Madrid (/məˈdrɪd/, Spanish: [maˈðɾið])[n.

1] is the capital and most-populous city

of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million[8] inhabitants and a metropolitan area
population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the
European Union (EU), surpassed only by Berlin in its administrative limits, and its
monocentric metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, surpassed only by
Paris.[9][10][11] The municipality covers 604.3 km2 (233.3 sq mi) geographical
area.[12]

Madrid lies on the River Manzanares in the center of both the country and the
Community of Madrid region, of which it is also the capital. As the capital city of
Spain, seat of government, residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the
political, economic and cultural centre of the country.[13] The mayor is José Luis
Martínez-Almeida from the People's Party.

The Madrid urban agglomeration has the third-largest GDP[14] in the European Union
and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, environment, media,
fashion, science, culture, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the
world's major global cities.[15][16] Madrid is home to two world-famous football
clubs, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. Due to its economic output, high standard
of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial centre[17] and
the leading economic hub of the Iberian Peninsula and of Southern Europe.[18][19]
It hosts the head offices of the vast majority of major Spanish companies, such as
Telefónica, IAG or Repsol. Madrid is also the 8th most liveable city in the world
according to Monocle magazine, in its 2019 index.[20]

Madrid houses the headquarters of the UN's World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the
Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the Organization of Ibero-American
States (OEI), and the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB). It also hosts major
international regulators and promoters of the Spanish language: the Standing
Committee of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, headquarters of the
Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), the Instituto Cervantes and the Foundation of Urgent
Spanish (Fundéu BBVA). Madrid organises fairs such as FITUR,[21] ARCO,[22] SIMO
TCI[23] and the Madrid Fashion Week.[24]

While Madrid possesses modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of
many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the Plaza
Mayor, the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera
House; the Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631; the 19th-century National Library
building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's historical archives; many
national museums,[25] and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del
Prado and comprising three art museums: Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, a
museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which complements the
holdings of the other two museums.[26] Cibeles Palace and Fountain has become one
of the monument symbols of the city.[27][28]