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'Madrid' is the capital and largest city of Spain.^[1] Residents are called ''Madrileños''.
The city is located on the river Manzanares in the center of the country, between the autonomous communities of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha. Due to its economic output, standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial center 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.^[2] As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political center of Spain.^[3] 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.^[4]
The population of the city was 3.2 million (December 2005), while the estimated urban area population was 5.1 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 607km² (234 sq mi).^[5]
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.

Contents

Names of the city and origin of the current name

History

Middle Ages

Renaissance

End of Renaissance and early modern Madrid

The 20th century in Madrid

21st century

Geography

Climate

Economy

Economy from Middle Ages to 20th century

Economy from 1992 to 2006

Demographics

Names

Government

Culture

Galleries

Museums

Art and literature study centers

Classical Music and Opera

City attractions

Nightlife

Bullfighting

Sports

Local festivities

Universities

Transportation

Air

National Rail

Metro

See also

References

External links

Names of the city and origin of the current name

There are several theories regarding the origin of the name "Madrid". According to legend Madrid was founded by Ocno Bianor (son of King Tyrrhenius of Tuscany and Mantua) and was named "Metragirta" or "Mantua Carpetana". Others contend that the original name of the city was "Ursaria" ("land of bears" in Latin), due to the high number of these animals that were found in the adjacent forests, which, together with the Madrone tree ("madroño" in Spanish), have been the emblem of the city from the Middle Ages.
Nevertheless, it is now commonly believed that the origin of the current name of the city comes from the 2nd Century B.C., when the Roman Empire established a settlement on the banks of the Manzanares river. The name of this first village was "Matrice" (a reference to the river that crossed the settlement). Following the invasions of the Sueves, Vandals and Alans during the fifth Century A.D., the Roman Empire could not defend its territories on the Iberian Peninsula, and were therefore overrun by the Visigoths. The barbarian tribes subsequently took control of "Matrice". In the 7th Century the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula saw the name changed to "Mayrit", from the Arabic term "Mayra" (referencing water as a "mother" or "source of life") and the Ibero-Roman suffix "it" that means "place". The modern "Madrid" evolved from the Mozarabic "Matrit", which is still in the Madrilenian gentilic.^[6]

History

Main articles: History of Madrid

Middle Ages

Although the site of modern-day Madrid has been occupied since pre-historic times, in the Roman age this territory belonged to the diocese of Complutum (present-day Alcalá de Henares). But the first historical data on the city comes from the 9th century, when Muhammad I ordered the construction of a small palace in the same place that is today occupied by the Palacio Real. Around this palace a small citadel, al-Mudaina, was built.
Near that palace was the Manzanares, which the Muslims called (Arabic: المجريط, "source of water"). From this came the naming of the site as ''Majerit'', which was later rendered to the modern-day spelling of ''Madrid''. The citadel was conquered in 1085 by Alfonso VI of Castile 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 Generales first assembled in the city to advise Alfonso XI of Castile. Sephardi Jews and Moors continued to live in the city until they were expelled at the end of the 15th century.
After troubles and a large fire, Henry III of Castile (1379–1406) rebuilt the city and established himself safely fortified outside its walls in El Pardo. The grand entry of Ferdinand and Isabella to Madrid heralded the end of strife between Castile and Aragon.

Renaissance

The Kingdom of Castile, with its capital at Toledo, and the Crown of Aragon, with its capital at Zaragoza, were welded into modern Spain by the Catholic Monarchs (Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon). Though their grandson Charles I of Spain (also known as Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) favored Madrid, it was Charles' son, Philip 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 commerce with Spain's colonies, 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), in the 16th/17th century, Madrid bore no resemblance to other European capitals: the population of the city was economically dependent on the business of the court itself.

End of Renaissance and early modern Madrid

Felipe V, Spain's first Bourbon King and, therefore, French, decided that a European capital could not stay in such a state, and new palaces (including the Palacio Real de Madrid) were built during his reign. However, it would not be until Carlos III (1716–1788) that Madrid would become a modern city. Carlos III was one of the most popular and benevolent Kings in the history of Madrid. He was popularly known at the time (and henceforth) as Madrid's best mayor. When Carlos IV (1748–1819) became King of Spain, the people of Madrid revolted. After the Mutiny of Aranjuez, which was led by his own son Fernando VII against him, Carlos IV resigned, but Fernando VII's reign would be short: in May 1808 Napoleon's troops entered the city. On May 2, 1808 (Spanish: Dos de Mayo) the ''Madrileños'' revolted against the invading French army, whose harsh reaction would have a lasting impact on French rule in Spain and France's image in Europe in general.
After the war of independence (1814) Fernando VII came back to the throne, but soon after, a liberal military revolution, Colonel Riego made the King swear allegiance to Spain's new (and first) Constitution. This would start a period where liberal and conservative governments alternated in power, that would end with the enthronement of Isabel II (1830–1904).

