Madrid
About Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The capital used to be Valladolid until 1560. It is the highest capital of any European country (667 meters above sea level) and three million people live in the city.
History
Madrid was ruled by the Romans from the 2nd century. After AD 711 it was occupied by the Moors. In 1083 Spain was ruled again by Spaniards. Catholic kings ruled the country. By the mid-16th century it had become the capital of a very large empire. Spain was ruled by monarchs from the House of Habsburg, then the House of Bourbon. After the Spanish Civil War it was ruled by a dictator called Franco until the mid- 1970s when it became a democracy.
Plaza Mayor, from 1619
How Madrid became the city it is today
The king Felipe II ( 16th century) moved the court to Madrid but the city was a disaster. So Charles the 3rd rebuilt Madrid with palaces and turned it into a modern city. Charles the 3rd was one of the most popular kings in the history of Madrid.
Madrid's Royal Palace
Spain's royal palace is in Madrid. It is one of the largest palaces in all of Western Europe. The king and his family now live in a smaller palace and only use the Royal Palace for impotant events, like meeting other kings and presidents
The Metropolis Building in Gran Via
Ruins of Madrid's Muslim wall, built in the 9th century
How Madrid got its name
Madrid was built around the river Manzanares river, it was from the name of the that it later became the name of Madrid
Puerta de Europa buildings, from 1996.