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Madrid-Barajas Airport Aeropuerto de Madrid-Barajas
IATA: MAD – ICAO: LEMD
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Aena
Serves		Madrid, Spain
Location		Madrid, Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes and Paracuellos de Jarama, Spain
Hub for		Air Europa Air Pullmantur EasyJet Iberia Mint Airways Ryanair
Elevation AMSL		610 m / 2,000 ft
Coordinates		40°28′20″N 003°33′39″W / 40.47222°N 3.56083°W / 40.47222; -3.56083Coordinates: 40°28′20″N 003°33′39″W / 40.47222°N 3.56083°W / 40.47222; -3.56083
Website		aena-aeropuertos.es
Map
MAD Location within Madrid
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
15R/33L	4,100	13,451	Asphalt
18L/36R	3,500	11,482	Asphalt
15L/33R	3,500	11,482	Asphalt
18R/36L	4,349	14,268	Asphalt / Concrete
Statistics (2011)
Passengers			49,662,512
Passenger change 09-10			0.4%
Aircraft Movements			429,381
Movements change 09-10			1.0%
Sources: Passenger Traffic, AENA[1] Spanish AIP, AENA[2]

Madrid-Barajas Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Madrid-Barajas) (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD)^[3] is the main international airport serving Madrid in Spain. In 2010, over 49.8 million passengers used Madrid-Barajas,^[1] making it the country's largest and busiest airport, and in 2009 it was the world's 11th busiest airport^[4] and Europe's fourth busiest airport. It opened in 1928, and has grown to be one of the most important aviation centres of Europe. Located within the city limits of Madrid, just 9 km (5.6 mi) from the city's financial district and 13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of the Puerta del Sol, Madrid's historic centre. The airport name derives from the adjacent district of Barajas, which has its own metro station on the same rail line serving the airport.

The Madrid-Barcelona air shuttle service, known as the "Puente Aéreo" (in Spanish), literally "Air Bridge", was the busiest air route in Europe, with the highest number of flight operations (971 per week) before 2007.^[5] The schedule has been reduced since February 2008, when the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line was opened, covering the distance in 2½ hours, and quickly became popular. Barajas serves as the gateway to the Iberian peninsula from the rest of Europe and the world, and is a particularly key link between Europe and Latin America. The airport is the primary hub and maintenance base for Iberia. Consequently, Iberia is responsible for more than 60 percent of Barajas' traffic.

History[link]

Barajas Terminal 4

Departures-Terminal 4

The airport was constructed in 1927, opening to national and international air traffic on 22 April 1931, although regular commercial operations began two years later. A small terminal was constructed with a capacity for 30,000 passengers a year, in addition to several hangars and the building of the Avión Club. The first regular flight was established by Lineas Aéreas Postales Españolas (LAPE) with its line to Barcelona. Later, in the 1930s international flights started to serve some European and African destinations.

Originally, the flight field was a large circle bordered in white with the name of Madrid in its interior, unpaved, consisting of land covered with natural grass. It was not until the 1940s that the flight field was paved and new runways were designed. The first runway which started operation in 1944 was 1,400 metres long and 45 metres wide. By the end of the decade the airport had three runways, none of which exists today. In the late 1940s, scheduled flights to Latin America and the Philippines started.

In the 1950s, the airport supported over half a million passengers, increasing to 5 runways and scheduled flights to New York City began. The National Terminal, currently T2, began construction in 1954, and was inaugurated later that year. In the Plan of Airports of 1957, Barajas Airport is classified as a first-class international airport. By the 1960s, large jets were landing at Barajas, and the growth of traffic mainly as a result of tourism exceeded forecasts. At the beginning of the decade, the airport reached the 1.2 million passengers, double that envisaged in the Plan of Airports of 1957.

In the 1970s, with the boom in tourism and the arrival of the Boeing 747, the airport reached 4 million passengers, and began the construction of the international terminal (current T1). In 1974, Iberia, L.A.E. introduced the shuttle service between Madrid and Barcelona, a service with multiple daily frequencies and available without prior reservation.

The 1982 FIFA World Cup brought significant expansion and modernisation of the airport's two existing terminals.

In the 1990s, the airport expanded further. In 1994, the first cargo terminal was constructed, and the control tower was renovated. In 1997, it opened the North Dock, which is used as an exclusive terminal for Iberia's Schengen flights. In 1998, it inaugurated a new control tower, 71 m tall, and then in 1999 the new South Dock opened, which implies an expansion of the international terminal. During this time, the distribution of the terminals changed: The south dock and most of the International Terminal were now called T1, the rest of the International Terminal and Domestic Terminal were now called T2 and the north dock was called T3.

