Madrid

Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. In 2025, over 3.4 million people lived in the city itself, with around 6.8 million in the surrounding area. It is the second-largest city in the European Union, after Berlin. Madrid sits in central Spain along the River Manzanares, at an elevation of about 660 metres above sea level.

The history of Madrid dates back to the late 9th century as a small military outpost. It grew in importance over the centuries and became the permanent home of the Spanish royal court in 1561. Today, Madrid is a major political, economic, and cultural hub for Spain.

Madrid plays a key economic role in the European Union, with many important companies and banking operations based there. The city is also famous for its arts and culture, including world-renowned museums such as the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, located in the famous Golden Triangle of Art. Two famous football clubs, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, call Madrid home.

Etymology

The name "Madrid" has an unknown origin. There are several ideas about where the name comes from, but none can fully explain how the word changed over time. One idea is that it comes from Latin, where a word might have meant “ford.” Another idea is that it comes from an Arabic word for “water stream” or “spring.” Yet another idea connects it to an old form of a Latin word also meaning “water stream.”

People sometimes call Madrid by nicknames such as “Los Madriles” or “La Villa y Corte,” which means “the town and court.”

History

Main article: History of Madrid

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Madrid.

The site of modern-day Madrid has been occupied since prehistoric times. There are archaeological remains of the Celtic Carpetani settlement, Roman villas, a Visigoth basilica near the church of Santa María de la Almudena and three Visigoth necropolises near Casa de Campo, Tetuán and Vicálvaro.

The first historical document about the existence of an established settlement in Madrid dates from the Muslim age. In the second half of the 9th century, Umayyad Emir Muhammad I built a fortress on a headland near the river Manzanares as one of the many fortresses he ordered built on the border between Al-Andalus and the kingdoms of León and Castile, with the objective of protecting Toledo from Christian attacks from the North and as a starting point for Muslim offensives. After the disintegration of the Caliphate of Córdoba in the early 11th century, Madrid was integrated in the Taifa of Toledo.

In the context of the wider campaign for the conquest of the taifa of Toledo initiated in 1079, Madrid was seized in 1083 by Alfonso VI of León and Castile, who sought to use the town as an offensive outpost against the city of Toledo, in turn conquered in 1085. Following the conquest, Christians occupied the centre of the city, while Muslims and Jews were displaced to the suburbs. Madrid, located near Alcalá (under Muslim control until 1118), remained a borderland for a while, suffering a number of razzias during the Almoravid period, and its walls were destroyed in 1110.

Madrid was confirmed as villa de realengo (linked to the Crown) in 1123, during the reign of Alfonso VII. The 1123 Charter of Otorgamiento established the first explicit limits between Madrid and Segovia, namely the Puerto de El Berrueco and the Puerto de Lozoya. Beginning in 1188, Madrid had the right to be a city with representation in the courts of Castile. In 1202, Alfonso VIII gave Madrid its first charter to regulate the municipal council, which was expanded in 1222 by Ferdinand III. The government system of the town was changed to a regimiento of 12 regidores by Alfonso XI in January 1346.

Starting in the mid-13th century and up to the late 14th century, the concejo of Madrid vied for the control of the Real de Manzanares territory against the concejo of Segovia, a powerful town north of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range, characterised by its repopulating prowess and its animal husbandry-based economy, in contrast to the agricultural and less repopulated town of Madrid. After the decline of Sepúlveda, another concejo north of the mountain range, Segovia became a major actor south of the Guadarrama mountains, expanding across the Lozoya and Manzanares rivers to the north of Madrid and along the Guadarrama river course to its west.

In 1309, the Courts of Castile convened at Madrid for the first time under Ferdinand IV, and later in 1329, 1339, 1391, 1393, 1419 and twice in 1435.

During the revolt of the Comuneros, led by Juan Lopez de Padilla, Madrid joined the revolt against Charles, Holy Roman Emperor. After defeat at the Battle of Villalar, Madrid was besieged and occupied by the imperial troops. The city was however granted the titles of Coronada (Crowned) and Imperial.

