Why we love Madrid

Aaaah Madrid! Sunshine, blue skies, world-class art, historic architecture, flamenco, tapas, lush green parks, breathtaking mountain scenery and enough culture and entertainment to keep even the most demanding visitor happy, Spain’s intoxicating capital has it all. What is Madrid made of?

Ok, we may be slightly biased – Madrid is our home town after all – but this vibrant city is chock-a-block with sights, sounds, activities and entertainment, and sometimes we just want to shout from the rooftops about how much we love this great city!

Art

Madrid is justly famous for its “Big Three” art musuems. The Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen are all found on the wide Paseo de Prado, and the sheer number of masterpieces within their walls means Madrid is an absolute must-see for art lovers. You can rush round and do all three in one day, but personally we prefer a more “leisurely” art experience, with plenty of cafe con leche stops along the way!

Culture and Entertainment

Theatre, dance, intimate gigs, massive festivals, bars and clubs to suit all tastes, and enough Spanish fiesta celebrations to see you through every month of the year, Madrid has it all. At Spain Select we love to check out what’s happening every week by taking a look at  www.esmadrid.com where you can find the latest on all the events, shows and gigs happening in the capital.

Dining

As Spain’s capital city, Madrid is a melting pot of Spanish cuisine. You can sample delectable Basque pintxos during a Sunday tapeo in La Latina, sample Galicia’s famous seafood, or stuff yourself with the traditional and hearty Castilian cocidos without walking more than a few blocks from your apartment. The international cuisine is great here too, with Indian and Asian food in Lavapies, and great Italian, Mexican and fusion restaurants scattered throughout the city. You never need worry about going hungry in Madrid!

Nature

Even though Madrid is a bustling capital city, it is also surprisingly green and has many different parks and green areas. The Parque del Buen Retiro is one of the most famous, whilst the Campo Del Moro behind the Royal Palace and Casa de Campo to the south of the river offer inner-city park alternatives for those willing to venture a little further. The transport connections out of the city to the surrounding countryside and Sierra de Madrid are cheap and reliable, and offer a great opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the city at weekends.

These are only some of the many reasons we love living in Madrid, and for those of you who have spent some time here already, we would love to know what are your favourite things to do in this most vibrant of Spanish cities. Madrid – why do you love it?