Filled with fantastic, ornate architecture and artistic culture aplenty, Madrid makes a great venue to be added to everyone's "must see" cities. Madrid sits 2000 feet above sea level, in the centre of mainland Spain - the nearest sea is 380Km away - and it is blessed with "the most hours of blue skies anywhere in Europe" according to our tour guide!

The main story of Madrid started in the early 8th century although there is archeological evidence of human presence in prehistoric times. In the 8th century a moorish army from North Africa landed at Gibraltar and conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula. To protect the northern approach to Toledo - their main settlement - they built a fortress (Alcazar) in 852, on the site of today's Palacio Real. Originally named Mayrit (later becoming Magerit then Madrid), a community was started around the Alcazar.

In the 11th century, Christians to the north rallied against the Moorish invaders, gradually pushing south. By 1085, the Castilians under Alfonso VI were ready to advance on Toledo. One story tells that the troops mistook Mayrit for the much larger Toledo and laid seige to it. There followed a period of peaceful rural existence, with the Spanish rulers encouraging monasteries in the area and before long, Madrid had 13 churches.

Following a dispute in the 13th century over hunting rights on the land which was owned by the church, agreement was reached that the church owned the soil, but Madrilenos owned everything above the ground - namely game. Hence the symbol of Madrid was born - a Bear (the church's emblem) sniffing a tree. This bear can be seen across the city today, emblazened on taxis, buses, pavements, bins and almost everything belonging to "the city".

The modern city of Madrid offers the visitor vast ranges of history and culture. With many museums and galleries and architecture from many periods including Habsburg, Baroque, Bourbon, Neo-Mudejar, Neo-Classical, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Modernism among others. It also boasts one of Europe's premier football teams - Real Madrid - and a trip to the amazing Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, which holds 105,000 fanatical fans is a must for all football supporters.