The number of urban inhabitants grew from 4,060 in 1530 to 37,500 in 1594. The poor population of the court was composed of ex-soldiers, foreigners, rogues and Ruanes, dissatisfied with the lack of food and high prices. In June 1561 Phillip II set his court in Madrid, installing it in the old alcázar. Thanks to this, Madrid became the political centre of the monarchy, being the capital of Spain except for a short period between 1601 and 1606, in which the Court was relocated to Valladolid, and the Madrid population temporarily plummeted. Being the capital was decisive for the evolution of the city and influenced its fate. During the rest of the reign of Philip II, the population boomed, going up from about 18,000 in 1561 to 80,000 in 1598.

In the early 17th century, although Madrid recovered from the loss of its capital status, with the return of diplomats, lords and affluent people, as well as an entourage of noted writers and artists together with them, extreme poverty remained rampant. The century also was a time of heyday for theatre, represented in the so-called corrales de comedias.

Madrid changed hands several times during the War of the Spanish Succession: from the Bourbon control it passed to the allied "Austracist" army with Portuguese and English presence that entered the city in late June 1706, only to be retaken by the Bourbon army on 4 August 1706. The Habsburg army led by the Archduke Charles entered the city for a second time in September 1710, leaving the city less than three months after. Philip V entered the capital on 3 December 1710.

Seeking to take advantage of Madrid's location at the geographic centre of Spain, the 18th century saw a sustained effort to create a radial system of communications and transports for the country through public investments.

Philip V built the Royal Palace, the Royal Tapestry Factory and the main Royal Academies. The reign of Charles III, who came to be known as "the best mayor of Madrid", saw an effort to turn the city into a true capital, with the construction of sewers, street lighting, cemeteries outside the city and a number of monuments and cultural institutions. The reforms enacted by his Sicilian minister were however opposed in 1766 by the populace in the so-called Esquilache Riots, a revolt demanding to repeal a clothing decree banning the use of traditional hats and long cloaks aiming to curb crime in the city.

In the context of the Peninsular War, the situation in French-occupied Madrid after March 1808 was becoming more and more tense. On 2 May, a crowd began to gather near the Royal Palace protesting against the French attempt to evict the remaining members of the Bourbon royal family to Bayonne, prompting up an uprising against the French Imperial troops that lasted hours and spread throughout the city, including a famous last stand at the Monteleón barracks. Subsequent repression was brutal, with many insurgent Spaniards being summarily executed. The uprising led to a declaration of war calling all the Spaniards to fight against the French invaders.

Madrid was invaded on 24 May 1823 by a French army—the so-called Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis—called to intervene to restore the absolutism of Ferdinand that the latter had been deprived from during the 1820–1823 trienio liberal. Unlike other European capitals, during the first half of the 19th century the only noticeable bourgeois elements in Madrid (that experienced a delay in its industrial development up to that point) were merchants. The University of Alcalá de Henares was relocated to Madrid in 1836, becoming the Central University.

Madrid's economy modernised during the second half of the 19th century, consolidating its status as a service and financial centre. New industries were mostly focused in book publishing, construction and low-tech sectors. The introduction of railway transport greatly helped Madrid's economic prowess, and led to changes in consumption patterns, such as the substitution of salted fish for fresh fish from the Spanish coasts, and further strengthening Madrid's role as a logistics node in Spain's distribution network. Electric lighting in the streets was introduced in the 1890s.

During the first third of the 20th century the population nearly doubled, reaching more than 850,000 inhabitants. New suburbs such as Las Ventas, Tetuán and El Carmen became the homes of the influx of workers, while Ensanche became a middle-class neighbourhood of Madrid.

