The capital of Spain, pulsating city of Madrid is one of the eminent European cities that is famous for it's more than a few attractions. The city nestled in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula is thronged by people not just for its nerve-wrecking night life but also for the succulent cuisine, mind boggling architecture at museums, monuments and gardens and jubilant festivals.



The Background

Madrid is an old city. Its origins can be traced back to as 1085 when King Alfonso VI of Castle reigned here. The throne passed into the hands of Felipe II in 1561 and things were never the same after that. There were wars followed by inflation, the draining of city's wealth and settling down of a horde of immigrants. The development came in 18th and 19th centuries when there was construction of numerous wonderful buildings with exotic and splendid art and architecture.

The Cities Charm

Once you land in the city of Madrid, there are many worthwhile places to visit. For the nature lovers, the Glorieta de Murillo botanical garden is a perfect destination with around 30,000 varied species of plants. These exclusive species that are scattered in different regions of the world were compiled at one place by the botanist Gomez Ortega and Juan de Villanueva for King Charles III.

The two pinnacle towers of Casa de la Panaderia grounded in the Madrid's grand main plaza called The Plaza Mayor, never miss the tourist attention. The Plaza is flooded with people during festival celebrations and as a market place. The statue of Felipe III adds a feather to the fascination of the place.

The music and theatre both can be enjoyed in one of the oldest towns called ?Moorish Quarter? of Madrid. Your next step in Madrid can be towards the Parque del Buen Retiro Park. The parks is a home for two buildings that are most often used for art exhibitions and an artificial lake that gives you the pleasure of boating. The classical concerts of music and dance performances can be relished at the Auditoria Nacional de Musica and The Teatro Madrid, Teatro Lirico Nacional de la Zarzuela, Teatro Albeniz respectively.

Madrid City is known for its incredible nightlife that lifts your spirits and leaves you rocking. Some of the illustrious nightclubs on the street of Calle Huertas are The Kapital (a 7 floor club) and The Malasana. Besides this there is tremendous activity in The Paza de Chueca club, Alonso Martinez etc. The discobars and clubs are meant not just for couples or stag but for families as well.

The Madrid festivals lure people across the globe. There Fiestas de San Isidro is one of the biggest festivals of the year. It commences from 15th of May and bedazzles the visitors with excellent dance performances, concerts, and other performances. The delectable food during the festival remains acts as a magnet. The festivals like Feria de la Comunidad in May, Feria de Otono in September and Feria turnia etc. have at display the treasured game of bull fighting.

To add to the glory of Madrid is the spectacular Verbena de la Palomar festival from 6th to 15th of August. The festival mirrors the Madrid tradition and culture when people are decked up in their traditional attire and parade their customs. The ravishing decoration and the live performances by bands thrill you with almost all sorts of music heard round the globe. Last but not the least are the exotic new-year celebrations at Madrid and the renowned masked ball of Circular de Belles Arts that leave a remarkable impression on each and every visitor.

Apart from the fun and adventure, Madrid specializes in serving all varieties of cuisine. A person from any corner of the world can gratify his hunger conveniently in Madrid. There is French, German, Swedish, Chinese, Italian diversity of food available.

Madrid can be the home for anyone be it the luxury or the budget travelers. From restaurants to accommodation all are designed in such a fashion that they cater well to the needs of the high as well as the low. However, it is judicious and preferable if you get all the reservations done in advance for this one amongst the largest European cities is swarming with visitors all the year round.