Sign in with Facebook"Madrid" Madrid by DanielF
Madrid Travel Guide: 5,307 reviews and 10,736 photos
For many decades, Madrid has had a really bad press. Even its most enthusiastic inhabitants were not reluctant to admit the city's humble origins and its seemingly little appealing location. Madrid is actually a city whose growth has been fuelled by politics and power, with all their negative connotations and, apparently, little else to offer. In spite of the crisp blue skies that the city enjoys most of the year, its image used to be rather grey and dull. The natural backdrop did not help much to improve that image: the city sprawls in the middle of a barren plain criss-crossed by overfilled expressways, far away from the sea or any body of water of consideration.
Even today, Madrid continues to be a fiercely conservative stronghold within the forward-looking and self-confident contemporary Spain. However, since the country's return to democracy, the city has proved it could overturn the stereotypes and become a terribly fun place to be.
Far less innovative or transgressor than its archrival, Barcelona, Madrid has managed, however, to develop an extremely active cultural agenda which lures hordes and hordes of visitors and new citizens every year, adding to the intensely energetic feel of the place, a feeling which is rare to find elsewhere in the old continent. Prosperity has allowed the city to refurbish its historical areas while impressive infrastructure projects have been thrown out, resulting in a city where traditional and cutting-edge go hand in hand. In addition, a less superficial observation proves that the variety of environments in the city's outlying areas is impressive and that even in a small radius from the city centre, numerous patches of pristine landscapes are still to be found.
As with any other place, come without prejudices to Madrid, but above all, come fit to resist the city's overwhelming rhythm.
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Among all the highly valuable exhibits of the National Archaeology Museum, the Lady of Elx (Dama de Elche) is arguably... more travel advice
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Madrid Travel Guide
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- "¡Bienvenido a Madrid!/Welcome to Madrid!"
- "Madrid is where I live"
- "Madrid: My home for 3 fantastic weeks!"
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- Posted in Miscellaneous Forum "Re: Should tourists silence..."
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Latest Madrid hotel reviews
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- 36 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 10, 2013 - Hotel Tryp Rex
- 99 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 15, 2013 - High Tech Petit Palace Art Gallery
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Latest: Mar 21, 2013 - Catalonia Moratin
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Latest: Jun 17, 2013 - Hotel Selenza Madrid
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Latest: Jun 15, 2013 - Urban Hotel Madrid
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Latest: Jun 8, 2013 - Apartamentos Juan Bravo
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Latest: Jun 10, 2013 - Hotel Intur Palacio San Martin
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Latest: Jun 9, 2013 - Ganivet Hotel
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Latest: Jun 12, 2013 - Hotel Villa Magna Madrid
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Latest: Jun 16, 2013 - De Las Letras Hotel
- 504 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 15, 2013 - Inter-Continental Madrid
- 416 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 11, 2013 - Hostal Residencia Arti San Leonardo
- 1 Review & Opinion
Latest: Apr 6, 2013 - Orfila Hotel Madrid
- 98 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 28, 2013
Comments (37)
Great pictures!
Thank you for the words you say about my city. very good Tips specially the General tips!
Great photos- that hotel looks like it just radiates heat. I must say that the NH in Marbella was one of the worst hotels I've ever stayed in... the staff seemed to share about ten brain cells!
Great collection of architectural photos!
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Great pics...I had plans for Madrid, but ran out of $$$ Great birthdate too :o)
Some very interesting info and amazing pictures! I see, i must revisit Madrid haha.
GREAT Madrid pages! Still working on viewing the rest of your pages...cheers from San Francisco!
Wow, what a page about this fascinating city! I dont like Real, but I will have to see Madrid one day!
Your pages are great! Brings back happy memories of my trip to Madrid :-)