The Spanish Constitution of 1931 was the first to legislate the location of the country's capital, setting it explicitly in Madrid. During the 1930s, Madrid enjoyed "great vitality"; it was demographically young, becoming urbanised and the centre of new political movements. During this time, major construction projects were undertaken, including the northern extension of the Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid's major thoroughfares. The tertiary sector, including banking, insurance and telephone services, grew greatly. Illiteracy rates were down to below 20%, and the city's cultural life grew notably during the so-called Silver Age of Spanish Culture; the sales of newspapers also increased.

The proclamation of the Republic created a severe housing shortage. Slums and squalor grew due to high population growth and the influx of the poor to the city. Construction of affordable housing failed to keep pace and increased political instability discouraged economic investment in housing in the years immediately prior to the Civil War. Anti-clericalism and Catholicism lived side by side in Madrid; the burning of convents initiated after riots in the city in May 1931 worsened the political environment. However, the 1934 insurrection largely failed in the city.

Madrid was one of the most heavily affected cities in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). It was a stronghold of the Republican faction from July 1936 and became an international symbol of anti-fascist struggle during the conflict. The city suffered aerial bombing, and in November 1936, its western suburbs were the scene of an all-out battle. The city fell to the Francoists in March 1939.

A staple of post-war Madrid was the widespread use of ration coupons. Meat and fish consumption was scarce, resulting in high mortality due to malnutrition. Due to Madrid's history as a left-wing stronghold, the right-wing victors considered moving the capital elsewhere (most notably to Seville), but such plans were never implemented. The Franco regime instead emphasised the city's history as the capital of formerly imperial Spain.

The intense demographic growth experienced by Madrid via mass immigration from the rural areas of Spain led to the construction of abundant housing in the peripheral areas of Madrid to absorb the new population, initially comprising substandard housing. This increased wealth polarisation in Madrid, with as many as 50,000 shacks scattered around Madrid by 1956. A transitional planning intended to temporarily replace the shanty towns were the poblados de absorción, introduced since the mid-1950s in locations such as Canillas, San Fermín, Caño Roto, Villaverde, Pan Bendito, Zofío and Fuencarral, aiming to work as a sort of "high-end" shacks (with the destinataries participating in the construction of their own housing) but under the aegis of a wider coordinated urban planning.

Madrid grew through the annexation of neighbouring municipalities, achieving the present extent of 607 km² (234.36 sq mi). The south of Madrid became heavily industrialised, and there was significant immigration from rural areas of Spain. Madrid's newly built north-western districts became the home of a newly enriched middle class that appeared as result of the 1960s Spanish economic boom, while the south-eastern periphery became a large working-class area, which formed the base for active cultural and political movements.

After the fall of the Francoist regime, the new 1978 constitution confirmed Madrid as the capital of Spain. The 1979 municipal election brought Madrid's first democratically elected mayor since the Second Republic to power.

Madrid was the scene of some of the most important events of the time, such as the mass demonstrations of support for democracy after the failed coup, 23-F, on 23 February 1981. The first democratic mayors belonged to the centre-left PSOE (Enrique Tierno Galván, Juan Barranco Gallardo). Since the late 1970s and through the 1980s Madrid became the centre of the cultural movement known as la Movida.

Benefiting from increasing prosperity in the 1980s and 1990s, the capital city of Spain consolidated its position as an important economic, cultural, industrial, educational, and technological centre on the European continent. During the mandate as Mayor of José María Álvarez del Manzano construction of traffic tunnels below the city proliferated. The following administrations, also conservative, led by Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón and Ana Botella launched three unsuccessful bids for the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics. In 2005, Madrid was the leading European destination for migrants from developing countries, as well as the largest employer of non-European workforce in Spain.

In the early years of the 21st century, Madrid experienced the increase of income inequality and socio-economic segregation. Madrid was a centre of the anti-austerity protests that erupted in Spain in 2011. As consequence of the spillover of the 2008 financial and mortgage crisis, Madrid has been affected by the increasing number of second-hand homes held by banks and house evictions. The mandate of left-wing Mayor Manuela Carmena (2015–2019) delivered the renaturalization of the course of the Manzanares across the city.