The 20th century in Madrid

Isabel II could not suppress the political tension that would lead to yet another revolt, the First Spanish Republic, and the return of the monarchy, which eventually led to the Second Spanish Republic and the Spanish Civil War. During this war (1936–1939) Madrid was one of the most affected cities of Spain and its streets became battlegrounds. Madrid was a stronghold of the Republicans from July 1936. Its western suburbs were the scene of an all-out battle in November 1936. It was during the Civil War that Madrid became the first city to be bombed by airplanes specifically targeting civilians in the history of warfare. (See Siege of Madrid (1936-39)).
During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, especially during the 1960s, the south of Madrid became very industrialized and there were massive migrations from rural environments into the city. Madrid's south-eastern periphery became an extensive working class settlement, which was the base for an active cultural and political reform.
After the death of Franco, emerging democratic parties (including those of left-wing and republican ideology) accepted Franco's wishes of being succeeded by Juan Carlos I - in order to secure stability and democracy - which led Spain to its current position as constitutional monarchy.
Befitting from the prosperity it gained in the 1980s, the capital city of Spain has consolidated its position as the first economic, cultural, industrial, educational, and technological center on the Iberian peninsula.

21st century

★ On 11 March 2004, Madrid was hit by a terrorist attack when Islamic terrorists placed a series of bombs on multiple trains during the rush hour, three days before the 14 March 2004 elections. This was the worst massacre in Spain since the end of the civil war in 1939. Madrid suffered another terrorist attack, on the part of ETA, 30 December 2006. An explosion took place in the building attached to Terminal 4 of Madrid Barajas International Airport.

★ ''See 2006 Madrid Barajas International Airport bombing''

★ Europride 2007 (July 1) was hosted by Madrid, Spain.

★ Madrid also expressed its desire to become an Olympic city, and became a candidate for the 2012 games, which were awarded to London after Madrid was eliminated in the third round of the ballot. However, the mayor of the city has already stated that Madrid's Olympic dream did not end at Singapore, as the city will again present itself as a candidate to host the 2016 Olympic games.^[7]

Geography

Despite the existence of a large city of 5 million people, the Community of Madrid still retains some remarkably unspoiled and diverse habitats and landscapes. Madrid is home to mountain peaks rising above 2,000m, holm oak dehesas and low lying plains. The slopes of Guadarrama are cloaked in dense forests of Scots Pine and Pyrenean oak. The Lozoya Valley supports a large black (monk) vulture colony, and one of the last bastions of the Spanish Imperial Eagle in the world is found in the Park Regional del Suroeste in dehesa hills between the Gredos and Guadarrama ranges. The recent possible detection of the existence of Iberian lynx in the area between the Cofio and Alberche rivers is testament to the biodiversity of the area.
When looking at a map of the Province of Madrid, it can be seen that it is almost an equilateral triangle, in whose center would be the city. It seems that Madrid's geographic limits turn out to be those of nature: on the western side the "Sistema Central" (the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains), the south represents the desire to include (the Royal Site of) Aranjuez and finally the eastern edge of the triangle comes from the rupture of the fluvial river basins.
Province of Madrid occupies a surface area of approximately 8,028 km² (1.6% of all Spanish territory). Being more specific the exact position of Madrid is 3º 40´ of longitude west of Greenwich, England and 40º 23´ north of the equator.
Practically all of the Province is located between 600 and 1,000 m above sea level, with the highest point being Peñalara at 2,430 m and the lowest Alberche river in Villa del Prado at 430m. Other considerable heights, as well as being famous, are the Ball of the World mountain (la Bola del Mundo), in Navacerrada, at a height of 2,258m and the seven peaks, in Cercedilla, at 2,138m.