In November 1998, the new runway 18R-36L started operations (replacing the previous 18–36), 4,400 m long, one of the largest in Europe under expansion plans called Major Barajas. In 2000, it began the construction of new terminals T4 and its satellite, T4S, designed by architects Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers, and two parallel runways to the existing ones.

The new terminals and runways were completed in 2004, but administrative delays and equipment, as well as the controversy over the redeployment of terminals, delayed service until 5 February 2006.

In 2007, the airport processed more than 52 million passengers.

Terminal 1

Terminal 2

Terminal 3

Terminal 4 at night

Barajas today[link]

Terminal 4, designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers (winning team of the 2006 Stirling Prize), and TPS Engineers, (winning team of the 2006 IStructE Award for Commercial Structures)^[6] was built by Ferrovial^[7] and inaugurated on 5 February 2006. Terminal 4 is one of the world's largest airport terminals in terms of area, with 760,000 square meters (8,180,572 square feet) in separate landside and airside structures. It consists of a main building, T4 (470,000 m²), and a satellite building, T4S (290,000 m²), which are approximately 2.5 km apart. The new Terminal 4 is meant to give passengers a stress-free start to their journey. This is managed through careful use of illumination, with glass panes instead of walls, and numerous domes in the roof which allow natural light to pass through. With this new addition, Barajas is designed to handle 70 million passengers annually.

During the construction of Terminal 4, two more runways (15L/33R and 18L/36R) were constructed to aid in the flow of air traffic arriving and departing from Barajas. These runways were officially inaugurated on 5 February 2006 (together with the terminals), but had already been used on several occasions beforehand to test flight and air traffic manoeuvres. Thus, Barajas came to have four runways: two on a north-south axis and parallel to each other (separated by 1.8 km) and two on a northwest-southeast axis (and separated by 2.5 km). This allowed simultaneous takeoffs and landings into the airport, allowing 120 operations an hour (one takeoff or landing every 30 seconds).

Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are adjacent terminals that are home to SkyTeam and Star Alliance airlines, as well as Air Europa. Terminal 4 is home to Iberia, its franchise Air Nostrum and all Oneworld partner airlines. Gate numbers are continuous in terminals 1, 2 and 3 (A1 to E89), but are separately numbered in terminal 4.

Barajas was voted "Best Airport" in the 2008 Condé Nast Traveller Reader Awards.^[8]

In December 2010, the Spanish government announced plans to tender Madrid-Barajas airport to companies in the private sector for a period of up to 40 years.^[9]

On 27 January 2012, Spanair suspended all flights affecting Madrid-Barajas as well as other domestic and international connections.^[10]

Terminal 4 check in hall in 2008

Airlines and destinations[link]

A Qatar Airways A330-300 taxiing

A Vueling Airbus A320-200 parked at a gate

Iberia, British Airways and Mexicana airplanes parked in Terminal T4S

Iberia, Emirates and LanAirlines airplanes in terminal T4S

Main control tower, next to terminal T4S

Note: † denotes charter flights and their destinations

Cargo airlines[link]

Traffic and statistics[link]

Passenger numbers[link]

Route statistics[link]

Busiest European Routes from Madrid-Barajas (January 2011-October 2011)

Rank	City	Passengers	Top Carriers
1	Rome (Fiumicino), Italy	1,100,083	Air Europa, Air Nostrum Alitalia, EasyJet, Iberia, Vueling
2	Paris (Orly), France	1,011,224	Air Europa, Air Mali, Air Nostrum, Iberia
3	London (Heathrow), United Kingdom	1,010,604	British Airways, Iberia
4	Lisbon, Portugal	1,001,172	Air Europa, Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Iberia, TAP Portugal, Vueling
5	Amsterdam, Netherlands	933,856	EasyJet, Iberia, KLM, Korean Air Lines
6	Paris (Charles de Gaulle), France	920,475	Air France, EasyJet, LAN, Vueling
7	Frankfurt, Germany	818,672	Air Nostrum, Iberia, LAN Airlines, Lufthansa, Spanair
8	London (Gatwick), United Kingdom	666,629	Air Europa, EasyJet, Ryanair
9	Munich, Germany	567,709	Air Nostrum, Iberia, Lufthansa
10	Brussels, Belgium	492,288	Brussels Airlines, Iberia
11	Geneva, Switzerland	484,650	EasyJet Switzerland, Iberia, Swiss
12	Milan (Malpensa) Airport	463,647	EasyJet, Iberia, Saudia
13	Zurich, Swtizerland	418,715	Air Nostrum, Iberia, Swiss
14	Venice, Italy	385,525	Air Europa, Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Iberia, Vueling
15	Porto, Portugal	378,440	Air Nostrum, Ryanair, TAP Portugal
16	Athens, Greece	334,305	Aegean Airlines, Air Nostrum, Iberia
17	Milan-Linate, Italy	287,891	Alitalia, Iberia
18	Copenhagen, Denmark	273,072	Iberia, Scandinavian Airlines, Spanair
19	Dublin, Ireland	272,860	Aer Lingus, Air Nostrum, Ryanair

