"Madrid" Madrid by Ramonq

click: Spanish music

This was once the regal centre of a large empire which stretched from Los Angeles to Lima, from Manila to Mexico City. Madrid is imperial and grand and many of the legacies of the great Spanish Empire are still present and lovingly preserved. Yet Madrid is also modern and culturally sophisticated. Like most Latin cities, Madrid has wide avenues, ornate fountains, imposing monuments, spacious plazas, and beautiful old buildings. I spent most of the time in Madrid simply wandering around the city by taking the local Metro to whereever it took me. And then there's the Prado museum, which houses some of my favourite paintings especially those of Goya . Although not as famous as the Louvre in Paris, the Prado is one of Europe's greatest art museum that must be visited by all art lovers.

In the heart of the city is Plaza Mayor, a beautiful square which is the best place to see and be seen. Surrounded by stately buildings, the plaza also provides wonderful alfresco cafes where the sophisticated Madrilenos rendezvous for a quick cup of cafe cortado before going to the theatre or shop in fashionable boutiques around the area of Cortes, Gran Via at Palacio, or the Centro. If you want to explore the city of Madrid, this is the best place to start because most of the important tourist sites in Madrid are within 2 kms from here. This is the reason why Plaza Mayor is the most visited place in Madrid.

Madrid oozes Old World charm in a classical Continental sense. Madrilenos are very stylish people and they love to dress to impress. At times, I felt like stumbled into a Hollywood awards night even though the venue was just a corner cafe. I somehow thought that Madrid was like a cross between Paris and Rome. But Madrilenos are denizens of the night. Its nightlife is legendary because nothing much happens before midnight and things start kicking at 3 AM! No wonder Madrilenos have siestas in the afternoon and they drink copious amounts of coffee. Madrilenos speak with a very rapid Castillan accent, an alluring accent with the classic Iberian lisp that many Latin Americans make fun of.

Unlike many European cities, Madrid did not originate as a Roman city because of its tough desert-like climate. Located in the centre of the dry Spanish plain, Madrid, in fact began as a Muslim Arab fortress named Mayrit (where Madrid was derived) during the 800's that was under constant attack from the Christians. Eventually, the Moors were defeated and all traces of Moorish architecture were destroyed in Madrid unlike those southern Spanish cities of Grenada and Sevilla. When King Philip II chose to establish the royal court in Madrid because of its central location, Madrid underwent a royal transformation. Palaces and monasteries were constructed and the city attracted noble families.

When Spain embarked on building an empire in the Americas, Madrid enjoyed its golden age financed literally by the gold coming in from the New World. Under King Charles III, during the mid 18th century, Madrid's appearance improved dramatically. The Palacio Real , Teatro Real, The Prado, Jardin Botanico and Jardin Retiro were laid out and city gates were also built. Subsequent Spanish royals left some imprint on the city briefly interrupted by the French conqueror, Napoleon. Madrid suffered badly during the Spanish Civil War in the late 19th century, but slowly recovery under the privileged patronage of Generalisimo Franco much to the dislike of the Catalan city of Barcelona.

Spain is now a parliamentary democracy and Madrid is its capital city. The city is undergoing some cultural revival of sorts after the suffocating rule of Franco. It now has a thriving artistic community and the city is quickly catching up with the rest of the sophisticated European cities. Yet Spain still has one of the highest unemployment in Europe and for these people, life is not a bed of roses. In the outskirts of Madrid, there are pockets of misery and they descend on the city centre to beg and steal from the more affluent citizens. But generally, Madrid is a pleasant and great place to visit and the outsider will have a positive impression of the place.

• Pros:The Prado and Plaza Mayor
• Cons:Not enough sleep!
• In a nutshell:Spain's Royal City