History
Although the site of Madrid has been occupied since prehistoric times, the
first historical data we have from the city is from the middle of the IX
Century, when Mohamed I ordered the construction of a small palace (in the
same place that is occupied now by the Palacio Real). Around this palace
there was built a small citadel (al-Mudaina). Near that palace was the River
Manzanares, which the muslims called Mayrit meaning source of water. (from
which Magerit, then Madrid). The citadel was conquered in 1085 by Alfonso VI
in his advance towards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque as the church of
the Virgin of Almudena (almudin, the garrison's granary). In 1329 the Cortes
first assembled in Madrid to advise Fernando IV. Jews and Moors continued to
live in the city in their quarter, still called the "Moreria" until they
were expelled and every mosque and synagogue utterly obliterated.
After troubles and a fire Enrique III (1379-1406) rebuilt the city and
established himself safely fortified outside its walls in El Pardo. The
grand entry of Ferdinand and Isabella into Madrid signalled the end of
strife between Castile and Aragon.
The kingdoms of Castile, with its capital at Toledo, and Aragon, with its
capital at Barcelona, were welded into modern Spain in the person of Carlos
I. Though King Carlos favored Madrid, it was his son, Felipe II (1527-1598)
who moved the Court to Madrid in 1561. Although he made no official
declaration, the seat of the Court was the de facto capital. Seville
continued to control the Spanish Indies, but Madrid controlled Seville.
Aside from a brief period, 1601 - 1606, when Felipe III installed his court
in Valladolid, Madrid's fortunes have closely mirrored those of Spain.
During the Siglo de Oro (Golden Century), which is situated between the XVI
y el XVII centuries, Madrid had no resemblance with other European Capitals,
in fact, the population of the city lived out of business that were court
related.
Felipe V decided that an European Capital could not stay in such state and
new palaces (including the Palacio Real are built under his kingdom. However,
it would not be until Carlos III (1716-1788) that Madrid, as a modern city,
would be born. Carlos III would be one of the most popular kings in the
history of Madrid, and the saying "the best mayor, the king" would become
popular during those times. When Carlos IV (1748-1819) became King the
people of Madrid revolves. After the Mutiny of Aranjuez which was impulsed
by his own son Fernando VII against him, Carlos IV resigns, but Fernando VII
kingdom would be short since in May of 1808 the troops of Napoleon enter the
city.
After the war of independence (1814) Fernando VII came back to the throne
but after a liberal military revolution, Coronel Riego made the king swear
respect to the Constitution. This would start a period where liberal and
conservative alternate government that would end with the enthronement of
Isabel II (1830-1904), who would not be able to calm down the political
tension that would lead to yet after another revolt, the First Spanish
Republic, the comeback of the monarchs which eventually would lead to the
Second Spanish Republic and the Spanish Civil War. During this war
(1936-1939) Madrid would be one of the most affected cities and its streets
became battlezones.
During the fascist dictatorship of Francisco Franco Madrid became very
industrialized and there were massive migrations into the city. Towards the
end of the dictatorship ETA assassinated Franco's prime minister, Luis
Carrero Blanco, in the Street of Claudio Coello, which would be applauded by
the liberals and would provocate a political change that lead the country
into a Monarchic Democracy. After the demise of Franco, Spain became a
constitutional monarchy. Befitting its new-found prosperity, the capital
city of Spain has consolidated its position as the leading economic,
cultural, industrial, educational, and technological center on the Iberian
peninsula.
Contemporary Madrid
Contemporary Madrid came into its own after the death of the Fascist
dictator Franco. Years of the Franco regime left Madrid and much the country
in economic shambles due to isolation. With his death, Madrid and Spain as a
whole began to re-assert itself on the international stage. Within Spain,
reaction against the dictatorial bureaucracy centered in Madrid and a
history of centralism that pre-dated Franco by centuries has resulted in the
successful modern movement towards increased autonomy for the regions of
Spain, considered as European regions, under the umbrella of Spain.
Modern Madrid ranks as an important city in Europe. By attempting to
establish itself as the leading southern European city and the most
important link between the European Union and Latin America, the city is
still in the midst of its transformation.