Since the late 2010s, the challenges the city faces include the increasingly unaffordable rental prices (often in parallel with the gentrification and the spike of tourist apartments in the city centre) and the profusion of betting shops in working-class areas, leading to an "epidemic" of gambling among young people.

Geography

Madrid lies in the center of the Iberian peninsula on the southern Meseta Central, about 60 kilometers south of the Guadarrama mountain range. It stretches across the Jarama and Manzanares river valleys within the larger Tagus River area. The city sits at an average height of 650 meters, making it one of Europe’s higher capital cities.

Madrid has many green spaces, including large parks and forests. El Retiro is the most visited park, covering more than 1.4 square kilometers. Other notable parks include Parque del Oeste, Casa de Campo, which holds the Madrid Zoo and an amusement park, and the vast forested area of Monte de El Pardo. These areas give residents easy access to nature.

Madrid has a climate that can feel quite warm in summer and cool in winter. Summer days often reach above 35°C, while winter nights can be cold. The city receives less rain than many places, mostly in the autumn and spring. Despite this, Madrid’s many parks help keep the city comfortable.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Madrid

Madrid has grown a lot since it became Spain's capital in the mid-1500s. Today, about 3 million people live in the city, and the nearby areas bring the total to over 6 million.

Many people from around the world have moved to Madrid, especially from Latin American countries. Most people living there today were born in Spain, but many others come from places like the Americas, Asian, and African nations. The city is known for having people who live longer than average in Europe.

Government

Main article: City Council of Madrid

See also: List of mayors of Madrid

Local government and administration

Main article: City Council of Madrid

Madrid’s city government is led by the City Council, known as the Ayuntamiento de Madrid. It includes the Plenary, the Mayor, and the Government Board. The Plenary has 57 elected members who help make important decisions for the city, such as approving budgets and managing services. The Mayor leads the city and oversees the work of the council. Since 2019, José Luis Martínez-Almeida from the People’s Party has been the Mayor. The Government Board includes the Mayor, deputy mayors, and other leaders who handle different city areas.

Capital of Spain

Madrid is the capital of Spain. The King of Spain lives in the Zarzuela Palace, and the Prime Minister works in the Moncloa Palace. Both the main parts of Spain’s Parliament also meet in Madrid.

Regional capital

Madrid is also the capital of the Community of Madrid. The region has its own government and makes decisions about things like schools and hospitals. The regional parliament meets in the Puente de Vallecas district, and the main office of the regional government is in the Puerta del Sol area.

Law enforcement

The Madrid Municipal Police keeps the city safe. In 2018, it had around 6,200 police officers. Madrid is also home to important national police offices.

Administrative subdivisions

Main articles: Districts of Madrid and List of wards of Madrid

Madrid is divided into 21 districts, and these districts are further divided into 131 neighborhoods.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Madrid

After becoming the capital of Spain in the 16th century, Madrid grew as a center for providing goods and services to its own population, including the royal household and government. Activities like banking and publishing were important.

In the 20th century, industry grew and changed Madrid into Spain’s second industrial city. Today, Madrid’s economy focuses more on services, especially finance, technology, and tourism. It is one of Europe’s biggest financial centers and hosts important companies and banks.

Madrid is a major center for business, with many companies and international firms based there. It also has many universities and research centers. The city attracts millions of tourists each year, and its strong service sector includes banking, trade, and transportation. Madrid’s central location makes it a key hub for travel and business in Europe.

Culture

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Madrid

Madrid has a rich history of architecture, though much of its medieval and Renaissance buildings are not preserved. Notable structures from the Early Habsburg period include the Bridge of Segovia and the Convent of Las Descalzas Reales. The 17th century saw the construction of important buildings like the Palace of the Duke of Uceda and the Plaza Mayor. The 18th century brought more grand designs under the Bourbons, including the Prado Museum and the Puerta de Alcalá.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Madrid expanded with new neighborhoods and monuments. The Gran Vía is a famous street built in different styles over time. Modern architecture includes skyscrapers like the Torre Picasso and the Cuatro Torres Business Area.