Busiest Intercontinental Routes from Madrid-Barajas (2011)

Rank	City	Passengers	Top Carriers
1	Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Argentina	831,374	Air Europa, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Iberia
2	New York City (JFK), United States	716,723	Air Europa, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Iberia
3	Lima, Perú	542,098	Air Europa, Iberia, LAN Perú
4	São Paulo (Guarulhos), Brazil	526,591	Air China, Iberia, TAM Linhas Aereas
5	Bogotá, Colombia	507,435	Avianca, Iberia
6	Mexico City	498,367	Aeroméxico, Iberia
7	Miami, United States	475,246	Air Europa, American Airlines, Iberia
8	Caracas, Venezuela	427,288	Air Europa, Conviasa, Iberia, Santa Barbara Airlines
9	Istanbul (Atatürk), Turkey	398,523	Iberia, Turkish Airlines
10	Havana, Cuba	374,253	Air Europa, Cubana de Aviación, Iberia
11	Santiago de Chile	373,702	Iberia, LAN Airlines
12	Santo Domingo (Las Americas), Dominican Republic	337,897	Air Europa, Iberia
13	Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion), Israel	308,485	El-Al, Iberia
14	Cancun, Mexico	264,168	Air Europa, Air Pulmantur, Iberworld
15	Casablanca, Morocco	259,519	EasyJet, Iberia, Royal Air Maroc
16	Guayaquil, Ecuador	251,873	Iberia, LAN Ecuador
17	Tangier, Morocco	247,313	Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Iberia, Ryanair
18	Marrakech, Morocco	241,006	Air Europa, Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Iberia, Royal Air Maroc, Ryanair
19	Punta Cana, Dominican Republic	225,327	Air Europa, Air Pullmantur, Iberworld
20	San José, Costa Rica	192,664	Iberia

Busiest Domestic Routes from Madrid-Barajas (2010)

Rank	City	Passengers	Top Carriers
1	Barcelona, Catalonia	3,106,678	Air Europa, Iberia, Spanair, Vueling
2	Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands	1,694,854	Air Berlin, Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair
3	Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands	1,561,475	Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair
4	Tenerife-North (Los Rodeos), Canary Islands	1,316,014	Air Europa, Iberia, Spanair
5	20px Valencia, Valencian Community	1,023,681	Air Nostrum, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair
6	20px Alicante, Valencian Community	884,006	Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair
7	Bilbao, Basque Country	837,966	Iberia, Spanair
8	Santiago de Compostela, Galicia	836,415	Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair
9	Vigo, Galicia	663,285	Air Europa, Iberia
10	Málaga, Andalusia	618,505	Iberia, Spanair
11	Ibiza, Balearic Islands	611,481	Air Europa, Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Spanair, Vueling Airlines
12	A Coruña, Galicia	609,758	Iberia, Spanair
13	Arrecife, Canary Islands	581,010	Air Europa, EasyJet, Iberia, Iberworld, Ryanair, Spanair
14	Asturias, Principality of Asturias	560,267	Air Europa, Iberia
15	Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia	449,107	Iberia, Ryanair
16	Tenerife-South (Reina Sofia), Canary Islands	403,938	Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair
17	Seville, Andalusia	385,115	Iberia
18	Santander, Cantabria	370,696	Air Nostrum, Ryanair
19	Fuerteventura, Canary Islands	366,229	Air Europa, EasyJet, Iberia, Iberworld, Spanair
20	Granada, Andalusia	335,437	Iberia

Ground transport[link]

Shuttle train that links Terminal 4 with its satellite

Rail[link]

The Madrid Metro Line connects the airport with city centre station Nuevos Ministerios in the heart of Madrid’s financial district. The Barajas Line 8 provides a fast route from the underground stations at Terminal 2 (access to T1 and T3) and Terminal 4 into central Madrid. The metro also provides links to stations on the Spanish railway network. The first ride in the morning leaves from Nuevos Ministerios around 6:05 am, arriving at Terminals 1-2-3 around 6:20, and at Terminal 4 around 6:25.

