MADRID, SPAIN

Madrid is the capital of Spain and its transportation and administrative centre. It ranks as a banking, education, printing, publishing, and motion picture centre. Madrid was first mentioned in the 10^th century as a Moorish fortress. In 1083, Alfonso VI of Castile drove out the Moors. Ferdinand and Isabella and Emperor Charles V often resided in Madrid, but the city was not made the capital of Spain until 1561, in the reign of Philip II. In 1808, at the beginning of the Peninsular War, a popular uprising against the French took place at Madrid, and a fierce battle was fought in the Puerta del Sol, the city’s central square. Hundreds of citizens were shot that night along the Prado promenade. Madrid also played a heroic role in the Spanish civil war when, under command of General Jose Jiaja, it resisted 29 months of siege by the insurgents, suffering several bombardments and air attacks and surrendering in late March 1939, thus ending the war. Among Madrid’s many landmarks are the royal place, Buen Retiro park, the Prado Museum, the national archives, a museum of Spanish modern art, an archaeological museum, and the Ciudad Universitaria.