A BRIEF HISTORY OF MADRID
Like history , Madrid ’ s journey from its ancient origins to its status as Spain ’ s undeniably electric capital city today has been anything but straightforward . Quite the contrary .
Madrid ’ s history dates back to the ninth century when the Moors founded it as a fortress . Originally called “ Mayrit ,” the city was strategically located on the banks of the Manzanares River . The Moors built a small palace , or alcázar , which would later become the Royal Palace .
Over the centuries , the city changed hands several times , shifting from Muslim to Christian rule until King Philip II moved the Spanish court to Madrid in 1561 , making it the de facto capital of Spain . The period that followed became what is known today as the “ Spanish Golden Age ” largely because it saw the construction of many iconic buildings , including the Plaza Mayor , which became the heart of social and commercial life and continues to define the city today .
Change continued into the 18th century when King Charles III of the Bourbon dynasty initiated a program to modernize Madrid significantly . This effort resulted in numerous urban improvements , including the creation of the famous Paseo del Prado and the construction of the Royal Palace . It earned King Charles III the moniker “ best mayor of Madrid ” — a name that is as resonant today as the lasting fruits of his program .
Though the 19th and early 20th centuries saw tremendous political upheaval and transformation for Madrid , including playing a central role in the Spanish Civil War , the city arose from the ashes of conflict to become the shining beacon of a resilient , resurgent , modern Spain in the post-war era .
The legacy of Madrid ’ s history is embellished in the architecture and fabric of the city itself .
While the streets of Madrid are dotted with impressive palaces , charming squares , and elegant boulevards that bear witness to its royal heritage , the city ’ s Moorish legacy is evident in the intricate designs of buildings like the Almudena Cathedral , blending seamlessly with the Gothic and Baroque styles that dominate the city ’ s skyline . Meanwhile , the narrow alleys of the Old Town , known as El Madrid de los Austrias , unravel the secrets of the Habsburg Dynasty while simultaneously whispering tales of how the city ’ s citizens lived more than four centuries ago .
ART AND MUSEUMS
Thanks to its unparalleled collection of world-class museums and galleries , Madrid is widely regarded as a mecca for art lovers . Like the city , both the art and the majestic structures in which they reside are embellished with the history of the Spanish capital .
The 205-year-old Museo del Prado , for example — one of the most famous art museums in the world — houses the most comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings in the world , including works by some of the leading painters of the Spanish Golden Age like El Greco , Ribera , Zurbarán , Murillo , and Velázquez , whose masterpieces Las Meninas and The Seamstresses hang in the museum . In addition to Spanish masterpieces , The Prado also boasts an extraordinary collection of European masterpieces , ranging from works by Botticelli ,
Titian , Tintoretto , Veronese , and Caravaggio to Rubens , Rembrandt , Jordaens , and Hieronymus Bosch , which speak to the history of Spain ’ s alliances and influences .
Meanwhile , the neoclassical Reina Sofia Museum , dedicated to contemporary art , is home to an impressive , primarily Spanish , collection of internationally renowned modern and contemporary art , including works by Dalí , Miró , Juan Gris , and Pablo Picasso , whose masterpiece Guernica takes pride of place in the museum ’ s vaunted collection . There ’ s also the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum , with its distinguished collection of European paintings from the Middle Ages right through to the late 20th century , which counts a diverse array of works from Canaletto , Gauguin , Kandinsky , Chagall , and Van Gogh among its highlights . These are a few of Madrid ’ s treasure trove of noted museums and exhibition spaces .
Others include CentroCentro , located in the Cibeles Palace , which will host Seventy Great Masters from the Pérez Simón Collection ( Sept 20 , 2024 – Jan 12 , 2025 ) featuring some of the most valuable works owned by entrepreneur and collector Juan Antonio Pérez Simón , whose private art collection is considered to be one of the most outstanding in the world ; and the Mapfre Foundation , whose Recoletos Exhibition Hall will this year host exhibitions ranging from Paul Durand-Ruel and the last glimmers of Impressionism ( Sept 19 , 2024 – Jan 5 , 2025 ), which examines the work of art dealer and patron Durand-Ruel , as well as , his relationship with and the work of his protégés — Albert André , Georges D ’ Espagnat , Gustave Loiseau , Maxime Maufra , and Henry Moret — five artists of the last generation affiliated with the Impressionist movement , to Weegee , Autopsy of the Spectacle ( Sept 19 , 2024 – Jan 5 , 2025 ), which highlights the work of American photographer Arthur H . Fellig , focused on the upper classes of California and the social life of some of Hollywood ’ s biggest movie stars in the late 1940s and early 1950s .
What is perhaps most intriguing about this particular collection of museums is that they , together with the National Museum of Anthropology , the National Museum of Decorative Arts , the Naval Museum , the CaixaForum , and so many others , are all located within just one kilometer of each other in a stunning stretch of the city known as the Paseo del Arte , which is also historic . So historic that in July 2021 , the area known as the Landscape of Light , which encompasses the Paseo del Prado and El Retiro Park , was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site , becoming the first site in the city of Madrid to have been granted World Heritage status .
Beyond the Paseo del Arte , in June 2023 , Madrid celebrated the opening of The Royal Collections Gallery . This museum overlooks Campo del Moro in Madrid ’ s Royal Palace complex . It takes visitors on a journey through the history of the Spanish Monarchy and the artistic taste of each of its important figures , from the first reigns during the Middle Ages to Juan Carlos I .
MADRID ’ S ICONIC LANDMARKS
On the subject of the Spanish Monarchy , outside of the Paseo del Arte , the Royal Palace is another of Madrid ’ s most iconic landmarks . It is the largest royal palace in Western Europe and one of the few official residences of a Head of State open to the public . With over 3000 rooms , including the Main Staircase , designed by Sabatini with over 70 steps ; the Throne Hall featuring a ceiling painted by Tiepolo ; the Royal Chapel , which is home to a collection of string instruments made by
FLYWASHINGTON . COM 6 AUTUMN 2024