Climate

The region of Madrid has a temperate Mediterranean climate with cold winters with temperatures that sometimes drop below 0 °C (32 °F). There are about 2 to 3 snowfalls each year. Summer tends to be hot with temperatures that consistently surpass 30 °C (86 °F) in July and that can often reach 40 °C (104 °F). Due to Madrid's high altitude and dry climate, nightly temperatures tend to be cooler, leading to a lower average in the summer months. These extremes give rise to the saying ''Nueve meses de invierno, tres meses de infierno'' (nine months of winter, three months of hell). Precipitation levels are low, but precipitation can be observed all throughout the year. Summer and winter are the driest seasons, with most rainfall occurring in the autumn and spring.

Parque del Buen Retiro Observatory

1971-2000	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	''Total''
Maximum temperature (°C)	9.7	12.0	15.7	17.5	21.4	26.9	31.2	30.7	26.0	19.0	13.4	10.1	''19.4''
Minimum temperature (°C)	2.6	3.7	5.6	7.2	10.7	15.1	18.4	18.2	15.0	10.2	6.0	3.8	''9.7''
Rainfall (mm)	37	35	26	47	52	25	15	10	28	49	56	56	''436''

Economy

Economy from Middle Ages to 20th century

In the Middle Ages, the village experienced a big development as a consequence of the establishment of the new capital of the Spanish Empire in Madrid. The administrative functions that it held since then, as well as the centralist character of the government found by the house of Bourbon ("Casa de Borbón" in Spanish) triggered the development of artisan activity, that turned into industrial since the middle of the 19th century, having its major expansion during the 20th century, especially after the Spanish Civil War, but never reaching European levels of industrialization. The economy of the city was then centered on diverse sectors such as those related to motor vehicles, aircraft, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, processed food, printed materials, and leather goods. Besides its many manufacturing industries.^[8]

Economy from 1992 to 2006

Despite of the tendency of moving the production centers to industrial parks located in the outskirts of the metropolitan area, the city of Madrid remains as the second most important industrial center in the country, only exceeded by Barcelona.
During this period, Madrid experienced a very significant growth in its tertiary activities. In this sense, the importance of the Barajas Airport for the city's economy is remarkable, adding to the administrative and financial functions associated with being the capital of Spain. Construction (housing and public works such as the ring structure of roads and trains system) has constituted a major pillar of the economy up to 2006. Nevertheless, Madrid, like the rest of the country, is lagging behind the rest of Europe in the introduction of new technologies.^[9] In addition, inflation in Spain far above European average over this period has made Madrid and the rest of the country lose competitivity.
Nevertheless, regarding the city's Economic environment, it has also been stated that despite the growth of the economy of the country as a whole has been moderated compared to the last two quarters, the economy of the Autonomous Region of Madrid continued to grow in the second quarter of the year, above the rate for Spain as a whole, and for the EMU, reaching a year-on-year increase of 4.2%. The growth outlook for the city of Madrid points to a year-on-year increase of 4.0% in 2006^[10] which makes Madrid one of the most dynamic and thriving cities in the European Union.^[11]

Demographics

'''Year'''	'''Total municipality'''	'''Total province'''	'''Percent (%)'''
1897	542,739	730,807	74.27
1900	575,675	773,011	74.47
1910	614,322	831,254	73.90
1920	823,711	1.048.908	78.53
1930	1,041,767	1,290,445	80.73
1940	1,322,835	1,574,134	84.04
1950	1,553,338	1,823,418	85.19
1960	2,177,123	2,510,217	86.73
1965	2,793,510	3,278,068	85.22
1970	3,120,941	3,761,348	82.97
1975	3,228,057	4,319,904	74.73
1981	3,158,818	4,686,895	67.40
1986	3,058,812	4,780,572	63.98
1991	3,010,492	4,647,555	64.78
1996	2,866,850	5,022,289	57.08
2001	2,938,723	5,423,384	54.19
2004	3,099,834	5,804,829	53.40
2005	3,155,359	5,964,143	52.90

The population of Madrid has experienced increase ever since the city became the national capital. This demographic boom was notorious in the 20th century due to domestic and international immigration. However, the city experienced a growth slump during the 1970s. This phenomenon, which also affected Barcelona, was caused mainly by the growth of satellite suburbs at the expense of the downtown.
A new immigration wave has allowed Madrid not only to recover its old numbers, but to reach new historical heights. According to census data, the population of the city grew by 271,856 between 2001 and 2005.
As the capital city of Spain, the city has attracted many immigrants from around the world. While less than 85% of the inhabitants are Spaniards of different backgrounds and ethnicities, there are many recent immigrants who come from Latin America, Europe, Asia, North Africa and West Africa.
The largest immigrant groups include: Ecuadorian: 83,967, Moroccan: 51,300, Chinese: 48,973, Colombian: 37,218 and Peruvian: 32,791. There are also important communities of Guinean, Romanian and Filipino people.

