History Of Spain
Overview
From the Franco regime to a constitutional monarchy today, Madrid has changed tremendously. The sereno is now obsolete with electronic door codes taking over, and even city workers’ garments are now the reflective vests that are lime green in color or they don bright orange coveralls.
Nevertheless, the Gran Vía still brings in the crowd by the droves to fill its theatres as well as its movie houses; the Madrileños are dining when others are in enjoying their snooze; the petty traders can still be found along major avenues while the bistros are still serving hot drinks and snacks right into the early morning hours.
You can still find the dignified elderly Spanish gentleman wearing his best suit.If Madrid was exciting four decades ago, it is even more today for both the locals and the visitors. In the city itself are 4.5 million residents while another 6.5 million throng the metropolitan section.
That makes Madrid one of the major capitals in Europe where everything old to something new can be found here. Centuries-old eateries to contemporary nightclubs can be spotted in this magnificent city.Bullfights are still happening but the bloodied ring doubles up as rock concert avenues too. Madrid is indeed a tourist destination that everyone will enjoy as it is most affordable of all major European cities.
Origins of Madrid
Madrid is located right at the center of Spain where the plain or Castilian meseta is. In 852 A.D. the Moors came and built the alcazar, or fortress, to protect Toledo as well as other territories that had Muslims inhabitants against the raging northern Christian forces.
The choice of stay was due to the presence of the Manzanares which supplied water; hence, “Madrid” got its name from the Arabic term for “stream” or “water source.”Over two centuries later, Christian forces conquered Madrid until Philip II shifted to Madrid which grew as a capital in the year 1561. Its population rose to over 150,000 from a mere 20,000 in one century.
Madrid turned into a hub of activity even when Spain went through tough times. You will sight many early dynasties’ remnants and construction projects like the City Hall (1630), the Plaza Mayor which is 2 centuries old (1590-1790), and today’s Royal Palace (1764) that replaced the burnt Moorish fortress in 1734.
Modern Madrid
Today, this majestic city stands with most of its historical beauty from the 19th and 20th centuries. There is always the old with the new, such as the Gran Vía in the midst of flamboyant highly tiered skyscrapers that were built in the early 1900s.
The latest developments in Madrid, though not as interesting for the visitors, are vital to keeping the city with a dynamic spirit of growth.