Madrid, the only capital of Islamic origin in all of Europe

The great Spanish city founded by Mohammed I in the 9th century still looks askance at its Muslim past.

Its own history is hidden hidden in the toponymy of Madrid. Let's first go to its etymological origin: Majrit . An Arabic word. And now let's stop at the patron saint of the city: the Virgin of Almudena. Bingo. Another Arabic word. Almudena comes from almudaina , which is the diminutive of medina, which, in turn, means city. The Virgin of Almudena , therefore, is the Virgin of the “citadel”. That is, the small fortification that was built by the Umayyad State of Córdoba in the 9th century to face the Castilian incursions.

The origin of the capital of Spain is unequivocally Islamic. Not only for toponymic reasons, but also for the abundant documentary and archaeological evidence that supports this hypothesis. All Andalusian chroniclers credit its foundation by the Cordovan emir Mohammed I in the mid-9th century. From Ibn Hayyan to Al Razi, passing through Idrisi. And the only Christian source, written by Bishop Sampiro of León in the 11th century, cites the attack of Ramiro II of Asturias on Magerit , the city of the “Chaldeans.”

1. Puerta del Sol and Km 0

Without looking for confrontations, La Puerta del Sol personally does not seem to us to be the most beautiful place in Madrid. So why does it top this list? For a simple reason: this central square is an unmistakable symbol of the capital and its beating heart. Here you will find the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree and the Km 0 plaque , from which the distances to all points in Spain are measured. Furthermore, it is always full of life and sometimes strange things happen .

2. Plaza Mayor, the heart of the capital

The one that does seem pretty, beautiful and charming to us is the Plaza Mayor , a porticoed square of about 120 meters, 277 balconies, 10 different entrance doors and with a good handful of curiosities behind it.

The Plaza Mayor, as we know it today, was born at the end of the 16th century, when Philip II moved the Court to the capital and ordered its construction. It was built on a previous square (Plaza del Arrabal) where a popular market of the time took place. The work finished in 1617, under the mandate of Philip III.

3. Gran Vía, the main artery of Madrid

Gran Vía, which begins at Plaza de España and ends at Calle de Alcalá, is Madrid's main artery , and another of the emblematic places to visit in Madrid. Although it is barely 1.3 km long, with its authentic shops, theaters and cinemas, its beautiful buildings and its countless stories, it has earned the title of "most famous street in Spain." It is a little piece of the past, present and future of Madrid, which you should visit no matter what. And know too. Because beyond its name, few know its history...

…And today no one imagines a Madrid without Gran Vía, but when the works began it did not have many admirers. In fact, quite the opposite. The Gran Vía project entailed the massive expropriation of houses, lots and streets, so protests did not wait long. What did have to wait was the end of the works: it took no more and no less than 21 years to build! From 1910 to 1931.

4. Temple of Debod, one of the essential sites to visit in Madrid

Did you know that there is an Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid? What does it look like there? Where does it come from? Let us tell you something... there are grateful countries and then there is Egypt that, after receiving the support of the Government of Spain (along with others) in the pharaonic project of the Aswan Dam , with which the temples of Nubia were saved (including Abu Simbel), showed his gratitude with a gift: a temple with more than 2000 years of history. And I just gave my mother a blender!

It is located in the Parque del Oeste , surrounded by trees and gardens and beautiful views. The ideal is to come at sunset, without a doubt the best time to enjoy this cool Egyptian-Castelist temple.

5. Retiro Park, the green lung of Madrid

If New York has Central Park , Madrid has the Retiro. Well, it's a little smaller, but you get the point Has the time come to relax with a walk in the shade of the trees and with the birds as the soundtrack? Come here. Do you feel like improvising a picnic? Come here. Do you want to run and play sports? Come here. Do you want to rent some boats and sail on a lake? Enter a Crystal Palace? See a statue dedicated to Lucifer? Come here.

As you can see, there is no shortage of plans, and Retiro Park is a box of surprises.

6. San Vicente market, a gastronomic place

More than 100 years have passed since the San Miguel Market was inaugurated as a food market. Currently, this historic building is one of the main gastronomic markets in the world, as it allows its visitors to take a tour of the essence and flavors of each of the corners of Spain.

From the best Iberian ham or the freshest seafood arrived daily from Galicia, to Mediterranean rice dishes or the most special cheeses from Castilla, Asturias or the Basque Country. In the San Miguel Market you will find the highlights of Spanish gastronomy throughout more than 20 stalls that have in common their commitment to quality tapas.

7. Royal Palace, another place to visit in Madrid no matter what

Although the kings of Spain no longer reside here (you know that they telework from the Zarzuela Palace), the Royal Palace of Madrid is still fully operational, as it is where the State ceremonies are held. And we bring good news: if there are no official events you can visit the inside , or rather, you can visit part of it, since to see it in its entirety you would have to have many days: they say there are more than 3,400 rooms! And of course, also having a real invitation, a minor detail.

8.Alcalá Gate, the arches that adorn the streets of Madrid.

Located in the center of the Plaza de la Independencia, the Puerta de Alcalá is one of the five old royal gates that gave access to the city, built by order of Carlos III to replace a previous one that dated from the 16th century. This monumental gate, inaugurated in 1778, is located next to the Retiro Park and where prominent streets such as Alcalá, Alfonso XII or Serrano converge, and is one of the tourist icons of Madrid.

Designed by Francesco Sabatini, it is a granite triumphal arch in a neoclassical style, the first built in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, a precursor to others known as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Unlike the Puerta de Toledo or the Puerta de San Vicente , it has five openings instead of the usual three.

The two facades of which the Puerta de Alcalá is made up show different decorations, with the interior side (initially the one facing the city, in which the four virtues appear: Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude) being simpler than the exterior. , presided over by the royal coat of arms and with greater decorative richness, which was what those who entered Madrid saw.

It receives its name because it is located next to the road that led to Alcalá de Henares .

9.Warner Park, fun for the whole family

Parque Warner Madrid is a theme park located in the town of San Martín de la Vega,in the Community of Madrid,

Discover the magic of Parque Warner, enjoy exciting attractions and shows. Immerse yourself in a world of fun and adventure for the whole family.It has a total of 35 attractions, among which 7 roller coasters, a drop tower, a top spin, 4 water attractions and dozens of children's attractions with access for older companions stand out.

As in other amusement parks in the world, entry with food or drink is not allowed.