Madrid
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ABOUT MADRID
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It is also the third
most populous city (within city limits) in the European Union after London and
Berlin, and the third most populous urban area in the European Union after
Paris and London. Its economic and political importance, as well as its major
cultural influence, rank Madrid as one of the major cities of the world. Its
residents are called Madrileños.
The city is located on the river Manzanares in the center of the country,
between the autonomous communities of Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha.
Due to its economic output, standard of living, and market size, Madrid is
considered one of the major financial centers of the Iberian Peninsula, it
hosts the head offices of the vast majority of the major Spanish companies, as
well as the headquarters of three of the world's 100 largest companies. As the
capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish
monarch, Madrid is also the political center of Spain. The current mayor
is Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, of the conservative Partido Popular.
As the capital of Spain, Madrid is a city of great cultural and political
importance. While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has
preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighborhoods and streets.
Its landmarks include the huge Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real (Royal
theatre) with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro park, founded in
1631; the imposing 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712)
containing some of Spain's historical archives; an archaeological museum of
international reputation; and three superb art museums: Prado Museum, which
hosts one of the finest art collections in the world, the Museo Nacional Centro
de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum,
housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace.
The population of the city was 3.5 million (December 2005), while the estimated
urban area population was 5.5 million. The entire population of the Madrid
metropolitan area (urban area and suburbs) is calculated to be 5.84 million.
The city spans a total of 607 square kilometres (234 sq mi).
Following the restoration of democracy in 1975 and Spain's integration into the
European Union, Madrid has played an increasing role in European
finances, marking the city as one of the most important European metropolises.
NIGHTLIFE
Madrid is noted for its nightlife and night clubs. On weekends,
Madrilenian youth are famous for dancing all night long, stopping only to have
some chocolate con churros at dawn, go home, take a shower, shave (or not), and
go to work. What is also popular is the practice of meeting in parks or streets
with friends and drinking alcohol together (that is called 'botellón', from
'botella', bottle), but since a few years ago, drinking in the street is
sanctioned with a fine and now young madrileños drink together all around the
city instead of in some well known places. Many places host bands (concerts in Madrid
). Nightlife and young cultural awakening flourished after the death of Franco,
especially during the 80s while Madrid's mayor Enrique Tierno Galván was in
office. This fresh movement was called la movida and it initially gathered
around Plaza del Dos de Mayo (Malasaña area). Some of the most popular night
destinations include the neighbourhoods of: Bilbao, Tribunal, Alonso Martinez
or Moncloa, apart from Puerta del Sol area (including Opera and Gran Via, both
adjacent to the popular square) and Huertas (barrio de Las Letras),
destinations which are also filled with tourists day and night. The gay
district of Chueca has also become a hot spot in the Madrilenian night life,
not only for gay people but also for straights looking for fun in their crowded
clubs and popular discos.
CITY ATTRACTIONS
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Plaza Mayor
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Gran Via
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Casón del Buen Retiro
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Palacio Real
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Templo de Debod
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El Rastro
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Puerta del Sol
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Parque del Buen Retiro
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Torre España
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Faro de Moncloa
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Puerta de Europa
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Puerta de Alcalá
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Glorieta de Bilbao
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Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
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Estadio Vicente Calderón
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Parque de Atracciones de Madrid
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Plaza de Cibeles
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Palacio De Liria
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Teatro Real
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Auditorio Nacional de Musica
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Teatro Monumental
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Teatro de la Zarzuela
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Centro Cultural de la Villa
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Teatro de la Abadía
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Círculo de Bellas Artes
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Teatro Español
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Teatro de la Comedia
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Cafe Central (Madrid's top Jazz venue.)
Other nearby towns are popular as day trips from Madrid, including Toledo,
Segovia, Ávila, Aranjuez, Alcalá de Henares, the monastery and palace complex
of El Escorial, the former summer home of the royal family at Aranjuez, El
Atazar Dam, and Chinchón.
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