In October 2006, a bid was launched for the construction of a Cercanías link between Chamartín Station and Terminal 4. Now finished, this single Cercanías Line (C-1) links Madrid Barajas Terminal 4, with Chamartín Station and Atocha AVE high-speed train stations.^[11] In June 2011 a decision was made to equip this link with dual gauge which will allow AVE high-speed trains to reach the airport station.^[12]

The Nuevos Ministerios metro station allowed checking-in^[13] right by the AZCA business area in central Madrid, but this convenience has been suspended indefinitely after the building of Terminal 4.^[14]

EMT Bus[link]

EMT (Madrid Municipal Transport Company) runs regular public bus services between the airport and Madrid (Avenida de América station): bus 200 runs as a complete line – dropping passengers off at departures of terminals 1, 2 and 4 before collecting passengers in the reverse order at arrivals EMT also have an express bus linking Barajas airport to Renfe's Atocha Station; the main rail station in Madrid.^[15] The EMT public night bus service N4 (nicknamed "Buho", Owl) also services from Madrid downtown (Plaza Cibeles) to Barajas (Plaza de los Hermanos Falcó y Alvarez de Toledo, 400m from the airport through a passageway above the highway).

Airport parking[link]

Long- and short-term car parking is provided at the airport with seven public parking areas. P1 is an outdoor car park located in front of the terminal building; P2 is an indoor car park with direct access to terminals T2 and T3. A Parking 'Express' facility, available for short periods only, is located at Terminal 2, and dedicated long-term parking is also available with 1,655 spaces; a free shuttle operates between the long-stay car park and all terminals. There are also VIP car parks.

Accidents and incidents[link]

• On 30 September 1972, Douglas C-47B EC-AQE of Spantax crashed on take-off. The aircraft was being used for training duties and the student pilot over-rotated and stalled. One of the six people on board were killed.^[16]

• On 29 July 1979, as part of a triple attack, a bomb placed by ETA political-military killed three people.^[17]

• On 27 November 1983, Avianca Flight 011 crashed while attempting to land. Flight 011 struck a series of hills, causing the plane's right wing to break off. The 747 then cartwheeled, shattering into five pieces before coming to rest upside-down. Only 11 of the 169 passengers survived – there were no survivors among the 23 crew.^[18]

• On 7 December 1983, an Iberia 727 operating as Iberia Flight 350^[19] collided during takeoff with Aviaco Flight 134, a DC-9^[20] The Aviaco DC9 had accidentally entered the runway as the Iberia flight was taking off.^[21] 135 people were killed, including 93 from the Iberia and 42 from the Aviaco.

• On 15 July 2006, the winglet of a Thai Airways International Boeing 747–400 HS-TGY operating flight TG943 from Madrid Barajas Airport in Spain to Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport cut off the tail of an Air France ERJ-145 while taxing to the runway for take-off. No injuries were reported.^[22]

• On the morning of 30 December 2006, an explosion took place in the carpark building module D attached to Terminal 4. A bomb threat was phoned in at approximately 8:15 local time (7:15 GMT), with the caller stating that a car bomb carried with 800 kg of explosive would explode at 9:00 local time (8:00 GMT).^[23] After receipt of the warning, police were able to evacuate part of the airport.^[24] Later, an anonymous caller stated that ETA claims responsibility for the bombing.^[25] As a result of the explosion, two Ecuadorians who were sleeping in their cars died. The whole module D of the car park was levelled to the ground, around 40,000 tonnes of debris. It took six days to recover the body of the second victim from the rubble.

• On 20 August 2008, Spanair Flight 5022 which was travelling to Gran Canaria, veered off to the right and into the ground while climbing immediately after lifting off from runway 36L at 14:45 local time. The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) MD-82 with registration "EC-HFP", was carrying 172 people, including 162 passengers.^[26] In the accident, 154 people were killed, 2 were seriously injured and 12 were slightly injured. Prime Minister Zapatero ordered 3 days of national mourning.^[27]

• On 3 December 2010, during the Spanish air traffic controllers strike, Madrid-Barajas Airport remained unoperative when all Spanish air traffic controllers walked out in a coordinated wildcat strike. Following the walkout, the Spanish Government authorized the Spanish military to take over air traffic control operations.^[28] On the morning of 4 December, the government declared a 'State of Alert', ordering on the controllers back to work. Shortly after the measure was implemented, controllers started returning to work and the strike was called off.^[29]

Gallery[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Madrid-Barajas Airport

• 

  Small control tower in Terminal 4

• 

  Iberia aircraft in Terminal 4

• 

  T4 – Upper level to check-in, lower levels to Arrivals and metro station

• 

  Terminal 4 overview with Madrid city in the background

• 

  The main control tower in Terminal 4

• 

  Traffic on Runway 36L with Terminal 4 in the background

• 

  The airport in Winter

• 

  Passport stamp

References[link]

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links[link]

