Enchanting Madrid

It can be quite daunting to be sure that you are really visiting Madrid, as it is not confined to just a city or district, but could be a conglomeration of areas which are historically and culturally mingled and interlinked.

There is the historical Madrid town which displays the Moorish influences through its quarters and churches at the Santa Barbara and Montserrat areas with the magnificent view of the La Casa de Campo gardens near the Orient Palace, Villahermosa Palace, El Prado Museum, and the Casón del Buen Retiro.

Next, there is Madrid which is full of culture offerings displayed through world-renowned museums such as the Museo del Prado together with the splendid 18th century palace of Royal Madrid along with its botanical gardens.

Then, there is the offering of modern Madrid, the bustling city is always booming with businesses and happenings, whether with the locals or visitors, in its transactions, restaurants, bars, and other modern attractions.
Attractions of Madrid

Whichever facet of Madrid you will be visiting, your attention would probably be cast on the city center where lies Puerta del Sol. This connects to the city’s major and interesting sites such as the Ciudad Antigua, Plaza Mayor, Encarnacion convent and Descalzas Reales convent.

There are many splendid architectural pieces in Madrid which are housed in the Prado Museum that established Madrid as a definite stop on European art tours, with modern homes and Spanish paintings by both American and European painters.

Location of Madrid
The city of Madrid was chosen to be the capital of Spain based on its strategic location. Felipe II aimed to unite and centralize the country from a strategic location of administration and that was how Madrid, in Iberia center, was appointed capital.

Madrid is placed on a plateau that is 650 meters high at 300 kilometers above sea level. Its weather is quite extreme with a freezing winter and a burning summer. Nevertheless, Madrid developed into a modern city with about 3 million people. The city is quite an interesting sight of old medieval and new modern buildings, with narrow quaint streets and unique shops splattered with 18th century Bourbon squares.

But it is the locals – the madrileños – who stand as the key attraction of the capital as they hang out at the cafes, terrazas, Sunday flea markets, or enjoying themselves in bars, discos, clubs or tascas.

The transport network in Madrid has been improved tremendously which includes extensions and new road constructions so as to relieve the city of its traffic congestion.

It is very easy to get around the city as all places of interests center around Sol, the city center which is the main sightseeing area for a tourist.

There is no worry about the accommodation selection here in Madrid as there is a wide selection of stays that fit every budget.