Madrid, a beautiful city in Spring, which happens to be the largest city in the country and the third largest in Europe. It is the capital of Spain, and it is one of the greatest destinations for people traveling abroad. Here’s a quick profile on the elegant city in Spain.

Madrid is known as one of the cleanest cities in the world and ranked as one of the greenest European cities since a decade ago.  It’s a wonderful mix of old and new.  They’ve made a commitment to introducing new modern infrastructure while preserving the look and feel of the ancient mid-evil times.  There are plenty of historic neighborhoods, streets and destinations.

Ancient to Modern

Since the Middle Ages, Spain has been occupied by modern civilization. Early Muslim influence can be seen in the country. At the second half of the 9th century, Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba built a fortress on a headland near the river Manzanares as one of the many fortress he ordered to be built on the border between Al-Andalus and the kingdoms of León and Castile. They were built to protect from Christian invasions but eventually succumb to the Christian conquer in 1805. For the 500 years, the city operated as a gilded age country until 1561 when Madrid inhabited the court of Spain making it the political center of the Spanish monarch. From that point on, the evolution of Madrid in Spain would transition into an epicenter of industry, naval success and exploration. Today, Spain is a democratic nation and Madrid prospers as an important economic, cultural, educational and technological center.

Culture

Madrid hosts the largest Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Spain. It’s been around since 1929 and considered the epicenter of bullfighting. It seats almost 25,000 people.  Bullfighting lasts from March until October and held every day during the festivals of San Isidro. Madrid is also home of Real Madrid, one of the premier soccer clubs in the world.  They play at the Santiago Bernabeu. Atletico Madrid is also in the city and because soccer is so popular in Spain, both teams are very heavily supported.  Madrid is known for having a lot of alternative art and expressive art venues all over the city.

Food

Spanish food, not to be confused with Mexican food is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country. It is also renowned for its health benefits and fresh ingredients, as Mediterranean diet. There are also many dishes based on beans (chickpeas, lentils, green beans); soups, with many regional variations; and bread, that has numerous forms, with distinct varieties in each region.

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