The modern metropolis is home to over three million people. As expected with
any major European capital city, each district (or barrio in Spanish) has
its own feel.
Tourist attractions
Important cultural and tourist spots include the so-called Golden Triangle
of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising the famous Prado
Museum ,free on Sunday mornings, (with highlights such as Diego Velázquez's
Las Meninas and Francisco de Goya's La Maja vestida and La Maja desnuda),
the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum (where Pablo
Picasso's Guernica hangs); the Plaza Mayor; the Gran Via; the Casón del Buen
Retiro (hosting the 19th-century collection of the Prado Museum; currently
closed for reform), the Palacio Real, the Templo de Debod (a temple brought
stone-by-stone from Egypt) , the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, the
Puerta del Sol and the Parque del Buen Retiro.
Madrid is also host to one of the most famous bullfighting rings in the
world, Las Ventas.
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, and Chinchón.
Nightlife
Madrid is also noted for its nightlife and discotheques. It's not uncommon
for madrileños to dance all night, head to the Chocolateria San Ginés for
chocolate y churros at dawn, go home, shower, shave, and go to work. This
nightlife, called la movida and initially focussed on the Plaza del Dos de
Mayo, flourished after the death of Franco, especially during the 80's while
Madrid's most cherished mayor Enrique Tierno Galván was in office. A
particular hub for this night activity is nowadays the nearby gay village of
Chueca.
Universities
As expected by it status as the capital, Madrid is the largest hub in Spain
for university life. Here is a list of schools for higher education.
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
The Complutense University has its origins in the 13th century on the banks
of the river Henares. The university achieved the name "Complutense" due to
the fact that it was originally situated in the town of Alcalá de Henares,
whose Latin name was Complutum. In 1836 it was transferred to the city of
Madrid. The Complutense University is one of the oldest universities in the
world, as well as the largest and most prestigious (after Salamanca) in
Spain. It has a staff of 10000 people and a student population of 117 000,
located primarily in the university quarter Ciudad Universitaria at Moncloa.
Other Universities
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Fundación General de la Universidad de Alcalá
Universisad Carlos III de Madrid(Carlos 3o
Universidad Pontificia Comillas (ICADE-ICAI)
Universidad de Alcalá de Henares(Alcalá)
Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM)
Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio
Fundación Universitaria San Pablo (CEU)
Fundación Universidad Empresa
Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI)
Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (UPSAM)
Facultad de Ciencias del Seguro, Jurídicas y de la Empresa
Transportation
Air
Madrid is served by Barajas International Airport. Barajas serves as the
main hub of recently privatized Iberia Airlines. It consequently serves as
the main gateway to the Iberian peninsula from Europe and the rest of the
world. Current passenger volumes range upwards of 40 million passengers per
year. Given annual increases of 10%, a new fourth terminal is in the process
of being constructed. It is expected to significantly reduce delays and
double the capacity of the airport. Additional runways are also being
constructed.
National Rail
Spain's public railway system, the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles
(Renfe) operates the vast majority of Spain's railways. In Madrid, the main
rail terminals are Atocha and Chamartín.
The crown jewel of Spain's next decade of infrastructure construction is the
Spanish high speed rail network, Alta Velocidad Española AVE. Currently, an
ambitious plan includes the construction of a 7000 km network, centered
naturally on Madrid. The overall goal is to have all important provincial
cities be no more than 4 hours away from Madrid, and no more than 6 hours
away from Barcelona. Currently, AVE high-speed trains link Atocha station to
Seville in the south and Lleida in the east (to be extended to Barcelona).
Metro
Despite the city's population of some three million, the Madrid Metro is one
of the most extensive and fastest-growing metro networks in the world. It is
now the second largest metro system in Western Europe, second only to
London's Underground. The city is also served by extensive commuter rail
called Cercanías.
Sports
Madrid is home to Real Madrid, the world's most successful football club
(according to FIFA). There are three other major teams, the Primera Division
club Atlético de Madrid, Getafe Club de Futbol and Rayo Vallecano.
