The sunniest, highest and liveliest capital city in Europe, Madrid has much to be proud of. Indeed, its inhabitants, the Madrileños, are so fiercely proud of their city that they modestly declare “desde Madrid al cielo”: That is, from Madrid there is only one destination left – Heaven. While their claim might be debatable, this compact, frenetic and fascinating city of four million people certainly has bags of appeal and its range of attractions is fast making it a deservedly popular short-break destination.
What had previously been a Moorish stronghold and then a small Christian garrison town became Spain’s capital in 1561 thanks to the whim of one man, Felipe II. The site possessed few natural advantages – a fierce climate, no harbour and a poor excuse for a river – but it lay exactly in the centre of Spain, and Felipe based the formerly itinerant court here to avoid giving too much power to any one region. Following an initial golden age when literature and the arts flourished with the likes of Cervantes and Velázquez, centuries of gradual decline and political turmoil followed, leaving Madrid with a slightly parochial image.
Following the death of the dictator Franco in 1975 and the return to democracy, however, the city had a second burst of creativity, La movida Madrileña, an outpouring of hedonistic, highly innovative and creative forces embodied by film director Pedro Almodóvar. Today Madrid remains a thriving if somewhat chaotic modern capital. Millions of visitors head straight for the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, three magnificent galleries that give the city a strong claim to being “European capital of art”.
Of equal appeal to football fans is one of the world’s most glamorous and successful clubs, Real Madrid, voted the team of the 20th Century by UEFA largely due to their record-breaking collection of 9 European Cups & Champions League trophies. Aside from this, there’s also a host of smaller museums, palaces and parks which, when combined with some of the best tapas in Spain, countless bars and legendary nightlife, makes it easy to see why so many people get hooked when they come to Madrid.
In this site you will find a wide range of information on the best places to stay, the must-see sights and the finest restaurants Madrid has to offer. However, where many city guides fall down is that the information they present is, by necessity, dated. That’s where we are different. Our site is updated on a weekly basis to provide you with details of news and events – from new shows or exhibits, to recently opened restaurants and much, much more besides – to ensure you get the very best from your trip to Madrid.