About Madrid

Madrid is the capital city of Spain and is located in the centre of the Castillian plain and is situated on the river Manzanares. With a population of over three million Madrid is one of the largest populated cities in Europe and is the home of Spanish Royal Family. The Royal Palace located at the Plaza de Oriente and just beyond the Palace is the Almudena Cathedral. The Royal Theatre and its restored 1850 Opera House can be found near by. Madrid has grown in capital over the last 20 years and a hive of cultural activity in its architecturally beautiful streets. Artistic history can be seen throughout the city.

Madrid's Avenue of Art is the cultural core of Madrid and there lie three world-renowned museums, the Prado Museum, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace.The Reina Sofia Museum houses some of the most important works in contemporary art. Picasso’s legendary Guernica can be found here along with other works by Matisse and Dali.

The bull-fighting ring, daunting to some, is never the less a dominant landmark in the city. Plaza de Toros Las Ventas is the largest bullring in Spain and was built in 1929. The ring holds seats for 25,000 and shows bullfighting in season from March to October. Las Ventas also hosts concerts and other events outside of the bullfighting season.

Madrid is a big city for sport and its world known football team Real Madrid play in their home ground of Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Vikingos or Vikings, is the name given to their supporters. Real Madrid has won 9 European cups and has made it into the history books for doing so. Madrid has many sporting heroes in basketball, and the team named Estudiantes, have won more European championships than any other team in the league. The Circuito Permanente Del Jarama, a motor sport race circuit, has previously hosted the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix. In cycling, Madrid annually serves as the last stage of the Vuelta a España cyclist classic.