Madrid Rent Flat - About Madrid

Madrid is a young, modern and vibrant city that can be summed up in one word… cosmopolitan. It has the largest population in Spain, meaning that it’s important for you to know all of the customs, traits and hotspots in Madrid.

At Madrid Rent Flats, we can offer you a Cultural and Social Activities Program created by AIL Madrid Spanish Language School to help you learn useful information about Madrid.

This program is made up of 10 hours a week of activities consisting of workshops, guided walks, visits to popular attractions and nights out to help you discover Madrid.

Benefits of the Cultural and Social Activities Program

• You will make friends by getting to know people with the same interests.
• You will practice your Spanish: one of the aims of the activities is to vary how you learn Spanish and to practice your language skills.
• It is suitable for all levels of Spanish: it doesn’t matter if you know a lot or a little, the activities have been designed so that everyone can enjoy them.
• Reduced price: you can register now for the price of 40€ a week.

For more information on how to enrol, contact AIL Madrid Spanish Language School

Madrid's Origins

Madrid has been the capital of Spain since the 17th century, when King Philip II relocated his court from Toledo to Madrid. It has remained the capital of Spain ever since, apart from a short period between 1601 and 1606, when King Philip III moved the court to Valladolid.

Today’s Madrid

Nowadays, Madrid is the third largest capital in Europe (after London and Berlin) and has a population of 3.3 million (6.27 million including the surrounding metropolitan area of the city). Madrid is also the highest capital in Europe, at a staggering 650m above sea level.

The city is also renowned for having an enormous amount of green areas. In fact, it has the highest number of trees and green areas per inhabitant in Europe, and visitors are never more than 15 minutes away from a park/green area.

Madrid is also the political and financial centre of Spain, with the government and most major Spanish companies having their headquarters in Madrid.

Madrid’s Climate

Although Madrid is lacking a beach, don’t be fooled into thinking that the weather doesn’t compare to coastal towns. During the summer, temperatures can reach up to 40°C and the city enjoys more cloudless days than almost any other city in Europe! Luckily though, the outdoor pools open during this time. There are around 15 well located pools in Madrid which are reasonably priced and always full of people cooling down and relaxing in the summer sun.

Sport in Madrid

Madrid is also known as a city for sport lovers. Real Madrid FC, which was voted the most successful football club of the 20th century by FIFA, has its home at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in the Paseo de la Castellana. It holds up to 85,000 spectators and is regularly full of supporters from all over the world. Another popular football club in Madrid is Atlético de Madrid. Although not as successful as their local rivals, they play in La Liga and have many loyal supporters who regularly come to watch their games at the Vicente Calderón stadium. Madrid has also recently launched a campaign to host the Olympic Games in 2020, meaning that spectators from all over the world would come to Madrid to watch the events and experience the city.

Tourist Hotspots in Madrid

Below, you can find brief descriptions of the main tourist attractions which we think are definitely worth a visit during your time in Madrid:

• The Plaza Mayor – This is a beautiful old square in the centre of Madrid with a rich history of hosting weddings, royal coronations and, in its darker days, executions. The square is now occupied with a wide range of shops/cafés which you can enjoy.
• The Golden Triangle of Art – Madrid is well known for its art culture, and this triangle contains the three most famous art museums in Madrid – the Prado museum (contains a high amount of classic Spanish and European art from 12th-19th century), the Reina Sofia museum (features a wide range of Spanish and European modern art) and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum (contains a mixture of styles of the two former museums).
• Retiro Park – This park is the largest in Madrid at over 1.4km2. The park features several monuments and gardens which are popular with tourists, as well as a large lake where you can rent rowing boats. In summer, the park is used as the main spot for people to sunbathe. Outside of the main entrance is the Alcalá Gate as well, which was built in the late 18th century as a throughway for a road from Madrid to Alcalá de Henares.
• Puerta del Sol – Often shortened to just Sol, this is the very centre of Madrid. Here, you can find all of the biggest shops and lots of restaurants to eat at. This is also where you can find a statue of a bear with a Madroño tree, which is the symbol of Madrid.
• Las Ventas – This is seen as the home of bullfighting in Spain, and every Sunday between March and December you can see what is known as the most controversial tradition in Spain.
• El Rastro – This is the largest flea market in Madrid and takes place every Sunday during the year. You can buy any number of things from there: from other people’s junk to rare antiques – there’s always some treasure that can be found at El Rastro!
• The Royal Palace – This is the official residence of the King of Spain, although it is only used for state ceremonies. It is in the centre of Madrid, however, and (unless the Family is staying there) you can take tours and see the inside of the Palace. Adjacent to the Palace is the Almudena Cathedral, which was built when Madrid became the capital of Spain, because at the time it did not have a cathedral.
• Plaza de Cibeles – This square features a breathtaking fountain dedicated to Cybele, a Roman God and the stunning City Hall building. It also plays host to Real Madrid football celebrations and VIP visits (including Pope Benedict XVI’s visit in 2011).
• Plaza de España – A hotspot for tourists, the square features a monument to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, and two of the most prominent and largest skyscrapers in Madrid: the Torre de Madrid and the Edificio España.

Madrid is often named the New York of Europe, because it is also a city which never sleeps. It has everything: stunning architecture, amazing nightlife, a rich history, enchanting scenery and so much more. One week is not enough to see everything and to try all of the delicious foods and drinks that the city offers, so make sure you plan your time well and get the most out of your visit – you’ll be glad that you did.