Museums and cultural centres

See also: List of museums in Madrid

Madrid is home to some of the world's greatest art museums, known as the Golden Triangle of Art. This includes the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The Prado Museum holds a wonderful collection of European art from the 12th to the early 19th century. The Reina Sofía Museum features modern and contemporary art, including Pablo Picasso's famous painting, Guernica.

Other important museums in Madrid include the National Archaeological Museum, which shows artifacts from ancient times, and the Royal Palace of Madrid, which has beautiful armors and weapons collections.

Language

The main language spoken in Madrid is Peninsular Spanish. There are some unique features in how people speak here, such as the way certain sounds are pronounced. Over time, many people from different parts of the world have moved to Madrid, bringing their own ways of speaking, which has added to the city's rich language mix.

Literature

Madrid has been a center for Spanish literature for centuries. Many famous writers, like Lope de Vega and Francisco de Quevedo, were born or lived in Madrid. Their homes are still there today, in an area called the Barrio de las Letras. Madrid is also home to important cultural institutions like the Royal Spanish Academy and the Instituto Cervantes, which help keep the Spanish language and culture alive.

Cuisine

Madrid's cuisine is a mix of flavors from all over Spain. One popular dish is cocido madrileño, a hearty chickpea stew. Another favorite is callos a la madrileña, made from cattle tripes. Fried squid is also a common treat, often enjoyed in sandwiches. Other dishes you might find include potaje, sopa de ajo (garlic soup), and patatas bravas.

Nightlife

Madrid is famous for its lively nightlife. The city has many bars, dance clubs, and live music venues that stay open late into the night. Popular areas for nightlife include Plaza de Santa Ana, Malasaña, and La Latina. The Malasaña area is especially known for its alternative and bohemian vibe. The neighborhood of Chueca is a lively spot, especially popular with the LGBTQ+ community.

Bohemian culture

Madrid has many places where artists and creative people gather. These include areas like Ópera, Antón Martín, Chueca, and Malasaña. There are also several festivals that celebrate alternative art and culture. In neighborhoods like Malasaña and Lavapiés, you can find colorful cafés and galleries where local artists display their work.

Classical music and opera

Madrid has several important venues for classical music and opera. The Auditorio Nacional de Música hosts many concerts and is home to the Spanish National Orchestra. The Teatro Real is the main opera house, staging operas and ballets throughout the year. The Teatro de la Zarzuela focuses on Zarzuela, a traditional Spanish musical theater style.

Feasts and festivals

San Isidro

The most important local celebration is the Day of Isidore the Laborer on May 15th. This is a public holiday in Madrid. People gather to dance, eat special foods, and celebrate their patron saint.

LGBT pride

Madrid's Pride Parade is one of the largest in the world. It started in 1977 and has grown every year. In 2017, Madrid hosted WorldPride, drawing over a million people. The parade celebrates diversity and inclusion, showing Madrid as a welcoming and tolerant city.

Other

Madrid also celebrates other important days, such as the regional day on May 2nd, which marks a historic uprising. There are also religious festivals like the feast of San Antonio de la Florida and the feast of the Virgin of Almudena.

The Mad Cool music festival is a big event in the city, attracting thousands of music fans every year.

Bullfighting

Madrid is home to Las Ventas, the largest bullring in Spain. It can hold almost 25,000 people and is a major venue for bullfights from March to October. Bullfighting is a traditional event, especially during the San Isidro festivities in May.

