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Madrid is Spain's capital city. Its position as a centre for economics,
finance, administration and services combines the most modern
infrastructure with an important cultural and artistic heritage, the
legacy of centuries of fascinating history.
Its old town is historic among major European cities, and blends with
the most modern and convenient of urban infrastructure. Madrid offers a
broad range of accommodation and services. All this, combined with the
momentum of a society that is dynamic and open, and at the same time
warm and welcoming, has turned this metropolis into one of the western
world's great capitals.
The Madrid area has been settled since the Lower Paleolithic age, but
it was not until 1561 that King Philip II made it the capital of his
mighty empire. The historic old town, also known as "Madrid de las
Austrias" (referring to the Hapsburg empire) is a living example of the
city's 16th and 17th century heyday, as is its impressive Plaza Mayor
(square), which was opened in 1620 and remains one of Spain's most
popular and typical spots.
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