History of the City of Madrid

The first recorded data tells us that the Moors found the City of Madrid in a very good location, with abundant water supply from the Manzanares River. They build a fortress there, close to Toledo, as a strategic defense system, to protect their occupied territories from the Christian forces in the North. They also build a Palace. Some say that the name “Madrid” comes from an old Arab word, meaning “water streams”. Prior to the moor settlement, there were vestiges of earlier settlements by the Visigoths.

Re conquest of Madrid by the Christians

The Christians recovered Madrid along with the whole region around 1085, but it was not until 1561 that the Spanish King Philip II made it his capital and moved his whole court there. After becoming the capital, the city grew and became prosperous. Many monuments constructed by the earlier dynasties stand witness to the importance of Madrid. In 1764, they constructed the Royal Palace over the ruins of the old burned down Moorish fortress. Other buildings of the same era are the City Hall and the Plaza Mayor.

Political Changes through History

Madrid underwent many political changes during the XVII and XVIII centuries until modern times. Right from the Bourbon Monarchs, Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother’s short French rule of Spain, the first Spanish Republic, the Dictatorship of General Primo de Rivera, the Civil War to the coup d’état by General Francisco Franco and the crowning of King Juan Carlos I de Bourbon in the present day democracy. The city reflects all those changes in the remaining different buildings and monuments. The last century saw the construction of some heavily decorated concrete skyscrapers along the Gran Via and many more in Plaza de España.

Present day Modern city of Madrid

Paseo de la Castellana displays modern buildings and skyscrapers, like the Torres Kio. The city is busy, heavy trafficked, modern and business oriented, with banks, corporations and first class shops along its streets. The famous stadium Santiago Bernabeu, in Paseo de la Castellana, is home to the world famous football club known as Real Madrid CF.

Real Madrid CF

Considered by many as the best soccer team in the world, based not only in fan fervor, but also on its impressive statistics, the Real Madrid even has its own museum in the massive stadium Santiago Bernabeu, where you can take a tour and see the pictures and trophies of this soccer team.

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