Names

The natives of the city are called Madrileños; they were once nicknamed ''gatos'' (cats), although nowadays the vast majority of Spaniards would not recognize the term. Its origin possibly comes from the popular legend that the conquest of the city by Alfonso VI was achieved by the assault of the walls that protected the city. Apparently the Castilian troops climbed the defense walls as if they were cats. Another possible source of the name is the fact that the residents were known during the Middle Ages for their ability to climb walls with their bare hands.^[12]

Government

Main articles: List of districts of Madrid
and List of mayors of Madrid''

Contemporary Madrid came into its own after the death of general Francisco Franco. Years of Franco regime left Madrid and much of the country in economic shambles due to isolation. With his death, Madrid, and Spain as a whole, began to reassert itself on the international stage. Within Spain, reaction against the dictatorial bureaucracy centered in Madrid and a history of centralism that predated Franco by centuries resulted in the successful modern movement towards increased autonomy for the regions of Spain, considered as autonomous regions, under the umbrella of Spain.
The Municipal Corporation is comprised of 55 Concejales (councillors), one of them being the Alcalde (Mayor)- Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Jiménez.
The Plenary session, integrated by the Mayor and the Councillors, is the organ of political representation of the citizens in the municipal government. It is the organ of debate of the great local policies that do affect the municipality and the adoption of strategic decisions. Some of its attributions are: fiscal matters, the election and destitution of the Mayor, the approval and modification of decrees and regulations, the approval of budgets, the agreements related to the limits and alteration of the municipal term, the services management, the participation in supramunicipal organizations, etc.
Modern Madrid ranks as one of the most important cities in Europe. Madrid is a leading southern European city and the most important link between the European Union and Latin America.
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.

Culture

Madrid is one of Spain's most popular destinations and is renowned for its quantity of cultural attractions.

Galleries

Endowed by the ''Golden Triangle of Art'', located along the Paseo del Prado and composed by 3 museums, Madrid is considered one of the top European destinations concerning art museums. The most famous one is the Prado Museum, the most popular ''Golden Triangle of Art'' member known for such highlights as Diego Velázquez's ''Las Meninas'' and Francisco de Goya's ''La maja vestida'' and ''La maja desnuda''. The other two museums are the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, established from a mixed private collection, and the Reina Sofia Museum, where Pablo Picasso's ''Guernica'' hangs since being returned to Spain from New York more than two decades ago.

Museums

★ Museo del Prado (El Prado Museum)

★ National Archaeological Museum of Spain

★ Naval Museum

★ Casa-Museo José Padilla
★

★ Casa-Museo Manuel Benedito
★

★ Museo de Antropologia Médica
★

★ Museo De La Farmacia Hispana
★

★ Museo Del Reloj Grassy
★

Art and literature study centers

★ Casa Encendida

★ Escuela de Escritores.

★ Escuela de Letras.

★ Escuela Contemporánea de Humanidades.

★ Hotel Kafka.

★ I|Art.

★ TAI, Escuela de Artes y Espectáculos.

★ Talleres de escritura creativa y Ediciones Fuentetaja.

Classical Music and Opera

★ The Spanish National Orchestra performs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Auditorio Nacional de Musica.

★ The RTVE Symphony Orchestra performs on Thursdays and Fridays at the Teatro Monumental.

★ Teatro Real is the main Opera House.

★ Teatro de la Zarzuela is devoted mainly to Zarzuela and Operetta.

★ Other Orchestras and ensembles in Madrid: Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid, Orquesta Sinfonica de la Comunidad de Madrid, Orquesta de Camara Reina Sofia.

City attractions

★ Plaza Mayor

★ Gran Via

★ Descalzas Reales

★ Casón del Buen Retiro

★ Palacio Real

★ Templo de Debod

★ El Rastro

★ Puerta del Sol

★ Parque del Buen Retiro

★ Las Ventas

★ Torre España

★ Faro de Moncloa

★ Puerta de Europa

★ Puerta de Alcalá

★ Glorieta de Bilbao

★ Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

★ Estadio Vicente Calderón

★ Parque de Atracciones de Madrid

★ Plaza de Cibeles

★ Palacio De Liria

★ Teatro Real

★ Auditorio Nacional de Musica

★ Teatro Monumental

★ Teatro de la Zarzuela

★ Centro Cultural de la Villa

★ Teatro de la Abadía

★ Círculo de Bellas Artes

★ Teatro Español

★ Teatro de la Comedia

★ 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.

