In the city of Madrid, capital of Spain

 "Nobody goes to bed in Madrid until they have killed the night."

― Ernest Hemingway, Death in the Afternoon
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(in central Spain) The city of Madrid, capital of Spain, is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. Madrid was officially made the national capital by Philip III, a generation after Philip II moved the court to the city in 1561. Under the patronage of Philip II and his successors, Madrid developed into a city of curious contrasts, preserving its old, over-crowded center, around which developed palaces, convents, churches, and public buildings. Found at the geographical heart of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid is situated on an undulating plateau of sand and clay known as the Meseta (derived from the Spanish word mesa, “table”) at an elevation of some 646 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest capitals in Europe. This location, together with the proximity of the Sierra de Guadarrama, is partly responsible for the weather pattern of cold, crisp winters accompanied by sharp winds. In Madrid, Europe’s highest capital city, days are crisp but bright and sunny, which means Madrileños continue to sit out at street terraces throughout the winter months and the skies are, more often than not, a bright blue color.

+ A traditional nickname for the Madrileños is gatos (“cats”), originally coined in the Middle Ages as a reference to the ability of local troops to scale castle walls. It would be no less apt as a reference to the local lifestyle and the late hours kept by the city’s inhabitants. Madrid is a city that, with its style and flair, absorbs and holds those who live here. Its inhabitants have a reputation for being quite dearly attached to it; in the words of a local proverb, “From Madrid to heaven, and in heaven a little window from which to see it.”
+ If Madrid feels a bit like a fairytale to many of tourists, that may be because so many of the city's buildings have a confectionary, castle-like look to them. Even the City Hall is astounding, with its white pinnacles and neo-Gothic features. An architecture-focused tour can begin by the great bear statue in the central Puerta del Sol. Wander by the fanciful Royal Palace before absorbing the natural beauty of Retiro Park, then visit one of the city’s many art museums. (Artistry can also be found on your plate and in your glass, so close out each day sipping Spanish rioja while seriously sampling some tapas.)