Madrid

Villa de Madrid
Villa de Madrid
	Puerta de Alcalá at night, at bottom El Retiro gardens.
	Flag of Villa de Madrid Flag Coat of arms
	Motto: De Madrid al Cielo (From Madrid to Heaven)
	Location
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid
Province	Madrid
Administrative Divisions	21
Neighborhoods	127
Founded	9th century
Government
• Mayor	Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón (PP)
Population (2005)
• City	3,228,359
• Metro	5,561,748
	population-ranking: 1st
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	28001-28080
Area code	34 (Spain) + 91 (Madrid)
Website	http://www.munimadrid.es/

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It is also the third most populous city (within city limits) in the European Union after London and Berlin, and the third most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris and London. Its economic and political importance, as well as its major cultural influence, rank Madrid as one of the major global cities of the world. The city is located on the river Manzanares in the center of the country, between the autonomous communities of Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha. Due to its economic output, standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered one of the major financial centers of the Iberian Peninsula, together with Barcelona and Lisbon. As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political center of Spain.^[1]

As the capital of Spain, Madrid is a city of great cultural and political importance. While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighborhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the huge Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real (Royal theatre) with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro park, founded in 1631; the imposing 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's historical archives; an archaeological museum of international reputation; and three superb art museums: Prado Museum, which hosts one of the finest art collections in the world, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace.^[2]

The population of the city was 3.5 million (December 2005), while the estimated urban area population was 5.5 million. The entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area (urban area and suburbs) is calculated to be 5.84 million. The city spans a total of 607 square kilometres (234 sq mi).^[3]

Following the restoration of democracy in 1975 and Spain's integration into the European Union, Madrid has played an increasing role in European finances, marking the city as one of the most important European metropolises. The residents of Madrid are called Madrileños, and the current mayor is Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, of the conservative Partido Popular.

Names of the city and origin of the current name

There are several theories regarding the origin of the name, "Madrid". Madrid was founded by Ocno Bianor (son of King Tirenio of Tuscany and Mantua) and was named "Metragirta" or "Mantua Carpetana". Others contend that the original name of the city was "Ursa" ("bear" in Latin), due to the high number of these animals that were found in the adjacent forests, which, together with the Madrone tree ("madroño" in Spanish), have been the emblem of the city from the Middle Ages. Nevertherless, it is now commonly believed that the origin of the current name of the city comes from the 2nd Century B.C., when the Roman Empire established a settlement on the banks of Manzanares river. The name of this first village was "Matrice" (a reference to the river that crossed the settlement). Following the invasions of the Sueves, Vandals and Alans during the fifth Century A.D., the Roman Empire could not defend its territories on the Iberian Peninsula, and were therefore overrun by the Visigoths. The barbarian tribes subsequently took control of "Matrice". In the 7th Century the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula saw the name changed to "Mayrit", from the Arabic term "Mayra" (referencing water as a "mother" or "source of life") and the Ibero-Roman suffix "it" that means "place". The modern "Madrid" evolved from the Mozarabic "Matrit", which is still in the Madrilenian gentilic.^[4]

History

Middle Ages

Although the site of modern-day Madrid has been occupied since pre-historic times, in the Roman age this territory belonged to the diocese of Complutum (present-day Alcalá de Henares). But the first historical data on the city comes from the 9th century, when Muhammad I ordered the construction of a small palace in the same place that is today occupied by the Palacio Real. Around this palace a small citadel, al-Mudaina, was built.

Near that palace was the Manzanares, which the Muslims called

al-Majrīṭ (Arabic: المجريط, "source of water"). From this came the naming of the site as Majerit, which was later rendered to the modern-day spelling of Madrid). The citadel was conquered in 1085 by Alfonso VI of Castile in his advance towards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque as the church of the Virgin of Almudena (almudin, the garrison's granary). In 1329, the Cortes Generales first assembled in the city to advise Ferdinand IV of Castile. Sephardi Jews and Moors continued to live in the city until they were expelled at the end of the 15th century. After troubles and a large fire, Henry III of Castile (1379–1406) rebuilt the city and established himself safely fortified outside its walls in El Pardo. The grand entry of Ferdinand and Isabella to Madrid heralded the end of strife between Castile and Aragon.