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 ^[13]). 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.

Bullfighting

Madrid hosts the largest Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Spain, Las Ventas, established in 1931. Las Ventas is considered by many to be the world center of bullfighting and has a seating capacity of almost 25,000. Madrid's bullfighting season begins in March and ends in October. Bullfights are held everyday during the festivities of San Isidro (Madrid's patron saint) from the middle of March to the middle of June, and every Sunday, and public holiday, the rest of the season. The style of the plaza is Neomudéjar. Las Ventas also hosts music concerts and other events outside of the bullfighting season.

Sports

Club	Sport	League	Venue
Real Madrid	Football	La Liga	Santiago Bernabéu
Atlético Madrid	Football	La Liga	Vicente Calderón
Rayo Vallecano	Football	Segunda B	Teresa Rivero
Real Madrid Baloncesto	Basketball	ACB league	Palacio Vistalegre
MMT Estudiantes	Basketball	ACB league	Madrid Arena

Madrid is home to Real Madrid, the world's most successful football club in the 20th Century (according to FIFA),^{[14] [15]} which plays in the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Its supporters are referred to as ''vikingos'', vikings, or, more commonly, ''merengues'', meringues. Its hometown rival, Atlético Madrid, is also well supported in the city, and its supporters are called ''los sufridores'', the sufferers. The players are referred to as ''colchoneros'', mattresses, in reference to the teams red & white jerseys having been determined by mattress material being the cheapest at the time of the clubs formation. Madrid's contribution to the sport is further noticed by the fact that it hosted the 1982 FIFA World Cup final. Madrid is the only city in the world to contain two 5 Star Stadiums. Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu and Atlético Madrid's, Vicente Calderón
The city is also host to two basketball teams in the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB league), and the Circuito Permanente Del Jarama, a motorsport race circuit which formerly hosted the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix.
Historically the city serves as the last stage of the Vuelta a España cyclist classic in the same way as Paris does in the Tour de France.
Skiing is possible in the nearby mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama, where the ski resorts of Valdesqui and Navacerrada are located.

Local festivities

★ May 15, San Isidro Labrador (Madrid's patron saint).

★ June 13, San Antonio de la Florida.

★ July 16-25, Virgen del Carmen festivities (Patron saint of the sea).

★ August 6-15, Virgen de la Paloma festivities (Madrid's patron saint)

★ August 7, San Cayetano (Cascorro neighbourhood's patron saint).

★ August 10, San Lorenzo (Lavapiés neighbourhood's patron saint).

★ November 9, Virgen de la Almudena festivities (Madrid's patron saint).

Universities

Madrid is home to a large number of universities, many of which are well considered among international community. Some of them are among the oldest in the world.

The Complutense University of Madrid is the most prestigious, and largest, public university in Spain and one of the oldest universities in the world. It has 10,000 staff members and a student population of 117,000. It is located on two campuses, in the university quarter Ciudad Universitaria at Moncloa in Madrid, and in Somosaguas.^[16] The Complutense University of Madrid was founded in Alcala de Henares, old Complutum, by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499. Nevertherless, its real origin dates back from 1293, when King Sancho IV of Castille built the General Schools of Alcalá, which would give rise to Cisnero's Complutense University. During the course of 1509-1510 five schools were already operative: Artes y Filosofía (Arts & Philosophy), Teología (Theology), Derecho Canónico (Canonical Laws), Letras (Liberal Arts) and Medicina (Medicine). In 1836, during the reign of Isabel II, the University was moved to Madrid, where it took the name of Central University and was located at San Bernardo Street. Subsequently, in 1927, a new university area was planned to be built in the district of Moncloa-Aravaca, in lands handed over by the King Alfonso XIII to this purpose. The Spanish Civil War turned the "Ciudad Universitaria" into a war zone, causing the destruction of several schools in the area, as well as the loss of part of its rich scientific, artistic and bibliographic heritage.
In 1970 the Government reformed the High Education, and the Central University become the Complutense University of Madrid. It is then when the new campus at Somosaguas is created in order to house the new School of Social Sciences. The old Alcala campus was reopened as an independent University (University of Alcalá in 1977).^[17]
Another important university is the Autonoma, perhaps Spain's best university for research along with Complutense, was instituted under the leadership of the famous physicist, Nicolás Cabrera. The Autonoma is widely recognised for its research strengths in theoretical physics. Known simply as ''la Autónoma'' in Madrid, its main site is the Cantoblanco Campus, situated 15 kilometers to the north of the capital (M-607) and close to the municipal areas of Madrid, namely Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo.
Located on the main site are the Rectorate building and the Faculties of Science, Philosophy and Fine Arts, Law, Economic Science and Business Studies, Psychology, Higher School of Computing Science and Engineering, and the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education. The Medical School is sited outside the main site and beside the Hospital Universitario La Paz.^[18]
Other local universities, among many others, are the Politécnica, as the result of merging the different Technical Schools of Engineering; the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, founded in 1499; the Carlos III, whose philosophy is to create responsible free-thinking people with a sensitivity to social problems and an involvement in the concept of progress based on freedom, justice and tolerance and the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, involved in a number of academic exchange programmes, work practice schemes and international projects with over 200 Higher Education Institutions in Europe, Latin America, North America and Asia.
Madrid is also home to the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid and many other private universities.

