Madrid
Madrid does not achieve a mention in chronicles until the
late tenth century, at which time there was already a fort or castle
where the Royal Palace stands today. This fort was occupied by the
Moors, who named it Mayrit (from which Magerit, then Madrid) and around
which the borough of Madrid developed in the following centuries.
Between several different warriors, the Moors kept rule until Madrid was
finally conquered in 1085 by Alfonso VI in his advance towards Toledo.
This king ordered the main mosque within the fort's walls to be
"purified" and consecrated as a Catholic church under the guidance of
the Virgin of the Almudena, the name deriving from a religious icon
found near the "almudín" or wheat deposit. La Virgen de la Almudena
later became Madrid's female patron saint. In the year 1329, King
Fernando V assembled The Court of Madrid for the first time.
Madrid is a city full of life. During the day, the city
is full of energy but come evening the central city becomes a bustle of
human activity. Around the Puerta del Sol the streets become packed with
people well into the early morning. To experience Madrid is to explore
its restaurants and eateries, prop up its countless bars, and be swept
up in the nocturnal madness of its music scene and clubs. Madrid has
always been a city of immigrants and transients, and the result is an
unusually open and accessible city. Ambitious programs to modernise the
city are afoot, but the gatos (locals) of Madrid can rest assured
that their town remains as refreshingly unlike Paris, London or Rome as
ever.
The bars
are full of people having tapas along with a drink. Two of the
most popular tapas are boquerones en vinagre (marinated
anchovies) and empanada (pastry filled with tuna and tomato). Or
you might find people sharing raciones, larger versions of tapas,
such as plates of chorizo (sausage), jamón serrano (cured
ham), tortilla de patata (potato omelette) and champiñones con
ajos y jamón (mushrooms with garlic and ham). Bars usually have both
tapas and raciones menus to choose from. The area around
Plaza de Santa Ana is a popular place to tapear (have tapas in
one or more places). The Cerveceria Alemana is located here and it’s
usually full of tourists. The Plaza de la Cebada has lots of good tapas
bars as well, for example El Almendro. Plaza de Alonso Martínez and
Calle Conde Duque are both recommended for a tapas crawl.
Madrid is,
beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of the world's best cities for having
fun. Madrileños don't tend to go out on the town until after
midnight and rarely arrive at clubs before three in the morning.
However, even if your entertainment tastes are rather more sedate, you
won't be disappointed (unless you were planning on having dinner at half
past six!). Nightclubs are everywhere. Some are cheap, while others are
outrageously expensive. You can find every type of music including
techno, salsa, merengue, house, hip-hop, acid, disco and anything else
you can think of. Many don’t open until midnight and only fill up at
3am. There are museums devoted to every subject from famous painters to
famous motorcyclists. The three most important collections of art in
Spain are all within walking distance of each other in what’s known as
Madrid's "Golden Triangle".
Madrid
shopping is just what you would expect from a sophisticated European
capital - plentiful, entertaining, and varied. The Gran Via near Callao
offers many shopping options, with still more in the streets leading
from Callao down toward the Puerto del Sol.
For those with a taste for luxury, the Salamanca
neighborhood offers many high end boutiques. The area around Ortega y
Gassett and Serrano is jammed with designer stores. A funkier slice of
life comes along Fuencarral, which heads north off the Gran Via toward
Glorieta Bilbao. If you consider the Gen X generation hopelessly over
the hill, you might well find what you want along this street or the
parallel Hortaleza. For bargain imports from around the world, try the
side streets around Lavapies. Immigrants from around the world tend to
set up shops here, selling goods imported their homeland.
The department store chain El Corte Ingles has stores
throughout the city, and can be counted on to have almost anything you
could want, from voltage transformers to fine wine. Last but not least,
the legendary Rastro flea market erupts each Sunday, just as it has for
hundreds of years. An entire neighborhood is packed elbow-to-elbow with
shoppers and vendors, selling a lot of clothing but also a bizarre range
of products ranging from plastic hoses to bird cages.
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