The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
Spain:
Madrid
The intense smells of Madrid--from funky cheddar to rosy champagne--arrest the first-time visitor. With its hectic streets and gritty atmosphere, it's not an especially beautiful or charming city by European standards, nor does it have a particularly compelling history. Felipe IV created this city in 1561, planting the new Spanish capital dead in the center of Spain, high on a dry plateau, to help him consolidate and increase his power over the country. Obviously, strategic and political considerations won out over romantic and aesthetic ones.
Madrid's centrality and political importance, though, mean that today it is the focus of Spain's political, economic, and cultural energies. Madrid has some of the greatest art museums in the world and a constant program of cultural events. But as those who have taken the time to appreciate Madrid will tell you, the real spirit of the city lies in the lifestyle of its people and the passion with which they pursue the pleasurable. In Madrid you can drink in more bars, dance in more clubs, and stay out later than you may have thought possible. Forget about grand squares, beautiful buildings, and impressive monuments--this may be the only town in the entire country where you won't feel obligated to visit a single church. Sure, Madrid has them, but if you dive into the lifestyle here, you probably won't be awake to see them by day, or be bothered to see them at all. Chances are, though, you won't feel like you've missed a thing.
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