322 54 24) has an
office at Plaza de las Cortes 2. It's open from 9am to 5.30pm and on
Saturday from 9am to noon.
Internet @ccess
El Argonauta Virtual, Gaztambide 9 (tel: (91) 550 0835; fax: (91) 543
3978; web site: www.argonauta-virtual.com)
Medical and Emergency Services
At least one pharmacy opens 24 hours a day in each district of Madrid.
Alternatively, dial 098 to find out where the nearest one is. In a police
emergency you can call the Policia Nacional on 091. The direccion General
de Policia-extranjeros (900 15 00 00), at Calle de los Madrazo 8, sometimes
has an interpreter service in summer. There are six First-Aid stations
(Urgencias) scattered about Madrid in case of Medical emergency. They
remain open 24 hours a day. For an ambulance call the Cruz Roja on 522
22 22 or Insalud 409 55 30. In a general medical emergency, you should
always dial 061 for information. The fire service can be contacted on
112 or 080.
If you have medical problems you could try popping
into the nearest Insalud clinics -often Marked 'Centro de Salud'. Make
sure you have all your insurance details with you (including your E-111
if you are an EU citizen). The most central one is at Calle de las Navas
de Tolosa 1.
Airport Transfers
Madrid's Barajas airport is 13 kms north east of
the city. To get into the city, take either an airport bus, the metro
(which is generally easier to navigate) or a taxi. If you take a taxi
from the airport, you will have to pay a supplementary charge for your
luggage, also make sure the driver turns the meter on when you get in
! It should cost no more than 2000-3000 ptas to the centre of town.
Before You Go….
The Spanish Tourist Office (UK) is situated at 22-23
Manchester Square, London W1M 5AP and the contact details are:
Tel: (020) 7486 8077 or (0891) 669 920
Fax: (020) 7486 8034.
E-mail: buzon.oficial@londres.oet.mcx.es
Web site: www.tourspain.co.uk
Useful Websites
www.softdoc.es Comprehensive guide to Madrid
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