Renaissance

Puerta de Alcalá, outside el Parque del Buen Retiro, was the gate used by merchants to enter the city to sell their goods at Sunday market.

The Kingdom of Castile, with its capital at Toledo, and the Crown of Aragon, with its capital at Zaragoza, were welded into modern Spain by the Catholic Monarchs (Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon). Though their grandson Charles I of Spain (also known as Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor favored Madrid, it was Charles´ son, Philip II (1527–1598) who moved the court to Madrid in 1561. Although he made no official declaration, the seat of the court was the de facto capital. Sevilla continued to control commerce with Spain's colonies, but Madrid controlled Sevilla. Aside from a brief period, 1601-1606, when Felipe III installed his court in Valladolid, Madrid's fortunes have closely mirrored those of Spain. During the Siglo de Oro (Golden Century), in the 16th/17th century, Madrid had no resemblance with other European capitals: the population of the city was economically dependent on the business of the court itself.

End of Renaissance and early modern Madrid

Felipe V, Spain's first Bourbon King and, therefore, French, decided that a European capital could not stay in such a state, and new palaces (including the Palacio Real de Madrid) were built during his reign. However, it would not be until Carlos III (1716–1788) that Madrid would become a modern city. Carlos III was one of the most popular and benevolent Kings in the history of Madrid. He was popularly known at the time (and henceforth) as Madrid's best mayor. When Carlos IV (1748–1819) became King of Spain, the people of Madrid revolted. After the Mutiny of Aranjuez, which was led by his own son Fernando VII against him, Carlos IV resigned, but Fernando VII's reign would be short: in May 1808 Napoleon's troops entered the city. On May 2, 1808 (Spanish: Dos de Mayo) the Madrileños revolted against the invading French army, whose brute reaction would have a lasting impact on French rule in Spain and France's image in Europe in general.

After the war of independence (1814) Fernando VII came back to the throne, but soon after, a liberal military revolution, Colonel Riego made the King swear allegiance to Spain's new (and first) Constitution. This would start a period where liberal and conservative governments alternated in power, that would end with the enthronement of Isabel II (1830–1904).

The 20th century in Madrid

Isabel II could not suppress the political tension that would lead to yet another revolt, the First Spanish Republic, and the return of the monarchy, which eventually led to the Second Spanish Republic and the Spanish Civil War. During this war (1936–1939) Madrid was one of the most affected cities of Spain and its streets became battlegrounds. Madrid was a stronghold of the Republicans from July 1936. Its western suburbs were the scene of an all-out battle in November 1936. It was during the Civil War that Madrid became the first city to be bombed by airplanes specifically targeting civilians in the history of warfare. (See Siege of Madrid (1936-39)).

During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, especially during the 1960s, the south of Madrid became very industrialized and there were massive migrations from rural environments into the city. Madrid's south-eastern periphery became an extensive slum settlement, which was the base for an active cultural and political reform.

After the death of Franco, emerging democratic parties (including those of left-wing and republican ideology) accepted Franco's wishes of being succeeded by Juan Carlos I - in order to secure stability and democracy - which led Spain to its current position as constitutional monarchy.

Befitting from the prosperity it gained in the 1980s, the capital city of Spain has consolidated its position as the leading economic, cultural, industrial, educational, and technological center on the Iberian peninsula.

21st century

On 11 March 2004, Madrid was hit by a terrorist attack when terrorists placed a series of bombs on multiple trains during the rush hour, three days before the 14 March 2004 elections. This was the worst massacre in Spain since the end of the civil war in 1939. Madrid suffered another terrorist attack, on the part of ETA, 30 December 2006. An explosion took place in the building attached to Terminal 4 of Madrid Barajas International Airport.

