Regional Profile 8: Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain and was once the capital of the mightiest empire existing
in the world. Its core is bounded on the west by the Royal Palace, in the east of the magnificent
Prado Museum. The Plaza Mayor and Puerta Del Sol mark the center. Madrid has a population
of approximately 4 million people. Most of the city is modern-urban style. Puerta del Sol can be
walked in 20 min at a nice pace. The the “jamón serrano” is called ham in English which is one
of the main national foods in Spain. The “La Plaza Mayor” is a very famous square which gives a
taste of what Madrid looked like in the 17th century. The square is filled with emblems of
Spain’s powerful past.
Madrid is filled with bull bars where “aficionados” gather at bars after fights or to enjoy one on
the T.V. Madrid’s Royal Palace was built by Philip the fifth in the 1700s. He was born in
Versailles and while he ruled Spain for forty years he stayed very French. The Royal Palace was
designed to be Philip’s personal Versailles and mark the beginning of a new dynasty, the
“Borbón.” The palace consists of over 2000 rooms and the visitors can take a look at the clock
collection, containing over 150 fancy clocks, various painting, gold treasures, majestic
chandeliers, and portraits of the royal family done by the famous painter Goya. The palace is
still used for formal receptions and the front yard is enjoyed by all the people in Madrid.
Madrid’s subway is simple, speedy, and cheap.
When it comes to variety, Madrid is Spain’s capital of “tapas.”
A short drive through the hills of Madrid takes us to San Lorenzo del Escorial where everybody
visits for its palace. El Escorial was built during the reformation, a time where catholic Spain was
defending the Church against Protestant heresy. Philip II directed the counter-reformation form
this spot. Today, it is filled with art that takes us back to that fascinating age. El Escorial was a
monastery for constant prayer for the soul of the king and it was also a religious school. The
Basilica, the architectural and spiritual heart of the complex, is dedicated to the martyr St.
Laurence.
While Seville is the home of “flamenco”, Madrid draws Spain’s top artists. The singing and
dancing gives an exotic whiff of the Arabic and gypsy influences on Spanish culture. Some
shows are sultry and serious while others are light and designed mostly for tour groups. The
Valley of the Fallen is a 500-foot-tall granite, a monument dedicated to the victims that
perished during the Spanish Civil War. Another place that remembers the victims of the Civil
War is back in Madrid, at the “Centro de la Reina Sofía”, this modern art museum has a fine art
collection of paintings where the “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso can be observed for the delight of
the visitors. The Retiro Park is a green and breezy escape from the city. Opposite the park, the
Prado museum holds a collection of paintings. They give an eye-pleasing overview of Spain’s
rich history, from the golden age through its slow fade.

After watching the video, Madrid seems like a very lively city packed with culture and
history. The city itself looks very beautiful with their distinct city vibes and architecture of the
buildings. There are a lot of things to look at such as palaces, museums, bars, etc. I liked that
city holds many different things that I could try if I were to visit there someday. And, personally,
I would like to visit the art museum of centro de la reina sofia. I have a huge love for art and I
would love to see the paintings of Pablo Picasso in my own eyes and see how he expressed his
time of era.