24- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion
6. Media and
communications
7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
Beyond the city
The royal choice of capital back in the 16thcentury
becomes clearer when you look to Madrid’s province
with its central location and scattering of old towns.
At El Escorial tourists stand, mouths agape, in front
of Felipe’s vast embodiment of royal power, a kind
of monastery, palace and mausoleum combined.
However, for Madrileños the main attraction of their
city’s hinterland is its fresh air.The pine forests,
pastures and ski runs of the Sierra de Guadarrama are
less than an hour away. Alas, the mountains’ wildlife,
including the wildcat and griffon vulture, is also well
aware of the proximity to Madrid and the region’s five
million inhabitants.Bull’s eye view
Madrid’s Las Ventas,
capable of holding
25,000 people, is the
largest bullring in Spain.
Here, at the home of
bullfighting, much of the
city still clamours after
an activity that has lost
ground elsewhere in the
country.
Madrid is famous for its
parks, the most popular
being the 130-hectare
oasis of Buen Retiro.
In summer you can sit
in the green spaces
and watchzarzuela,
the brand of humorous
musical play to which
Madrid has been the
traditional home.