Description:
Although founded in the ninth century, Madrid didn’t become Spain’s capital city until 1560. The Madrileños – those who live in Madrid – come from all over Spain and the rest of the world. Spanish is, of course, the dominant language, but most people dealing with visitors speak English. The main difference is “time". Lunch, for example, is seldom before 2 p.m., and dinner at 10 p.m. or later is commonplace. Hungry in between? Stop in a bar and sample some tapas! Many stores still are closed in the afternoons, although most offices in Madrid no longer close for siesta. Plaza Mayor, constructed during the Hapsburg era, was the hub of an empire circling the globe in the 16th and 17th centuries, and it remains a popular gathering spot. Not far away is the Royal Palace – a place for formal meetings rather than the residence of the king. Built in the mid 1700s, the neoclassical structure is open for public tours when not being used for state functions. Time for just one stop? Make it the Prado and check out works by some famous Spanish painters, such as Goya and Velázquez.