Madrid , is a city that offers amazing architecture, world-class galleries, plenty of history, amazing food and an epic nightlife. Madrid is also full of museums, food markets and much more that will take your experience to another level. One of the best ways to get started is to understand the various facts about Madrid that make it unique…

Interesting facts about Madrid

1. Madrid became the capital of Spain in 1561 when King Phillip II decided to move his court to the city. Madrid has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times, but its first official inhabited record comes from the 9th century. During this time, there was a fortress on the Manzanares River bank by the rule of Cordoba, Muhammad I. Then, Spanish monarchs conquered the city two centuries later.
2. Madrid is one of the best cities for seafood lovers.  That is because it hosts the biggest seafood market in Europe and the 2nd largest worldwide

  3. It’s home to some of the best museums in the world.

Madrid is an art-lovers paradise, and many visitors flock to the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’: the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemiszia Museum and the Museo Reina Sofia. The Prado Museum is widely considered to have one of the best collections of European art in the world.

4. The city is home to one of the best football clubs in the world.

Football is a pretty much a national religion for madrileños and the city is home to one of the most successful clubs in the world: Real Madrid. It takes its name from the royal (‘real’) blessings bestowed on the club multiple times over the course of the 20^th century. 

5. A unique and beautiful place to visit in the city is the botanical garden housed inside an abandoned section of Atocha train station. Filled with lush tropical flowers and rare trees and plants, a trip here is one of the best things to do in Madrid for a moment of serenity during a busy commute..

6. The locals are known as cats because they are out all night.

The locals of Madrid are also known as Gatos (cats) because they stay up all night parting. Restaurants, clubs and bars are packed throughout the night, which is why it is the ideal place for party lovers. Most of these places are also open until the early morning hours. 

7. If there is one thing that the people of Madrid love, this is their afternoon nap. That is because the city can get hot in the afternoon and people prefer to rest at this time. So, you will find that most of the stores will be closed between 2 and 5 pm. 

8. If you are looking for the best spot to watch the sunset, then visit The Temple of Debod. It is an Egyptian Temple that dates back to the second century and it is in the middle of the city.

The waters by the temple glow in hues of beautiful orange, pink, yellow and other colors as the sun sets. 

9. It Is Home To The Oldest Restaurant Worldwide.

Restaurante Botin was founded in 1725 and it is the oldest restaurant in the world that is still in operation. Make sure that you visit this spot to indulge in some of the most delicious local Spanish food. 

10. All The Six Major Roads In Spain Start From Madrid.

It seems as if all the roads in Spain lead from Madrid to the Puerta del Sol. There is a small sign in this square that will show you six important roads branching off from the city. It is the starting point for these major roads.

11. The Royal Palace is huge.

There are 44 staircases, 240 balconies, 870 windows and 3,418 rooms.

It has 135,000 m² (1,450,000 square feet) of floor space, making it the biggest royal palace in Europe (by floor area).

The Throne Room is the most beautiful place in the Royal Palace and the largest room in the building.

On top of that, it was beautifully painted by Tiepolo and has remarkable mirrors and furnishing. What’s most mind-boggling about this room is that it has been preserved intact since King Charles III’s reign… which ended in 1788.

The Royal Palace of Madrid was built in the 18th century on the site of Alcazar fortress.

12.Madrid is ideal for students.

There are tons of students and for good reasons: it is one of the best spots in Europe for university education.

Many of its business schools and universities are reputed to be some of the most prestigious ones in the world. Some of them are University Charles III, IE Business School, and the University of Alcala, founded in 1409.