Guide to Madrid [antikvár]

Aerial view of the Plaza Mayor; in the background, the Palacio Real and the Royal Theatre. THE VISIT TO MADRID Strategically located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, the city of Madrid lies 650 metres above sea level on a series of hills and gullies that form the Manzanares River Basin. The mountains of the nearby Sierra de Guadarrama have a decisive influence over its climate, helping to make Madrid one of the healthiestcities in Europe, with pleas-anttemperatures in spring and autumn. The natural barrier of the Sierra also ensures that Madrid is one of the European capitals with the most sunshine days, enjoying around 200 days with clear skies (the famous Velazquez sky) every year. All this makes Madrid a delight for strolls, the climate combining with the splendid avenues, whilst the many gardens provide a pleasant respite from enjoying the city's outstanding cultural and monumental attractions. Nonetheless, the first impression of those arriving here is that everything is going too fast. We should not give in to this feeling, though, nor be dismayed by the terrible traffic, for behind the bustle and haste typical of an important political and economic centre is a city with a lively, cheerful population that loves not only taking to the streets and enjoying outdoor events of all kinds, but also delighting in the peace and quiet of the city's parks. This guide proposes 14 routes designed to give visitors a complete vision of Madrid and enable them to understand the city's development from medieval times to the present, with its many urban works. These routes are preceded by three chapters describing the city's his-