III.

Places of Interest

The traditional centre of Madrid is the historic Puerta del Sol, a crescent-shaped square. Other major squares include the arcaded Plaza Mayor (begun 1617), where bullfights, executions of heretics, and other spectacles were staged in the 17th and 18th centuries; the large Plaza de la Cibeles, with fountains and a statue of Cybele (Mother Earth); and the Plaza de Toros Monumental, accommodating the bullring, to the north-east. The city has several tree-lined boulevards and is noted for its fashionable shops.

The Prado Museum, which exhibits famous paintings by El Greco, Francisco Goya, and Diego Velázquez, is a major landmark. Other landmarks include the massive Royal Palace (1737-1764), used for state functions; the 19th-century Royal Opera House; the 18th-century church of San Francisco el Grande; the National Archaeological Museum; the National Science Museum; the Museum of the Spanish People; and Buen Retiro park, with botanical and zoological gardens. Located in the metropolitan area are Zarzuela Palace, residence of the country's monarch, and the Royal Palace of El Pardo, built by Philip II (reigned 1556-1598) and formerly the home of Francisco Franco. The large granite Monastery of El Escorial, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, and the Valley of the Fallen, a monument commemorating those who died in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), are nearby. Among the many institutions of higher education in the city are the University of Madrid, the Pontifical University (1892), the Autonomous University of Madrid (1968), the Polytechnic University of Madrid (1971), the Open University (1972), and the Royal Academy of Music (1830).

The city is home to two of Spain’s most successful football clubs. Real Madrid plays its home games at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, which has a capacity of around 75,000. The stadium, built in 1947, hosted the World Cup final in 1982. The Vincente Calderón stadium is the home ground of Atletico Madrid, and can seat around 57,500 spectators. A third team, Rayo Vallecano, plays at the Teresa Rivero stadium.