See 2006 Madrid Barajas International Airport bombing

Europride 2007 (July 1) will be hosted by Madrid, Spain.

Madrid has also expressed its desire to become an Olympic city, and became a candidate for the 2012 games, which were awarded to London after Madrid was eliminated in the third round of the ballot. However, the mayor of the city has already stated that Madrid's Olympic dream did not end at Singapore, as the city will again present itself as a candidate to host the 2016 Olympic games.^[5]

Geography

Despite the existence of a great city of 5 million people, the Community of Madrid still retains some remarkably unspolit and diverse habitats and landscapes. Madrid is home to mountain peaks rising above 2,000m, holm oak dehesas and low lying plains. The slopes of Guadarrama are cloaked in dense forests of Scot`s pine and Pyrenean oak. The Lozoya Valley supports a large black (monk) vulture colony, and one of the last bastions of the Spanish Imperial Eagle in the world is found in the Park Regional del Suroeste in dehesa hills between the Gredos and Guadarrama ranges. The recent possible detection of the existence of Iberian lynx in the area between the Cofio and Alberche rivers is testament to the biodiversity of the area. However, much of this is currently under threat as the Spanish capital continues to sprawl every outwards and upwards into the Sierra, fueled by speculation, yuppie dreams of Anglo-American lifestyles in detached homes and the policies of the regional government.

When looking at a map of the Province of Madrid, it can be seen that it is almost an equilateral triangle, in whose center would be the city. It seems that Madrid's geographic limits turn out to be those of nature: on the western side the "Sistema Central" (the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains), the south represents the desire to include (the Royal Site of) Aranjuez and finally the eastern edge of the triangle comes from the rupture of the fluvial river basins.

Province of Madrid occupies a surface area of approximately 8,028 km2 (1.6% of all Spanish territory). Being more specific the exact position of Spain is 40º 24´30´´ of longitude west of Greenwich, England.

Practically all of the Province is located between 600 and 1,000m above sea level, with the highest point being Peñalara at 2,430m and the lowest Alberche river in Villa del Prado at 430m. Other considerable heights, as well as being famous, are the Ball of the World mountain (la Bola del Mundo), in Navacerrada, at a height of 2,258m and the seven peaks, in Cercedilla, at 2,138m.

Economy and demographics

Economy from Middle Ages to 20th century

In the Middle Ages, the village experienced a big development as a consequence of the establishment of the new capital of the Spanish Empire in Madrid. The administrative functions that it held since then, as well as the centralist character of the government found by the house of Bourbon ("Casa de Borbón" in Spanish) triggered the development of the artisan activity, that turned into industrial since the middle of the 19th century, having its major expansion during the 20th century, especially after the Spanish Civil War, but never reaching European levels of industrialization. The economy of the city was then centered on diverse sectors such as those related to motor vehicles, aircraft, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, processed food, printed materials, and leather goods. Besides its many manufacturing industries.^[6]

Economy from 1992 to 2006

Despite of the tendency of moving the production centers to industrial parks located in the outskirts of the metropolitan area, the city of Madrid remains as the second most important industrial center in the country, only exceeded by Barcelona. During this period, Madrid experienced a very significant growth in its tertiary activities. In this sense, the importance of the Barajas Airport for the city's economy is remarkable, adding to the administrative and financial functions associated with being the capital of Spain. Construction (housing and public works such as the ring structure of roads and trains system) has constituted a major pillar of the economy up to 2006. Nevertheless, Madrid, like the rest of the country, is lagging behind the rest of Europe in the introduction of new technologies.^[7] In addition, inflation in Spain far above European average over this period has made Madrid and the rest of the country lose competitivity.

Nevertherless, regarding the city's Economic environment, it has also been stated that despite the growth of the economy of the country as a whole has been moderated compared to the last two quarters, the economy of the Autonomous Region of Madrid continued to grow in the second quarter of the year, above the rate for Spain as a whole, and for the EMU, reaching a year-on-year increase of 4.2%. The growth outlook for the city of Madrid points to a year-on-year increase of 4.0% in 2006^[8] which makes Madrid one of the most dynamic and thriving cities in the European Union.^[9]

Madrid is developing a new series of activities with a touristic, ludic and cultural character. The appointment of Madrid as European City of Culture in 1992 was a very important milestone in this process, encouraged both by public and private iniciatives.

