Madrid — like most cities, has gone through its share of wars and occupations. The Romans settled in Madrid in the 2nd century, and by the 5th century, they were overthrown by the Visigoths — a Germanic tribe. In the 7th century, the city came under Islamic control, and by the 9th century, the modern city began to take shape under Muhammad I, who ordered the construction of a small palace — now known as the Palacio Real. Christians conquered the city in 1085 and turned the Muslim mosque into the Church of the Virgin of Almudena. In the 14th century, a fire destroyed much of Madrid, which was later rebuilt by Henry III of Castile.
The first major Spanish revolt occurred in the late 1800s, leading to the creation of the Second Spanish Republic. A dictatorship during the 1960s eventually gave way to the current constitutional monarchy, and Madrid was officially named the capital. The economic boom of the 1980s and 1990s elevated Madrid’s status as a leading industrial, cultural, economic, and technological hub in Europe.
Today, Madrid is divided into 21 districts, further subdivided into 128 barrios (wards). It’s also one of the greenest capitals in Europe, with an impressive tree population of over 500,000 — second only to Tokyo.
The city’s most popular park is Parque del Retiro, once part of a royal palace built for Felipe IV. The iconic Atocha Railway Station features a 4,000 m² indoor tropical garden, along with lively cafés and shops that attract both tourists and locals.
Madrid is also home to more than 73 museums, covering a vast spectrum of art, science, and culture. The world-renowned Prado Museum houses masterpieces by Velázquez and Goya, while the Reina Sofía Museum is famous for displaying Picasso’s Guernica, which was returned to Spain after over two decades in New York.
