Madrid

About

While the area has been populated since the Paleolithic era, no official settlement existed on the site until an Arab fortress was built along the river in the 9th century. However, it wasn’t until King Philip II made Madrid the capital in 1561 that it truly began to flourish, seeing the population grow almost 10-fold in the 16th century. Today, the historic center is known as the "Madrid of Los Austrias" in honor to the Hapsburg monarchs. The fantastic 17th century Plaza Mayor embodies the city’s 16th and 17th century splendor. The surrounding area is the aristocratic center, where visitors can find the 17th century Royal Palace, and take a tour through its decadent halls. Along with the vast selection of historic buildings, the city is also home to over 60 museums, which span the entirety of human knowledge. For many, the highlight is the Prado Museum, which is considered one of the world's most important art galleries, while the Reina Sofía National Art Centre is dedicated to contemporary Spanish art and contains works by Picasso, and Salvador Dalí, among others.