Demographics

Evolution 1897 - 2005
Year	Total municipality	Total province	Percent (%)
1897	542,739	730,807	74.27
1900	575,675	773,011	74.47
1910	614,322	831,254	73.90
1920	823,711	1.048.908	78.53
1930	1,041,767	1,290,445	80.73
1940	1,322,835	1,574,134	84.04
1950	1,553,338	1,823,418	85.19
1960	2,177,123	2,510,217	86.73
1965	2,793,510	3,278,068	85.22
1970	3,120,941	3,761,348	82.97
1975	3,228,057	4,319,904	74.73
1981	3,158,818	4,686,895	67.40
1986	3,058,812	4,780,572	63.98
1991	3,010,492	4,647,555	64.78
1996	2,866,850	5,022,289	57.08
2001	2,938,723	5,423,384	54.19
2004	3,099,834	5,804,829	53.40
2005	3,155,359	5,964,143	52.90

The population of Madrid has experienced increase ever since the city became the national capital. This demographic boom was notorious in the 20th century due to domestic and international immigration. However, the city experienced a growth slump during the 1970s. This phenomenon, which also affected Barcelona, was caused mainly by the growth of satellite suburbs at the expense of the downtown.

A new immigration wave has allowed Madrid not only to recover its old numbers, but to reach new historical heights. According to census data, the population of the city grew by 271,856 between 2001 and 2005.

As the capital city of Spain, the city has attracted many immigrants from around the world. While less than 85% of the inhabitants are Spaniards of different backgrounds and ethnicities (almost 90% of the native Spaniards are caucasians), there are many recent immigrants who come from Latin America, Europe, Asia, North Africa and West Africa.

The largest immigrant groups include: Ecuadorian: 83,967, Moroccan: 51,300, Chinese: 48,973, Colombian: 37,218 and Peruvian: 32,791. There are also important communities of Guinean, Romanian and Filipino people.

Names

The natives of the city are called Madrileños; they were once nicknamed gatos (cats), although nowadays the vast majority of Spaniards would not recognize the term. Its origin possibly comes from the popular legend that the conquest of the city by Alfonso VI was achieved by the assault of the walls that protected the city. Apparently the Castilian troops climbed the defense walls as if they were cats. Another possible source of the name is the fact that the residents were known during the Middle Ages for their ability to climb walls with their bare hands.^[10]

Climate

The region of Madrid has a temperate Mediterranean climate with cold winters that experience temperatures lower than 0 °C (32 °F). Summer tends to be warm with temperatures that consistently surpass 30 °C (86 °F) in July and that can often reach 40 °C (104 °F). Due to Madrid's high altitude and dry climate, nightly temperatures tend to be cooler, leading to a lower average in the summer months. Precipitation levels are low, but precipitation can be observed all throughout the year. Summer and winter are the driest seasons, with most rainfall occurring in the autumn and spring.

Parque del Retiro Observatory
1971-2000	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Maximum temperature (ºC)	9.7	12.0	15.7	17.5	21.4	26.9	31.2	30.7	26.0	19.0	13.4	10.1	19.4
Minimum temperature (ºC)	2.6	3.7	5.6	7.2	10.7	15.1	18.4	18.2	15.0	10.2	6.0	3.8	9.7
Rainfall (mm)	37	35	26	47	52	25	15	10	28	49	56	56	436

Administrative divisions

Main Article: Madrid (Administrative Divisions)

Contemporary Madrid came into its own after the death of general Francisco Franco. Years of the Franco regime left Madrid and much of the country in economic shambles due to isolation. With his death, Madrid, and Spain as a whole, began to reassert itself on the international stage. Within Spain, reaction against the dictatorial bureaucracy centered in Madrid and a history of centralism that predated Franco by centuries has resulted in the successful modern movement towards increased autonomy for the regions of Spain, considered as autonomous regions, under the umbrella of Spain.