	Spain portal
	Aviation portal
	World War II portal

• Official website (English) (Spanish)
• Transports and airlines useful information at Madrid Barajas Airport website
• Madrid Barajas Airport information (Spanish)
• Architect Website on Barajas Terminal 4
• Accident history for MAD at Aviation Safety Network

v t e Airports of Spain A Coruña: Alvedro Airport Albacete: Los Llanos Airport Algeciras Heliport Alicante: El Altet Airport Almería Airport Asturias: Castrillón/Ranón or Oviedo Airport Badajoz: Talavera la Real Airport Barcelona: El Prat Airport Bilbao: Sondika or Loiu Airport Burgos: Villafría Airport Castellón de la Plana: Costa Azahar Airport Ceuta Heliport Ciudad Real: Central Airport Córdoba Airport El Hierro: Los Cangrejos Airport Fuerteventura: El Matorral Airport Girona: Girona-Costa Brava Airport Granada: Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén Airport Huesca: Pirineos or Monflorite Airport Ibiza Airport Jerez: La Parra Airport La Gomera: Alajeró Airport La Palma: Mazo Airport La Seu d'Urgell: Pirineus-Andorra Aerodrome Lanzarote: Guacimeta Airport Gran Canaria: Gando Airport León: Virgen del Camino Airport Lleida: Lleida-Alguaire Airport Logroño: Logroño-Agoncillo Airport Madrid: Madrid-Barajas Airport Madrid: Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport Madrid: Madrid-Torrejón Airport Málaga Airport Melilla Airport Menorca Airport Murcia: Murcia-Corvera Airport Murcia: Murcia-San Javier Airport Palma de Mallorca: Son Sant Joan Airport Palma de Mallorca: Son Bonet Aerodrome Pamplona: Noain Airport Reus Airport Sabadell Airport Salamanca: Matacán Airport San Sebastián: Fuenterrabia Airport Santander: Parayas Airport Santiago de Compostela: Lavacolla Airport Seville: San Pablo Airport Tenerife North: Los Rodeos Airport Tenerife South: Reina Sofía Airport Valencia: Manises Airport Valladolid: Villanubla Airport Vigo: Peinador Airport Vitoria: Foronda Airport Zaragoza: Garrapinillos Airport

Madrid
Villa de Madrid
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Flag Coat of arms
Motto: «Fui sobre agua edificada, mis muros de fuego son. Esta es mi insignia y blasón» ("On water I was built, my walls are made of fire. This is my ensign and escutcheon")[1][2]
Madrid Location of Madrid within Spain
Madrid Map of Madrid
Coordinates: 40°23′N 3°43′W / 40.383°N 3.717°W / 40.383; -3.717
Country	Spain
Region	Community of Madrid
Founded	IX Century[3]
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Body	Ayuntamiento de Madrid
• Mayor	Ana Botella (PP)
Area
• City	605.77 km2 (233.89 sq mi)
Elevation	667 m (2,188 ft)
Population (2011)
• City	3,265,038
• Rank	1st
• Density	5,390/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
• Metro	6,489,680
Demonym	Madrilenian madrileño (m) madrileña (f) matritense
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	28001–28080
Area code(s)	34 (Spain) + 91 (Madrid)
Patron Saints	Isidore the Laborer Virgin of Almudena
Website	www.munimadrid.es

Madrid (English /məˈdrɪd/, Spanish: [ma'ðrid]) is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million^[4] and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million.^[5] It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third largest in the European Union after London and Paris.^[6][7][8][9] The city spans a total of 604.3 km² (233.3 sq mi).^[10]

The city is located on the Manzanares river in the centre of both the country and the Community of Madrid (which comprises the city of Madrid, its conurbation and extended suburbs and villages); this community is bordered by the autonomous communities of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha. As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political centre of Spain.^[11] The current mayor is Ana Botella from the People's Party (PP).

Madrid urban agglomeration has the 3rd largest GDP^[12] in the European Union and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, environment, media, fashion, science, culture, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities.^[13][14] Due to its economic output, high standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial centre of Southern Europe^[15][16] and the Iberian Peninsula; it hosts the head offices of the vast majority of the major Spanish companies, such as Telefónica, Iberia or Repsol. Madrid is the most touristic city of Spain, the fourth-most touristic of the continent,^[17] and is the 10th most livable city in the world according to Monocle magazine, in its 2010 index.^[18][19] Madrid also ranks among the 12 greenest European cities in 2010.^[20] Madrid is currently a Candidate City for the 2020 Summer Olympics.^[21]

Madrid houses the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), belonging to the United Nations Organization (UN), the SEGIB and the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI). It also hosts major international institutions regulators of Spanish: the Standing Committee of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, headquarters of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), the Cervantes Institute and the Foundation of Urgent Spanish (Fundéu). Madrid organizes fairs as FITUR,^[22] ARCO,^[23] SIMO TCI ^[24] and the Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week.^[25]