Transportation

Air

★ Main articles: Barajas International Airport


Madrid is served by Barajas International Airport. Barajas is the main hub of Iberia Airlines. It consequently serves as the main gateway to the Iberian peninsula from Europe, America and the rest of the world. Current passenger volumes range upwards of 40 million passengers per year, putting it in the top 20 busiest airports in the world^[19]. Given annual increases close to 10%, a new fourth terminal has been constructed. The new Terminal 4 is the biggest European airport terminal^[20]. It has significantly reduced delays and doubled the capacity of the airport to more than 70 million passengers per year. Two additional runways have also been constructed, making Barajas a fully operational four-runway airport.

National Rail

★ Main articles: Cercanías Madrid

Spain's 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 in the south and Chamartín in the north.
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 7,000 kilometre (4,350 mi) network, centered 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. As of 2005, AVE high-speed trains link Atocha station to Seville (to be extended to Málaga in 2007) and Toledo in the south and to Zaragoza and Tarragona in the east (to be extended to Barcelona at the end of 2007)^[21].
'RENFE' offers:

★ AVE

★ Alaris

★ Alaria

★ Talgo

Metro

Main articles: Madrid metro



Serving the city's population of some six million, the Madrid Metro is one of the most extensive and fastest-growing metro networks in the world.^[22] With the addition of a loop serving suburbs to Madrid's south-west "Metrosur", it is now the second largest metro system in Western Europe, second only to London's Underground. In May 2007, Madrid's metro system will be expanded and it will have more than 280 kilometres (175 mi). The province of Madrid is also served by an extensive commuter rail network called Cercanías.

See also

★ 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings

★ Forest of the Departed

★ List of mayors of Madrid

★ Large Cities Climate Leadership Group

References

1. http://www.ine.es/ Instituto Nacional de Estadística (National Statistics Institute)
2. The World's 2000 Largest Public Companies Scott DeCarlo
3. Madrid
4. Madrid: $mmmm$
5. Indicadores Socioeconómicos: Comunidad de Madrid
6.
7.
8. Overview: Economy of Madrid
9. http://www.talesmag.com/rprweb/the_rprs/europe/realposts_madrid.shtml
10. Economic Barometer
11. economia madrileña
12.
13. Mondosonoro - Bandas en Madrid
14. Real Madrid stays at the top
15. Deloitte Football Money League
16. Universidad Complutense
17. Universidad Complutense de Madrid
18. Universidad Autónoma
19. http://www.airports.org/aci/aci/file/Press%20Releases/2007_PRs/PR060307_PrelimResults2006.pdf Preliminary Air Traffic Results for 2006 from Airports Council International
20. http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?cid=1049727006329&pagename=Estandar%2FPage%2FAeropuerto&SMO=1&SiteName=MAD&c=Page&MO=5&lang=EN_GB AENA facts about T4
21. http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=86&story_id=1929 ''Living and Working in Spain'', by David Hampshire. Published by Survival Books
22. Madrid Metro

External links

★

★ The Official Website for Madrid on Tourism and Business

★ WikiSatellite view of Madrid at WikiMapia

★ Spanish courses Madrid

★ History of Madrid

★ Development and History of the city of Madrid

★

★ , 1996, retrieved January 7, 2006

★ " En algunos barrios de Madrid el 40% de la poblacion ya son inmigrantes " retrieved on January 7, 2006

★ Madrid: Getting to know: Neighborhoods

★ A guide to the natural history of Madrid