User:Renek78/Sandbox/Madrid

Districts

Sol, Letras and Lavapiés (Sol, Letras, Lavapiés) Puerta del Sol is the symbolic centre of the city, its surroundings are an important shopping and social meeting area. Many of Spain's most famous writers lived in the Barrio de las Letras or Huertas (Cervantes, Quevedo, etc.). It is an area full of history and interesting buildings with a high concentration of bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels. Lavapiés is the most multicultural quarter of the city, about half of its residents originate from Africa, Asia or Latin America. Plenty of world music bars and many alternative theaters and art galleries, as well as Indian restaurants, alternative cafés, African music and South American shops. Gran Vía is a splendid avenue lined by tall commercial palaces as well as many popular nightclubs, usually open until morning.

La Latina and Austrias (La Latina, Austrias) This is the district that can most accurately be labeled as Madrid's "old town". La Latina is a typically Mediterranean quarter, characterised by narrow lanes and colourful buildings from the 18th century. Its history goes back to the Moorish era. This is the place to go for tapas (most notably in Cava Baja and Cuchilleros) and full of bohemian young people looking for stylish bars. Madrid's biggest flea market, "El Rastro", is held in this neighbourhood on Sudays. Barrio de los Austrias is the palace quarter, dominated by the royal residence and representative buildings from the Golden Age of the Spanish Empire. Several of Madrid's most famous sights are concentrated here as well as the main flow of tourists.

Malasaña and Chueca (Malasaña, Chueca, Conde Duque, Salesas) The city's hip and alternative area. You can enjoy a café, a dinner, a book or just some drink, and shop for vintage fashion, artisan craftwork and young designers' stuff in Malasaña, the northern part of the city centre. At night, a few rock and pop music clubs open their doors. The nearby Conde Duque neighbourhood shares a similar audience and is full of cafés and restaurants. The Conde Duque Cultural Centre usually hosts shows, concerts and exhibitions. Chueca is known as the gay district (although no one is ever excluded) with a very strong personality: new design, trendy shops, cool cafes, pop and electronic music.

Retiro and Paseo del Arte (Retiro) East of the city centre. Parque del Buen Retiro is a huge urban park, one of the green lungs of Madrid, dating back to the imperial age. The Paseo del Arte—or "museum triangle"– is where Madrid's most famous museums and art collections are found, a must-go for all those who want to see the works of El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Picasso and Dalí.

Salamanca (Salamanca) Plenty of expensive boutiques of all international luxury brands, unique shops with impossible prices and department stores.

Chamberí and Castellana (Chamberí, Castellana) Chamberí is a middle-class residential neighbourhood north of the city centre with few touristic points of interest, but may be a reasonable choice for affordable lodging and dining close to the locals' everyday life. Paseo de la Castellana is Madrid's most prominent northbound arterial road, lined by company domiciles and office buildings. Admirers of modern architecture will find the tallest and most characteristic high-rise buildings along this avenue.

Moncloa (Moncloa) Located to the west of the city centre. Due to its proximity to Universidad Complutense, the city's main university, Moncloa is associated with students and a student lifestyle, with many cheap bars and discos. Ciudad Universitaria is the area where most of the students reside as there are several dorms in this area. Moreover, the district includes the extensive green area of Casa de Campo (five times the size of New York's Central Park) that includes Madrid's zoo and an amusement park.

Arganzuela (Arganzuela) Once a working-class district south of the city centre, Arganzuela currently undergoes a massive transformation, thanks to the Madrid Río urban landscaping project that replaced a city motorway by a unique 6-km long public garden strip on both banks of Río Manzanares, and the Matadero arts and cultural centre.

Southern Suburbs (Latina, Carabanchel, Usera, Puente de Vallecas, Moratalaz, Villaverde, Villa de Vallecas, Vicálvaro) The southern suburbs of Madrid.

Northern Suburbs (Chamartín, Tetuán, Fuencarral, Ciudad Lineal, Hortaleza, San Blas, Barajas) The northern suburbs of Madrid.