Modern Madrid ranks as one of the most important cities in Europe. Madrid is a leading southern European city and the most important link between the European Union and Latin America.

The modern metropolis is home to over three million people. As expected with any major European capital city, each district (or barrio in Spanish) has its own feel.

Culture

Madrid is one of Spain's most popular destinations, and it's well known for the quantity of cultural related attractions and monuments that the city has embraced.

Galleries

Endowed by the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and composed by 3 museums, Madrid is considered one of the top European destinations concerning art museums. The most famous one is the Prado Museum, the most popular Golden Triangle of Art member known for such highlights as Diego Velázquez's Las Meninas and Francisco de Goya's La Maja Vestida and La Maja Desnuda. The other two museums are the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, established from a mixed private collection, and the Reina Sofia Museum, where Pablo Picasso's Guernica hangs since being returned to Spain from New York more than two decades ago.

Museums

Art and literature study centers

Casa Encendida
Escuela de Escritores.
Escuela de Letras.
Escuela Contemporánea de Humanidades.
Hotel Kafka.
I|Art.
TAI, Escuela de Artes y Espectáculos.
Talleres de escritura creativa y Ediciones Fuentetaja.

Classical Music and Opera

The Spanish National Orchestra performs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Auditorio Nacional de Musica.
The RTVE Symphony Orchestra performs on Thursdays and Fridays at the Teatro Monumental.
Teatro Real is the main Opera House.
Teatro de la Zarzuela is devoted mainly to Zarzuela and Operetta.
Other Orchestras and ensembles in Madrid: Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid, Orquesta Sinfonica de la Comunidad de Madrid, Orquesta de Camara Reina Sofia.

City attractions

File:Madrid Debod.jpg

Egyptian temple of Debod in Parque del Oeste, Madrid

File:Bernabeu stadium. Madrid.jpg

Bernabeu Stadium

Plaza Mayor
Gran Via
Casón del Buen Retiro
Palacio Real
Templo de Debod
El Rastro
Puerta del Sol
Parque del Buen Retiro
Torre España
Faro de Moncloa
Puerta de Europa
Puerta de Alcalá
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Estadio Vicente Calderón
Parque de Atracciones de Madrid
Plaza de Cibeles
Palacio De Liria
Teatro Real
Auditorio Nacional de Musica
Teatro Monumental
Teatro de la Zarzuela
Centro Cultural de la Villa
Teatro de la Abadía
Círculo de Bellas Artes
Teatro Español
Teatro de la Comedia
Cafe Central (Madrid's top Jazz venue.)

Other nearby towns are popular as day trips from Madrid, including Toledo, Segovia, Ávila, Aranjuez, Alcalá de Henares, the monastery and palace complex of El Escorial, the former summer home of the royal family at Aranjuez, El Atazar Dam, and Chinchón.

Nightlife

File:Oso madroño madrid.jpg

Madrid's emblem: el oso y el madroño, a favorite meeting place at Puerta del Sol

Madrid is also noted for its nightlife and night clubs. On weekends, Madrilenian youth are famous for dancing all night long, stopping off only for having some chocolate y churros at dawn, go home, take a shower, shave, and go to work. It is also popular the practice of meeting in parks or streets with friends and drinking alcohol together (that is called 'botellón', from 'botella', bottle), but from a few years back drinking in the street is sanctioned with a fine and now young madrileños drink together all around the city instead of in some well known places. Many places host bands (concerts in Madrid [1]). Nightlife and young cultural awakening flourished after the death of Franco, especially during the 80s while Madrid's mayor Enrique Tierno Galván was in office. This fresh movement was called la movida and it initially gathered around Plaza del Dos de Mayo (Malasaña area). Some of the most popular night destinations include the neighbourhoods of: Bilbao, Tribunal, Alonso Martinez or Moncloa, apart from Puerta del Sol area (including Opera and Gran Via, both adjacent to the popular square) and Huertas (barrio de Las Letras), destinations which are also filled with tourists day and night. The gay district of Chueca has also become a hot spot in the Madrilenian night life, not only for gay people but also for straights looking for fun in their crowded clubs and popular discos.

