Madrid, Spain

Madrid - a passionate fiesta of which “Only the skies can be better.” Madrid, the capital of the Kingdom of Spain, located in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, in the center of Castile at an altitude of 646 meters above sea level, is a cosmopolitan city with over three million inhabitants. Madrid, the city that with its true charm and cheerfulness makes strangers make friends and the festivities continue into the middle of the night, is known for its rich cultural calendar and bustling nightlife like a whirlwind that imperceptibly attracts even the most casual visitors. The city with the typical southern atmosphere. Madrid is the financial, economic, political and cultural center of the country, as well as the center of the autonomous region of the same name, dividing the regions of Castile and Leon and Castile-La Mancha.
The history of the majestic metropolis of Madrid dates back to the 9th century. For centuries, the city changed its rulers and came into the possession of various dynasties, torn between the interests of Christians and Arabs over its territories. While in the 17th century King Felipe V undertook large-scale construction, driven by his desire to turn Madrid into the true capital of his empire.
Carrying the spirit of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the city fascinates with its incredible baroque and neoclassical architecture of many historical monuments that tell stories about the rich past of the Spanish capital. Palaces, cathedrals and over 100 museums are an integral part of a tourist tour for every visitor. 
Millions of tourists flock to Madrid each year, eager to experience the thrill of bullfighting and flamenco performances, two of Spain's iconic events. Visitors to Madrid have many options for a pleasant stay, as a trip through it becomes a cultural tale, illustrated with parks, fountains and palaces. The charm of the ancient quarters, the royal gardens, the majestic buildings and the spacious squares make Madrid one of the most coveted travel destinations.
1. The Museo del Prado is the largest cultural landmark in Madrid and one of the most important art museums in the world. Some of the most valuable treasures are the galleries of Velazquez, Surbaran, Murillo, El Greco and Goya.
2. The Royal Palace of Madrid is a magnificent pile of granite and limestone. Philip V, the first Bourbon king of Spain, longed for his home and his beloved Versailles, so he decided to recreate its wealth and splendor. Judging by the 2,800 rooms of the palace with their lavish Rococo-style decorations, valuable carpets, porcelain, clocks, mirrors and chandeliers, his efforts were successful. From 1764, when Carlos III first entered, until the arrival of the Second Republic and the abdication of Alfonso XIII in 1931, the Royal Palace was the residence of Spanish monarchs.
3. Retiro Park in Madrid is the most beautiful park in Madrid. Remarkable are the rose garden, the monumental statue of Alfonso XII, the statue of the Fallen Angel, the beautiful Palacio de Cristal of glass and steel, built as a tropical greenhouse in the nineteenth century, now a temporary art exhibition.
4. The main square is the most remarkable architectural monuments of Madrid. Built in 1617-1619 for Philip III, whose equestrian statue rises in the middle of the square. The square witnessed the canonization of saints, the burning of heretics, fireworks and bullfights.
5. The Gate of the Sun (Puerta del Sol) is a square in the heart of Madrid and Spain: the distances for the whole country are measured by the zero marker - a brass plate on the south sidewalk. Renovated in 1986, a horse statue of Carlos III now stands in the middle of the square, and at the beginning of Calle Carmen is the popular sculpture The Bear with the Strawberries.
6. The Queen Sofia Center for the Arts was opened by the Spanish Queen Sofia in 1986 on the site of a former hospital. This center is a real rival of the Pompidou Center in Paris.
7. Ritz - this Madrid grand was built by Alfonso XIII in 1910 to have enough space for guests for his wedding ceremony.
8. Madrid's bullfighting season is from March to November. The most spectacular performances are in May on the feast of St. Isidore, when there are daily struggles for five weeks.