| Spain's capital, a city of over 3 million people, is | | | | that this part of Madrid became known as a moreria |
| situated close to the geographical centre of the | | | | otherwise known as an enclosed ghetto where |
| country. | | | | Muslims live. Memories of days gone by can still be |
| It is a wonderful city with highly fascinating people. | | | | found in some of the rich place names found |
| The paradox with Madrid is that quite often it is | | | | here.Nowadays as in most cases things have changed |
| viewed as being second to Barcelona in terms of | | | | and this part of Madrid becomes a party centre for |
| appeal. Given all that Barcelona has to offer and | | | | the madrilenos, the people of Madrid later on in the |
| despite all this to write off the Madrid completely | | | | day, every day. |
| misses the point and at the end of the day it is | | | | Don't let the slightly grubby appearance from time to |
| Madrid that is at the centre of both the road and rail | | | | time and the general down at heel atmosphere |
| networks in Spain. | | | | confuse you this is an international capital city with all |
| Yes the Catalans may praise Barcelona for the | | | | that that entails. Mention this to the madrilenos and all |
| creativity and elegance of the city but to regard to | | | | they will likely do is shrug, sigh and suggest that |
| Madrid is any less important purely because parts of | | | | there are more important things in life worth |
| it might need the old lick of paint is extremely | | | | bothering about?" |
| superficial. | | | | "Who is to say they are wrong? |
| Because of its distance from the sea and its altitude, | | | | North of the city you will find Masalena, a wonderful |
| the city in deal is cold winters and hot summers, | | | | cobble stoned area stretching from the city centre. |
| making spring and autumn the best times to visit. | | | | This is a fabulous part of Madrid once described as |
| Madrid's attractions include three internationally | | | | being like the girlfriend or boyfriend you couldn't bring |
| famous art galleries, a royal palace, grand public | | | | home to your mother. With graffiti, posters and |
| squares and many museums filled with the treasures | | | | street art on virtually every conceivable surface |
| of Spain's history. | | | | Malasana has an anarchic feel and atmosphere that |
| Madrid as you see is very much a combination and | | | | tells you "this is the place to be at the right time of |
| manifestation of its historical past. Now we have to | | | | day". |
| remember here that this was a major European city | | | | The trouble is as far as perennial party goers will tell |
| that for 400 years lay under the rule of North | | | | you, in this part of Madrid it is sometimes party time |
| African influence, namely that of the Moors. This is | | | | all of the day. |
| reflected in the area of La Latina. | | | | As in most capital cities that have this sort of history |
| La Latina is an area of Madrid quite often overlooked | | | | there is a lot more to Madrid that initially meets the |
| by the majority of tourists and visitors but it is home | | | | eye. Dig slightly deeper, look underneath the stones |
| to the Plaza la Paja which was Madrid's main square | | | | and beyond the flaking paint and you will embark |
| during medieval times. | | | | upon a love affair with a city that will last for many a |
| The decline of the Moorish influence in Spain meant | | | | year. |