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Madrid, capital of Spain, and the third biggest city in Europe is one of the great tourist locations in Europe, if not the world. Located right in the centre of the Iberian peninsula it is one of the most influential cities in the world and has a history that spans thousands of years. Whilst the countryside around Madrid is undeniably beautiful, the majority of tourists visit Madrid to experience the atmosphere and culture of the city. Blessed with the typical Spanish climate, Madrid can get incredibly hot in the summer, so make sure that you visit in early or late summer when the sun is less intense. The current site of Madrid has been populated since prehistoric times, but the first real mention of the city comes from the second century BC when the Romans conquered the Iberian peninsula. After the time of the Roman Empire there is evidence of a village of Visigoths near Madrid, which may or may not have been adopted by Arab invaders during the 7th century. In the 9th century the Arabs started to turn Madrid into the wonderful city that it is today although much of the evidence of Arabic occupation has disappeared, in fact, the Palace at the centre of Arabic Madrid has been lost under the Palacio Real, the spectacular residence of the King of Spain. When Alfonso VI of Castile claimed much of modern day Spain back from the Moors in the 11th century, Madrid began to rise to prominence. It played an important role in medieval Spanish politics, being situated in the heart of Spain, but it wasn''t until the 16th century that it became the de facto capital. During the time of the Spanish Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries Madrid enjoyed the wealth brought back by the conquistadors. Accordingly, the city has thousands of examples of exquisite architecture from the period and several museums dedicated to events of the Spanish empire. Perhaps the finest example of this is the Palacio Real which sits at the heart of the city and remains the official home of the Spanish royal family. Another landmark of particular note is the cathedral, which was originally planned in the 17th century but work did not commence until nearly two hundred years later. Madrid is a city with a rich and varied history, but it is also modern and the atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed. With many tourists flocking to Madrid during the summer, Madrid hotels represent great value at the moment, so if you can get the time off work, now is a great time to go and visit a truly beautiful city.
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Caron Kristan is the author of this article about Madrid. To explore accommodation options, have a look at the Madrid hotels on the Octopus Travel website.
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