Madrid
首都马德里
马德里是西班牙首都，位于西班牙半岛以及卡斯蒂亚(Castilla)平原的中心，海拔六百四十六公尺高。马德里是一个世界性的都市，商业中心，也是公共行政、西班牙国会的中心及西班牙皇室的所在；马德里的银行业及工业在经济发展上均扮演着重要的角色，主要的工业区位于该市的南边，包括纺织业、食品业及金属工业。除此之外，马德里尚以其热情的风貌、多元化的文化、丰富的艺术活动和刺激的夜生活闻名。
马德里为西班牙的首都以及经济、文化及政治中心。该市也为欧洲数一数二的艺术中心，每年都吸引来大批的观光客。以太阳门(Puerta del Sol)为中心，道路由此成放射状展开，便利的地铁和公车系统，交通四通八达。悠闲的步道，提醒你身处于西班牙，不论白天或夜晚都是十分适合你闲逛，逛累了还可以来杯咖啡，静静地感觉这城市的脉动以及享受当地的风情。
马德里是个相当适合步行漫游的城市，从太阳门往西比列斯广场，或从大广场往王宫方向，沿途尽是艺术、文化及建筑宝藏，马德里着名的景点有庄严的皇宫(Palacio Real)、有委拉瑞兹、哥雅和葛雷柯名作的普拉多博物馆(Paseo del Pradio)、年轻人聚集的太阳门、16世纪时哈普斯堡王朝建造的着名的大广场(Plaza Mayor)及圣伊西卓大教堂(Catedral de San Isidro)。到处都是观光客群聚尽情浏览古迹、世界知名的博物馆以及享受夜生活。
和欧洲其他着名的首都有点不一样，马德里直到1561年菲利普二世国王(King Felipe II)将王宫搬至此地，才比较受到重视，但很快就成为西班牙经济、文化及政治中心。1939年内战漫延至马德里，虽然马德里反对佛朗哥将军的国家主义，但它仍然是西班牙首都，因为这在政治上仍有相当的稳定作用。佛朗哥将军死后，西班牙社会开始大规模的变革，企图从极权主义的压迫中彻底破茧而出，马德里现在仍是西班牙政治文化中心，而且角色更加重要，迁入居民大增，并希望能找到更好的就业、求学机会。
Madrid， the capital of Spain， is located in the center of the country. Population of the city of Madrid proper was 3，093，000 as of 2003 estimatesestimate v.估计， 估价， 评估 n.估计， 估价， 评估. Population of the urban area was 4，791，000 as of 2000 estimates. Population of the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellitesatellite n.人造卫星 towns) was 5，604，000 as of 2003 estimates. The city spans a total of 607 km2 (378 mi2).
Madrid is the capital not only of the country but also of the province and autonomousautonomous adj.自治的 community of Madrid.
A cosmopolitan city， a business center， headquarters for the Public Administration， Government， Spanish Parliament and the home of the Spanish Royal Family， Madrid also plays a major role in both the bankingbanking n.银行业 and industrial sectors. Most of its industry is located in the Southern fringefringe n.边缘， 须边， 刘海 adj.边缘的， 额外的 v.在……上加以缘饰， 成为……的边缘 of the city， where important textile， food and metal working factories are clustered. Madrid is characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife.
Madrid is also noted for its nightlife and discothequesdiscotheque n.迪斯科舞厅. Younger madrileos sometimes dance all night， stop off for chocolate y churros at dawn， go home， shower， shave， and go to work. This nightlife， called la movida or la marcha and initially focussed on the Plaza del Dos de Mayo， flourishedflourish vi.繁荣， 茂盛， 活跃， 手舞足蹈， 兴旺， 处于旺盛时期 vt.挥动， 夸耀 n.茂盛， 兴旺， 华饰， 繁荣 after the death of Franco， especially during the 80，s while Madrid，s most cherished mayor Enrique Tierno Galván was in office. A particular hub for this night activity is nowadays the gay district of Chueca. However， as prices continue to rise and more jobs become available， nightlife in Madrid is becoming more and more like that of other European cities such as Stockholm or Munich.
The grand metropolismetropolis n.首都， 主要都市， 都会， 大主教教区， 大城市 of Madrid can trace its origins to the times of Arab Emir Mohamed I (852～886)， who ordered the construction of a fortress on the left bank of the Manzanares river. Later it became the subject of a disputedispute v.争论， 辩论， 怀疑， 抗拒， 阻止， 争夺(土地，胜利等） n.争论， 辩论， 争吵 between the Christians and Arabs until it was conquered by Alonso VI in the 11th century. At the end of the 17th century， a defensivedefensive adj.防御用的， 自卫的 n.防御 wall was built for the protection of the new outlying areas， tracing the roads of Segovia， Toledo and Valencia. During the 18th century， under the reign of Carlos III， were designed the great arteries of the city， such as the Paseo del Prado and Paseo las Acacias.
Visit the City
Madrid is synonymous with art galleries， bullfightsbullfight n.斗牛(流行于西班牙和南美) ， bar culture and alfrescoalfresco adv.adj.在户外， 在露天 dining. It is definitely a city with a lively spirit. Watch Real Madrid in their famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium， see live flamenco dancing， experience a bullfight， visit one of the capital，s stunningstunning adj.足以使人晕倒的， 极好的 monumentsmonument n.纪念碑 or simply take a stroll in one of its beautiful parks.
Madrid is a good choice for a visit in this country. If you are a newcomer to the area or haven，t visited for a while， the information provided on this and related pages will prove invaluableinvaluable adj.无价的， 价值无法衡量的 in assisting you to make your holiday or business ventureventure n.冒险， 投机， 风险 v.冒险， 冒昧， 斗胆， 胆敢(谦语) here， as simple as a stroll down your local street back home.
Madrid， the capital city of Spain， is a wonderful city with an unlimited number of things to do making any visit an unforgettableunforgettable adj.忘不了的， 令人难忘的 experience. Alive， eccentriceccentric adj.古怪 n.行为古怪的人 and forever awake Madrid never sleeps.
The capital may not have the Roman origins that other cities in the country have， but it oozes a vitalityvitality n.活力， 生命力， 生动性 and character that rarely fails to move. To experience Madrid is to explore its eateries， down a drink or two at one of its countless bars or to be swept up in the nocturnalnocturnal adj.夜的， 夜曲的 madness of its music scene and clubs.
Madrid has always been a place of immigrants and transientstransient adj.短暂的， 瞬时的 n.瞬时现象 and the result is an unusually open and accessible city. It，s true that Madrid doesn，t match the great attractions and architecture of London， Paris， or Rome， but it does have stellar art galleries. Beside the fascinating nightlife scene， great restaurants and deluxe hotels， it，s within striking distance of some of the country，s best day trips， including Toledo， Segovia， and El Escorial.
The capital of Spain since 1562， Madrid sits in the geographicgeographic adj.地理学的， 地理的 centre of the Iberian Peninsula and has long been an important stop on any art tour through Europe. The famous Museo del Prado on the city，s “Museum Mile” houses important works by Spanish and European masters from the Renaissancerenaissance n.复兴， 复活， 新生， 文艺复兴， 文艺复兴时期 onwards， while the Museo ThyssenBornemiza houses one of the most extensive private collections in the world. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia is devoted to 20th century Spanish art， with works by Miro， Dali and Picasso.