What Is The Capital Of Spain
Madrid is the third largest city in the European Union behind only London and Berlin. It is the capital and largest city of Spain with a population of about 3.2 million. The entire urban area of Madrid accounts for an estimated 6.5 million inhabitants. The city’s urban area is also the third largest in the European Union after that of London and Paris. The municipality of Madrid covers an area of approximately 233.3 square miles.
Overview Of The Capital Of Spain
Madrid is a business center, a cosmopolitan city, the headquarters for the Spanish Government, Public Administration, parliament, and also home to the Royal Spanish family. The city also plays an important role in the industrial and banking sectors. A large number of industries in Madrid are located in the southern region of the city, where the main food, textile and metalworking factories can be found together. Madrid has a great influence on fashion, politics, culture, entertainment, science, art, media, environment and education. The city is home to two famous football clubs: Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Madrid is also best known for its intense cultural and artistic activities combined with a robust nightlife.
The history of Madrid
The great metropolis of Madrid traces its roots back to the 9th century in the time of Muhammad I, the 5th Emir of Cordoba. Muhammad ordered the construction of a fort on the Left Bank of the Manzanares river. Later, the region became a subject of conflict between the Arabs and the Christians. The region was finally conquered by Alonso VI of León and Castile in 1085, with Christians dominating the city and integrating it into the Kingdom of Castile as property of the Crown. The city center was occupied by Christians, while Jews and Muslims moved to the outskirts. The Administrative district of the region extended to the Guadarrama river in the west from the Jarama river in the East and because it flourished it was known as Villa.
The economy of Madrid
Madrid is the largest financial center in Spain and one of the largest in Europe with the city’s largest employers being Drafados, Telefónica, BBVA, Urbaser, Iberia, FCC and Prosegur. Madrid is home to more than 30 research centers and 17 universities. It also ranks 4th in the EU by gross domestic product. The service sector contributes significantly to the city’s economy, accounting for 85.9% of the total economy. Other sectors that contributed to the economy included construction projects which accounted for 6.1% and manufacturing, which accounted for 7.9% in 2011.
Attractions in Madrid
Madrid is a city full of energy and a city with a wide range of cultural attractions that offer a true taste of the land of Spain. Madrid is never short of tourists, as Spain is one of the most visited countries in Europe. The city is home to several monuments and art museums including other attractions. Some of the attractions in Madrid are the Prado Museum, The Royal Palace, the Puerta del Sol, the Archaeological Museum, The Plaza Mayor, the Buen Retiro Park, The Royal Chapel of Saint Anthony of La Florida and many others.
Nightlife in Madrid
One of the main attractions in the city of Madrid is the nightlife. The city is home to numerous jazz lounges, flamenco tea towers, tapas bars, clubs, live music venues, cocktail bars and all kinds of entertainment venues. La Noche en Vivo, the Live Music Venues Association, is responsible for hosting a wide range of live music shows. The nightlife of the city along with its young cultural awakening that flourished especially during the 80s after the fall of Franco. Tribunal, Huertas, Alonso Martinez, Atocha, Bilbao and the Puerta del Sol district are among the most famous neighborhoods of nightlife in the city.