Bullfighting

Madrid hosts the largest Plaza de Toros (bullfighting ring) in Spain, Las Ventas, inaugurated in 1931, and where bullfighting seasons are considered the most important in the world. It has the capacity for an audience of almost 25,000. Madrid's bullfighting season begins in March and ends in October. There are bullfights everyday during the festivities of San Isidro (Madrid's patron saint) from the middle of March to the middle of June, and every Sunday or holiday the rest of the season. The style of the plaza is Neomudéjar. Nowadays, it also hosts music concerts and other events outside of the bullfighting season.^[11]

Sports

Club	Sport	League	Venue
Real Madrid	Football	La Liga	Santiago Bernabéu
Atlético Madrid	Football	La Liga	Vicente Calderón
Rayo Vallecano	Football	Segunda B	Teresa Rivero
Real Madrid	Basketball	ACB league	Palacio Vistalegre
MMT Estudiantes	Basketball	ACB league	Madrid Arena

Madrid is home to Real Madrid, the world's most successful football club in the 20th Century (according to FIFA),^{[citation needed]} which plays in the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Its hometown rival, Atlético Madrid, is also well supported in the city, and its supporters are called los sufridores, the sufferers. The players are referred to as colchoneros, mattresses, in reference to the teams red & white jerseys having been determined by mattress material being the cheapest at the time of the clubs formation. Madrid's contribution to the sport is further noticed by the fact that it hosted the 1982 FIFA World Cup final.

The city is also host to two basketball teams in the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB league), and the Circuito Permanente Del Jarama, a motorsport race circuit which formerly hosted the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix.

Historically the city serves as the last stage of the Vuelta a España cyclist classic in the same way as Paris does in the Tour de France.

Skiing is possible in the nearby mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama, where the ski resorts of Valdesqui and Navacerrada are located.

Local festivities

May 15, San Isidro Labrador (Madrid's patron saint).
June 13, San Antonio de la Florida.
July 16-25, Virgen del Carmen festivities (Patron saint of the sea).
August 6-15, Virgen de la Paloma festivities (Madrid's patron saint)
August 7, San Cayetano (Cascorro neighbourhood's patron saint).
August 10, San Lorenzo (Lavapiés neighbourhood's patron saint).
November 9, Virgen de la Almudena festivities (Madrid's patron saint).

Universities

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

The Complutense University of Madrid is the most prestigious, and largest, public university in Spain and one of the oldest universities in the world. It has 10,000 staff members and a student population of 117,000. It is located on two campuses, in the university quarter Ciudad Universitaria at Moncloa in Madrid, and in Somosaguas.^[12]

The Complutense University of Madrid was founded in Alcala de Henares, old Complutum, by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499. Nevertherless, its real origin dates back from 1293, when King Sancho IV of Castille builds the General Schools of Alcalá, which would give rise to Cisnero's Complutense University. During the course of 1509-1510 five schools were already operative: Artes y Filosofía (Arts & Philosophy), Teología (Theology), Derecho Canónico (Canonical Laws), Letras (Liberal Arts) and Medicina (Medicine). In 1836, during the reign of Isabel II, the University was moved to Madrid, where it took the name of Central University and is located at San Bernardo Street. Subsequently, in 1927, a new university area was planned to be built in the district of Moncloa-Aravaca, in lands handed over by the King Alfonso XIII to this end. The Spanish Civil War turned the "Ciudad Universitaria" into a war zone, causing the destruction of several schools in the area, as well as the loss of part of its rich scientific, artistic and bibliographic heritage. In 1970 the Government reformed the High Education, and the Central University become the Complutense University of Madrid. It is then when the new campus at Somosaguas is created in order to house the new School of Social Sciences. The old Alcala campus was reopened as an independent University (University of Alcalá in 1977).^[13]