Sport

Football

Madrid has several famous football teams. Real Madrid, founded in 1902, is one of the most successful clubs in the world, with many titles and a huge fan base. They play at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Atlético Madrid, founded in 1903, is another top team that plays at the Metropolitano Stadium. There are also other teams like Rayo Vallecano and Getafe CF, which also compete in the top league.

Basketball

Real Madrid Baloncesto is a leading basketball team in Europe, with many championships. They play at the Palacio de Deportes (WiZink Center). Another team, Club Baloncesto Estudiantes, also plays there and has a long history in the sport.

Events

Madrid hosts many international sports events. The Vuelta a España cycling race finishes in the city each September. The Madrid Open tennis tournament is held in May at the Caja Mágica. Madrid will also host the Spanish Grand Prix in 2026 as part of the Formula One series.

Education

Main article: Education in Spain

Education in Spain is free and required from ages 6 to 16. The system is known as LOE, which stands for Ley Orgánica de Educación.

Madrid is home to many public and private universities. Some of these universities are among the oldest in the world and are known for their high quality.

One important university is the National Distance Education University, or UNED. It offers higher education through distance learning, helping many students who cannot attend classes in person. With over 205,000 students, it is the largest university in Spain.

Another major university is the Complutense University of Madrid, or UCM. It has over 117,000 students and is one of the oldest universities in the world. The university has two main campuses.

The Technical University of Madrid, or UPM, is Spain's top technical university. It shares a campus with UCM and has schools spread across the city.

The Autonomous University of Madrid, or UAM, is famous for its research in physics. Its main campus is located in the north of the city.

Madrid also has several business schools, including IE Business School, which is known for its MBA programs. Other top business schools in Madrid include IESE Business School and ESADE Business School. These schools are among the best in the world and attract students from many countries.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Madrid

Madrid has many ways to get around, including roads, public transport, and airports. In 2018, the city banned cars that weren't from Madrid or were not electric or hybrid from the downtown area. This helped reduce pollution.

The city has several important roads and three types of public transport: buses, trains, and subways. There are also two airports. The main airport, Madrid-Barajas, is very busy and handles many travelers from around the world.

Road transport

Madrid Central

In 2018, cars that weren't electric or hybrid, and didn't belong to residents, were not allowed in the Madrid Central area. This helped make the air cleaner.

Radial roads

Madrid is the center of many important roads in Spain. These roads go to places like Irún, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valencia, Córdoba, Sevilla, Cádiz, Badajoz, and A Coruña. There are also roads that go around the city, called orbital roads. The busiest one is the M-30, which often has traffic jams.

Public transport

Madrid has an extensive public transport system with subways, trains, and buses. The subway, or Metro, is one of the longest in Europe and has many stations and lines. The Cercanías trains connect the city with suburbs and beyond. There are also many bus routes, including special night buses and airport shuttles.

Long-distance transport

Madrid is a major hub for travel in Spain and Europe. It has many highways and is the center of Spain's high-speed rail system, connecting to cities like Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Málaga. There are also long-distance bus services to many places in Spain and Europe.

Airport

Madrid-Barajas Airport is one of the busiest in Europe, handling over 60 million passengers each year. It has four terminals and is a major hub for flights to the Americas. There is also a smaller airport, Cuatro Vientos, used for both military and civilian purposes.

International relations

Madrid plays an important role in international relations. The city is home to many foreign embassies and important government offices that help Spain connect with the rest of the world.

Madrid also hosts many international organizations. Some of these groups help with tourism, cooperation between countries, and other important global issues. The city works closely with organizations like the United Nations and works with other major cities around the world to support friendly relationships and shared goals.

Notable people

Main articles: List of people from Madrid and List of predilect and adoptive sons and daughters of Madrid

Madrid has been home to many famous individuals throughout history. Some well-known people from Madrid have made big impacts in areas like art, sports, and politics. The city celebrates these important figures and their contributions to culture and society.

Honours

A natural feature called the Madrid Dome in the Aristotle Mountains, Graham Land, in Antarctica is named in honor of the city of Madrid.