More tourist cities - Madrid-Spain

Madrid, also known as Magritte, is the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Spain with a population of 3.2 million (January 2011), with a population of 6.54 million.

The city is 607 square kilometers (234 square miles).

The city lies on the banks of the Manzanares River in the center of Spain, Madrid is the fourth largest city of the European Union after Paris, London and Berlin. It has the headquarters of the Spanish government, the royal family, the most important companies of the country, 6 government universities and many higher institutes.

Madrid is one of Europe's most important cities strategically, culturally and economically.

It is the fourth largest city in terms of the number of tourists in Europe and the first in Spain and the total number of tourists hosted by the city of about seven million tourists in 2006.

The headquarters of the World Tourism Organization and the Tourism Fair (FITUR).

The city also houses the Museo del Prado, the Real Madrid club, the Atletico Madrid football club, the government headquarters, the Spanish parliament, the ministries, institutions and agencies, and the official residence of the kings of Spain.

 And city mayor Anna Potia of the center-right party People's Party in office in 2011.

Due to the economic output, the standard of living and the market size, Madrid is a major financial center on the Iberian Peninsula and the headquarters of the vast majority of the largest Spanish companies. Madrid is the headquarters of some of the world's top 100 companies (Telefonica, Repsol - YPF, Andesa).

Madrid has a modern infrastructure and has maintained the look and feel of many historic neighborhoods and streets.

Madrid's monumental landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Teatro Real Madrid (the Royal Theater), 1850 the Opera House, the Bowen Retiro Park - founded in 1631 - and the National Library - founded in 1712 - with a collection of historical archives in Spain.

And three art museums: the Prado Museum, which houses one of the most beautiful collections of art in the world, the National Museum of Commerce, the Queen Sofia Center, the Museum of Modern Art - Madrid, and the Taissen-Bournemisa Museum.

Madrid is located in the heart of Spain in the historic region of Castile and the Sierra de Guadarama mountain range is located in the north-west of the city. The Sierra de Guadarama Mountains rise to 2.429 meters above sea level at the top of Pinalara.

From the east is Wadi Enares, which has road and rail links linking Madrid with Zaragoza and Barcelona.

About 50 km south of Madrid is the ancient capital of Castile and the mother city of Madrid, the city of Toledo.

 Spain

The total population is 3.265.038 inhabitants