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Madrid
in figures:
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Country:
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Spain
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Population:
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~
3.200.000 inh.
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Surface:
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~
600 km2
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Density:
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~
5300 inh./km2
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Jet
Leg:
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+1 GMT
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Phone Code:
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(+0034)91
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What
to see: Madrid
is a modern city nevertheless it holds in its inner area a classic
character, for instance there is the Royal
Palace and its huge squares are the
most representative symbols.The Royal
Palace, situated in the Western square, represents a
charming and evocative architecture, full of galleries of works of
art and precious furniture. Source of interesting are Puerta
del Sol, a central city square and point of reference
for Madrilenian meetings, and Plaza
Mayor, the Madrid’s monumental heart where
Philip’s III statue has been placed
in the middle. A very interesting place is also the Retreat Park, a
public open space of the 15th century, renovated in the
19 th century and rich in tree-lined avenues full of
statues and fountains. An essential stop is to the El
Prado Museum, one of the most prestigious art museums
of the world, full of works of painting of the greatest Spanish and
Italian masters, such as Goya, El Greco, Velásquez, Tiziano,
Raffaello and Tintoretto.
How
to get there:
The city of Madrid represents the main stop for flights in Spain. It
is directly reachable by plane from all main European airports. The
airport of Madrid is called Barajas and it is 13 km north-east the
city. Air connections are managed by respective national airlines
and by the Spanish one, Iberia, and also by low cost companies. We
would point out that flying is a more efficient and often a cheaper
method to reach the capital of Spain.
How
to go round:
Madrid’s centre is well united. It is suitable to go round on foot
so that you can better appreciate all city attractions. Madrilenian
underground is divided in 12 lines, it is fast and efficient and it
is as well among the 6 largest subways in the world. It covers
completely the city, starting from the airport (line 8, pink colour)
until to the most suburban areas: reference stations are Atocha and
Chamartin. For few peripheral areas not covered by the subway, it is
possible to visit them by bus or by a regional train, efficient and
cheap as well.
Entertainments:
Madrid is the symbol of art galleries and bullfights too. Madrid
boasts one of the most intense nightlife of Europe. It is
easy to meet people who shift from a place to another until dawn and
then come back to work a few hours later. Secondary centre streets
are full of fashionable places: private clubs, discotheques, nights.
The city satisfies also shopping lovers, Madrid in fact gives to
tourists great possibilities in this sense: the Salamanca quarter is
rich in boutiques and luxury shops.
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