Madrid Excursion
Madrid sits at the center of the Iberian Peninsula and serves as Spain’s political, intellectual, and cultural hub. Surrounded by cities of far greater importance such as Toledo, Segovia, and Valladollid, Madrid was little more than a fortified village when Felipe II decided in 1561 to make it the permanent capital of the Spanish empire. Madrid is the largest city in Spain and boasts a population of over 3 million people. The city sits atop an arid plateau, making it the highest capital in Europe. Madrid is strategically situated at the hub of both road and rail networks in the country, and incorporates boundless energy, blue skies, art, culture and some of the most exhilarating and exhausting nightlife in Europe.
 Museo del Prado
The Museo del Prado is one of the buildings constructed during the reign of Charles III to embellish this area of Madrid. The importance of the Prado is in its “royal collection.” The wealth of foreign art (including Dutch, German, Italian, and French) reflects the historical power of the Spanish crown. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculptures ranging from the 12th to 19th centuries, it also has important collections of drawings, prints, coins and medals, and decorative objects.
 La Puerta del Sol
Once the site of a city gate, la Puerta del Sol or “Gateway of the Sun” is Madrid’s most central point. It is also one of the city’s most popular meeting places. The “square” is shaped like a half moon, and in the center proudly stands the statue of Bourbon King Carlos III. This is also the gathering of New Year’s Eve – where Spaniards swallow a grape on each stroke of the clock, a tradition that is supposed to bring good luck for the rest of the year.
 Palacio Real (Royal Palace)
This vast and lavish royal palace was definitely built to impress. It had been occupied for centuries by a royal fortress, but after a fire in 1734, Felipe V commissioned construction which lasted for 26 year. All the construction was done vaulted, in stone and brick, so that no fire could destroy it. The palace was home to the royal family until 1931, when they moved to the outskirts of Madrid, but the Royal Palace is still used today for various government occasions.
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