While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real (Royal theatre) with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro park, founded in 1631; the 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's historical archives; a large number of National museums,^[26] and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: Prado Museum, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which completes the shortcomings of the other two museums.^[27]

History[link]

Toponym[link]

Alcalá Street and the Metropolis Building

There are several theories regarding the origin of the name "Madrid". According to legend Madrid was founded by Ocno Bianor (son of King Tyrrhenius of Tuscany and Mantua) and was named "Metragirta" or "Mantua Carpetana". Others contend that the original name of the city was "Ursaria" ("land of bears" in Latin), because of the many bears that were to be found in the nearby forests, which, together with the strawberry tree (Spanish: madroño), have been the emblem of the city from the Middle Ages.^[3]

The most ancient recorded name of the city Magerit (for *Materit or *Mageterit ?) comes from the name of a fortress built on the Manzanares River in the 9th century AD, and means "Place of abundant water".^[28] If the form is correct, it could be a Celtic place-name from ritu- 'ford' (Old Welsh rit, Welsh rhyd, Old Breton rit, Old Northern French roy) and a first element, that is not clearly identified *mageto derivation of magos 'field' 'plain' (Old Irish mag 'field', Breton ma 'place'), or matu 'bear", that could explain the Latin translation Ursalia.^[29]

Nevertheless, it is now commonly believed^{[citation needed]} that the origin of the current name of the city comes from the 2nd century BC. The Roman Empire established a settlement on the banks of the Manzanares river. The name of this first village was "Matrice" (a reference to the river that crossed the settlement). Following the invasions carried out by the Germanic Sueves and Vandals, as well as the Sarmatic Alans during the 5th century AD, the Roman Empire no longer had the military presence required to defend its territories on the Iberian Peninsula, and as a consequence, these territories were soon occupied by the Vandals, who were in turn dispelled by the Visigoths, who then ruled Hispania in the name of the Roman emperor, also taking control of "Matrice". In the 7th century, the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula saw the name changed to "Mayrit", from the Arabic term ميرا "Mayra" (referencing water as a "trees" or "giver 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.^[30]

Middle Ages[link]

Although the site of modern-day Madrid has been occupied since prehistoric times,^[31][32] and there are archeological remains of a small Visigoth basilica near the church of Santa María de la Almudena^[3][33] and two visigoth necropolises near Casa de campo and Tetúan, the first historical certainty about the existence of an established settlement in Madrid dates from the Muslim age. At the second half of the 9th century,^[34] Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba built a fortress on a headland near the river Manzanares,^[35] as one of the many fortress he ordered to be built on the border between Al-Andalus and the kingdoms of León and Castile, with the objective of protecting Toledo from the Christian invasions and also as a starting point for Muslim offensives. After the disintegration of the Caliphate of Córdoba, Madrid was integrated in the Taifa of Toledo.

With the surrender of Toledo by Alfonso VI of León and Castile, the city was conquered by Christians in 1085, and it was integrated into the kingdom of Castile as a property of the Crown.^[36] Christians replaced Muslims in the occupation of the center of the city, while Arabs and Jews settled in the suburbs. The city was thriving and was given the title of "villa", whose administrative district extended from the Jarama in the east to the river Guadarrama in the west. The government of the town was vested to the neighboring of Madrid since 1346, when king Alfonso XI of Castile implements the regiment, for which only the local oligarchy was taking sides in city decisions.^[37] Since 1188, Madrid won the right to be a city with representation in the courts of Castile. In 1202, King Alfonso VIII of Castile gave Madrid its first charter to regulate the municipal council,^[38] which was expanded in 1222 by Fernando III of Castile.

The first time the Courts of Castile were joined in Madrid was in 1309 under Ferdinand IV of Castile, and later in 1329, 1339, 1391, 1393, 1419 and twice in 1435. Since the unification of the kingdoms of Spain under a common Crown, the Courts were convened in Madrid more often.

Modern Age[link]

Plaza Mayor

During the revolt of the Comuneros, led by Juan de Zapata, Madrid joined the revolt against Emperor Charles V of Germany and I of Spain, but after defeat at the Battle of Villalar, Madrid was besieged and occupied by the royal troops. However, Charles I was generous to the town and gaves it the titles of "Coronada" (Crowned) and "Imperial". When Francis I of France was captured at the battle of Pavia, he was imprisoned in Madrid. And in the village is dated the Treaty of Madrid of 1526 (later denounced by the French) that resolved their situation.^[39]

Puerta de Alcalá.

