Madrid

Madrid  is the capital and most populous city of Spain ; it is the second most populous municipality in the European Union, after Berlin , and its metropolitan area is the sixth most populous in Europe after Moscow , Istanbul , London , the Ruhr and Paris ; the population of the metropolitan area (urban agglomeration and metropolitan suburbs) is in fact calculated at 7.5 million.

In addition to being the capital of the Country, it is also the seat of the government and residence of the Spanish monarch , and is the political center of Spain; the conurbation of Madrid is the fourth with the largest GDP in the European Union and its influence in politics, education, science and the arts contributes to its status as one of the major global cities in the world; thanks to its economic performance, the high standard of living and the size of its market, Madrid is considered the largest financial center in Southern Europe; it hosts the management of the great majority of the most important Spanish companies; it is the most visited city in Spain, the fourth most touristic on the continent; and is the 10th most liveable city in the world, according to the magazine Monocle , in its 2010 index; in addition, it was ranked among the 12 greenest European cities in 2010.

Despite having modern infrastructures, it has preserved almost unchanged the original appearance of many streets and many historic districts. In its cultural heritage we find the Royal Palace of Madrid , the Retiro park , the National Library of Spain and three important museums: the Prado Museum , the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.