Area: 8022 km²
Population: 5.43 million
Capital: Madrid
The Autonomous Region of Madrid has a number of attractions, the stand-out
being the city of Madrid itself, one of the great capitals of Europe, and a
major art centre. The Prado Museum, one of the world’s great painting
collections, as well as the Reina Sofía National Art Centre and the
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum—lined up one after another on the same street, Paseo
del Prado—form an exceptional art complex. The city also boasts a vibrant
nightlife, and a wide variety of restaurants.
The region also includes other major tourist destinations, including Alcalá de
Henares, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This splendid example of
Spanish Golden Age architecture includes a prestigious university founded in
1499 and the house where Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, was born. In the
south of the region we find Aranjuez, formerly a vacation residence for Spanish
monarchs and the court. The Royal Palace, built in 1561, along with its
beautiful gardens and the nearby Old Town, were all placed on the UNESCO World
Heritage List in 2001.
For more information:
Madrid tourism website