In June 1561, when the town had 30,000 inhabitants, Philip II of Spain moved his court from Toledo to Madrid, installing it in the old castle.^[40] Thanks to this, the city of Madrid became the political center of the monarchy, being the capital of Spain except for a short period between 1601 to 1606 (Philip III of Spain government), in which the Court translates to Valladolid. This fact was decisive for the evolution of the city and influenced its fate. A famous expression indicated that identity: "Sólo Madrid es corte" (Madrid is the only court) which, conceptually, is also understood backwards: "Madrid es sólo corte" (Madrid is just court).

During the reign of Philip IV of Spain, Madrid saw a period of exceptional cultural brilliance, with the presence of geniuses such as Miguel de Cervantes, Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Quevedo and Lope de Vega.^[41]

The death of Charles II of Spain resulted in the War of the Spanish succession. The city supported the claim of Philip of Anjou as Philip V. While the city was occupied in 1706 by Anglo-Portuguese army, who proclaimed king the Archduke Charles of Austria under the name of Charles III, and again in 1710, remained loyal to Philip V.

Philip V built the Royal Palace and the main Royal Academies.^[42] But the most important Bourbon was King Charles III of Spain, who was known as "the best major of Madrid". Charles III proposed himself the feat to transforms Madrid into a capital worthy of this category. He ordered the construction of sewers, electric lighting, cemeteries outside the city, and many monuments (Puerta de Alcalá, Cibeles Fountain), and cultural institutions (El Prado Museum, Royal Botanic Gardens, Royal Observatory, etc.). Despite being known as one of the greatest benefactors of Madrid, its beginnings were not entirely peaceful, as in 1766 had to overcome the Esquilache Riots, a traditionalist revolt instigated by the nobility and clergy against reformist intentions that brought Charles III as an excuse to put on clothing decree ordering the shortening of the layers and the prohibition of the use of hats ocultasen face, with the aim of reducing crime in the city.^[43]

The reign of Charles IV of Spain is not very meaningful to Madrid, except for the presence of Goya in the Court, which portrayed the popular and courtly life of the city.

From 19th century to present day[link]

Plaza de Cibeles

On October 27, 1807, Charles IV and Napoleon I signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau, which allowed the passage of French troops through Spanish territory to join the Spanish troops and invade Portugal, which had refused to obey the order of blockade international against England. As this was happening, there is the Mutiny of Aranjuez (March 17, 1808), by which the crown prince, Ferdinand VII, replaced his father as king. However, when Ferdinand VII returned to Madrid, the city is already occupied by Joachim-Napoléon Murat, so that both the king and his father are virtually prisoners of the French army. Napoleon, taking advantage of the weakness of the Spanish Bourbons, forcing both, first the father then the son, to join him in Bayonne, where Ferdinand arrives on April 20.

In the absence of the two kings, the situation becomes more and more tense in the capital. On May 2, the crowd began to concentrate at the Royal Palace. The crowd saw the French soldiers pulled out of the palace to the royal family members who were still in the palace. Immediately, the crowd launched an assault on the floats. The fight lasted hours and was spread throughout Madrid. The next day, repression is cruel. In the Paseo del Prado and in the fields of La Moncloa hundreds of patriots was shooted attending the order of Murat against "Spanish all carrying arms". Paintings such as The Third of May, 1808 by Goya, reflecting the repression that ended the popular uprising on 2 May.^[44]

The Peninsular War against Napoleon, despite the last absolutist claims during the reign of Ferdinand VII, gave birth to a new country with a liberal and bourgeois character, open to influences coming from the rest of Europe. Madrid, the capital of Spain, experience like no other city the changes caused by this opening and filled with theaters, cafes and newspapers. Madrid is frequently altered by revolutionary outbreaks and pronouncements, such as Vicálvaro 1854, led by General Leopoldo O'Donnell and initiating the progressive biennium. However, in the early twentieth century Madrid looked more a small town than a modern city. During the first third of the twentieth century the population nearly doubled, reaching more than 950,000 inhabitants. New suburbs such as Las Ventas, Tetuán or El Carmen, gave welcome the newcomer proletariat, while in the Ensanche are installed the bourgeoisie of Madrid.^[45]

The Spanish Constitution of 1931 was the first legislated on the state capital, setting it explicitly in Madrid.