Universidad Autonoma de Madrid

The Autonoma, perhaps Spain's best university for research along with Complutense, was instituted under the leadership of the famous physicist, Nicolás Cabrera. The Autonoma is widely recognised for its research strengths in theoretical physics. Known simply as la Autónoma in Madrid, its main site is the Cantoblanco Campus, situated 15 kilometers to the north of the capital (M-607) and close to the municipal areas of Madrid, namely Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo. Located on the main site are the Rectorate building and the Faculties of Science, Philosophy and Fine Arts, Law, Economic Science and Business Studies, Psychology, Higher School of Computing Science and Engineering, and the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education. The Medical School is sited outside the main site and beside the Hospital Universitario La Paz.^[14]

Other universities

Public universities

Private universities

Various

Transportation

Motorways

The principal motorways of Madrid have a radial route. The most important are the well-known National ones:

Road	Route
A-1	Madrid-Aranda de Duero-Burgos-Miranda de Ebro-Vitoria-San Sebastián-Irún-France
A-2	Madrid-Zaragoza-Lleida-Barcelona-Girona-France
A-3	Madrid-Valencia
A-4	Madrid-Córdoba-Sevilla-Cádiz
A-5	Madrid-Talavera-Navalmoral-Trujillo-Mérida-Badajoz-Lisbon
A-6	Madrid-Medina del Campo-Benavente-Ponferrada-Lugo-A Coruña
A-42	Madrid-Toledo

These free motorways operate in parallel to the 'radiales' R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 which are toll motorways built to decongest traffic in the free ones.

Moreover, Madrid also has a series of ring roads:

Ring road	Route	Satellite
M-30	Delimits the central core and is currently being buried	M-30/Alcalá St. junction
M-40	Surrounds the residential neighbourhoods of the city	M-40/A-3 junction
M-45	Goes round the southeastern part of the city	M-45/A-4 junction
M-50	Surrounds the metropolitan area	M-50/R-5 junction
M-60	A planned new ring road of about 170 km long

Air

File:Barajas interior5.JPG

Barajas Airport

Madrid is served by Barajas International Airport. Barajas is the main hub of Iberia Airlines. It consequently serves as the main gateway to the Iberian peninsula from Europe, America and the rest of the world. Current passenger volumes range upwards of 40 million passengers per year, putting it in the top 20 busiest airports in the world. Given annual increases of 10%, a new fourth terminal has been constructed. The new Terminal 4 is the biggest European airport terminal. It has significantly reduced delays and doubled the capacity of the airport to more than 70 million passengers per year. Two additional runways have also been constructed, making Barajas a fully operational four-runway airport.

Passengers need to add an extra half-hour to the normal check-in time as it takes a long time to walk from the check-in desk to the gate.

National Rail

Spain's railway system, the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles (Renfe) operates the vast majority of Spain's railways. In Madrid, the main rail terminals are Atocha in the south and Chamartín in the north.

The crown jewel of Spain's next decade of infrastructure construction is the Spanish high speed rail network, Alta Velocidad Española AVE. Currently, an ambitious plan includes the construction of a 7,000 kilometre (4,350 mi) network, centered on Madrid. The overall goal is to have all important provincial cities be no more than 4 hours away from Madrid, and no more than 6 hours away from Barcelona. As of 2005, AVE high-speed trains link Atocha station to Seville (to be extended to Málaga in 2007) and Toledo in the south and to Zaragoza and Tarragona in the east (to be extended to Barcelona at the end of 2007).

Metro

Serving the city's population of some six million, the Madrid Metro is one of the most extensive and fastest-growing metro networks in the world.^[15] With the addition of a loop serving suburbs to Madrid's south-west "Metrosur", it is now the second largest metro system in Western Europe, second only to London's Underground. In May 2007, Madrid's metro system will be expanded and it will have more than 280 kilometres (175 mi). The province of Madrid is also served by an extensive commuter rail network called Cercanías.