Madrid was one of the most heavily affected cities of Spain in the Civil War (1936–1939). The city was a stronghold of the Republicans from July 1936. Its western suburbs were the scene of an all-out battle in November 1936 and it was during the Civil War that Madrid became the first European city to be bombed by airplanes (Japan was the first to bomb civilians in world history, at Shanghai in 1932) specifically targeting civilians in the history of warfare. (See Siege of Madrid (1936–39)).^[46]

During the economic boom in Spain from 1959 to 1973, the city experienced unprecedented, extraordinary development in terms of population and wealth, becoming the largest GDP city in Spain, and ranking third in Western Europe. The municipality is extended, annexing neighbouring council districts, to achieve the present extension of 607 km² (234.36 sq mi). The south of Madrid became very industrialized, and there were massive migrations from rural areas of Spain into the city. Madrid's newly built north-western districts became the home of the new thriving middle class that appeared as result of the 1960s Spanish economic boom, while south-eastern periphery became an extensive working class settlement, which was the base for an active cultural and political reform.^[46]

After the death of Franco and the democratic regime, the 1978 constitution confirms Madrid as the capital of Spain. In 1979, the first municipal elections bring democracy to Madrid's first democratically elected mayor since the Second Republic. Madrid was the scene of some of the most important events of the time, as the mass demonstrations of support for democracy after the foiled coup on February 23, 1981. The first democratic mayors belong to the leftist parties (Enrique Tierno Galván, Juan Barranco), turning the city after more conservative positions (Agustin Rodriguez Sahagun, Jose Maria Alvarez del Manzano, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón and Ana Botella). Benefiting from increasing prosperity in the 1980s and 1990s, the capital city of Spain has consolidated its position as an important economic, cultural, industrial, educational, and technological centre on the European continent.^[46]

Government[link]

City Hall of Madrid

Temple of Debod on a winter day

The City Council consists of 57 members, one of them being the Mayor, currently Ana Botella. The Mayor presides over the Council.

The Plenary of the Council, is the body of political representation of the citizens in the municipal government. Some of its attributions are: fiscal matters, the election and deposition of the Mayor, the approval and modification of decrees and regulations, the approval of budgets, the agreements related to the limits and alteration of the municipal term, the services management, the participation in supramunicipal organizations, etc.^[47] Nowadays, mayoral team consists of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and 8 Delegates; all of them form The Board of Delegates (the Municipal Executive Committee).^[48]

Madrid has tended to be a stronghold of the People's Party, which has controlled the city's mayoralty since 1989. In the 2007 regional and local elections, the conservative People's Party (PP, centre-right political party) obtained 34 seats, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE, centre-left political party) obtained 18 and United Left (IU, left political party) obtained 5.

Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Jiménez has been in office since 2003, when he left the Presidency of the Autonomous Community of Madrid and stood as the candidate to replace outgoing mayor José María Álvarez del Manzano, also from the PP. In the last local elections of 2007, Ruiz-Gallardón increased the PP majority in the City Council to 34 seats out of 57, taking 55.5% of the popular vote and winning in all but two districts.

Geography[link]

Climate[link]

The Madrid region features a Continental Mediterranean climate^[49] (Köppen Csa)^[50] with cold winters due to altitude (650 m (2,133 ft) above sea level in Alicante), including sporadic snowfalls and minimum temperatures often below freezing. Summer tends to be hot with temperatures that consistently surpass 30 °C (86 °F) in July and August and rarely above 40 °C (104 °F). Due to Madrid's altitude and dry climate, diurnal ranges are often significant during the summer. Precipitation is concentrated in the autumn and spring. It is particularly sparse during the summer, taking the form of about two showers and/or thunderstorms a month.

Location[link]

Destinations from Madrid

	A Coruña	Bilbao	Barcelona
	Lisbon		Valencia
		Madrid    East
	Cadiz	Seville	Murcia

Water supply[link]

Madrid derives almost 75 percent of its water supply from dams and reservoirs built on the Lozoya River, such as the El Atazar Dam.

Demography[link]

The population of Madrid generally increased from when the city became the national capital in the mid-16th century and stabilised at about 3 million from the 1970s.

From around 1970 until the mid 1990s, the city's population dropped. This phenomenon, which also affected other European cities, was caused in part by the growth of satellite suburbs at the expense of the downtown. Another reason might have been the slowdown in the rate of growth of the European economy.

The demographic boom accelerated in the late 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century due to international immigration, in response to a surge in Spanish economic growth. 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. About 83.8% of the inhabitants are Spaniards, while people of other origins, including immigrants from Latin America, Europe, Asia, North Africa and West Africa, represented 16.2% of the population in 2007.^[53]

The ten largest immigrant groups include: Ecuadorian: 104,184, Romanian: 52,875, Bolivian: 44,044, Colombian: 35,971, Peruvian: 35,083, Chinese: 34,666, Moroccan: 32,498, Dominican: 19,602, Brazilian: 14,583, and Paraguayan: 14,308. There are also important communities of Filipinos, Equatorial Guineans, Bulgarians, Indians, Italians, Argentines, Senegalese and Poles.^[53]

Districts that host the largest number of immigrants are Usera (28.37%), Centro (26.87%), Carabanchel (22.72%) and Tetuán (21.54%). Districts that host the smallest number are Fuencarral-El Pardo (9.27%), Retiro (9.64%) and Chamartin (11.74%).