Madrid
Any and everything about the fascinating capital city of Spain — and the Autonomous Community of Madrid — from its rich history through its vibrant present to what the future holds, recounted from every angle imaginable.
This category, however, goes beyond Madrid; it embraces stories of what occurred, are occurring, and will probably occur in the Spanish nation whose capital is Madrid.
A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “WHAT’S IN A NAME: WALKING THROUGH HISTORY”, 8 JUNE 1990 »
I still travel through the backstreets of Madrid with city plan close at hand. But at every opportunity I carry “Los Nombres de las Calles de Madrid” and let myself get lost – lost in the rich, exciting history that was, is and continue to be Madrid. The book is more than mere recited facts: it is an historical perspective of Madrid during many phases of its development, peppered with insights into tradition, customs and culture. It is a fascinating compendium of personalities, historical, mythical, religious, aristocratic and legendary figures, as well as geographical locations, trades, important battles and other well-placed events, which have all lent their names and distinction to the Spanish capital.
THE GREEN TRAIN HURTLES DOWN TO ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY LIKE THE CHAMP THAT IT IS »
On 17 October 1919 King Alfonso XIII of Spain inaugurated the capital’s first ever subway line. It went from under the Puerta del Sol in the center of the city up 3.48 kilometers north to Cuatro Caminos. A century later, the fledgling underground transport system of a measly eight stations boasts 12 lines and 302 stations, spanning 294 kilometers. It is the third longest subway in Europe, and the world’s eighth. It is a vanguard of accessibility with its 1705 escalators and 530 lifts. It has always run on electrciity, even long before saving our Planet via the clean-air route has become an urgent task!
AT LAST MADRID IS TAKING CLEAN AIR SERIOUSLY! »
When the pedestrianization of the iconic Puerta del Sol is done, and the ongoing remodelling of the Plaza de Canalejas is completed, the Madrileños will enjoy “one of the great urban areas that any European capital must have,” according to the Mayor of Madrid.
FOLKS ARE BACK FROM SUMMER VACATION! AMERICAN CLUB ANNOUNCES ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING »
Date: September 10, 2019. Time: First call to order 5:00 pm; Second call to order 6:00 pm. Place: Hotel Intercontinental, 49 Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid
KICK THE BALL BUT PLEASE DON’T CHOP DOWN THE TREES! »
The massive felling of trees constitutes a very serious infringement of the Law 8/2005 for the Protection and Promotion of Urban
A GUIDEPOST REPRINT: “MADRID: A VIEW FROM ‘DOWN UNDER’,” 29 JULY 1983 »
Rodney Ward, like many back-packing ‘cowboys’ of the mid-seventies, first arrived in Madrid in 1975 and was at once struck by Spain’s fine old capital city. Although planning to move on within a few days, the Magic of Madrid compelled him to stay for two years. Only then did Rodney Ward set off back to Australia. Does he miss Madrid? “It’s always nice to come home,"he says, but Madrid gets in the blood.
THE BATTLE OF THE BAD AIR IN MADRID »
One of the very first things Madrid's new rightwing government has done was to impose a moratorium on the fines on unauthorized vehicles that enter Madrid Central, thereby allowing that low-emissions area to revert to the free-for-all area it used to be. Fortunately, last week the court stepped in and suspended the moratorium as a precautionary measure. The court ruling will remain in force until a new decision is made. What will the fate of Madrid Central be?
MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN CLUB OF MADRID & THEIR FRIENDS INVITED TO CELEBRATE 4TH OF JULY »
Leave it to ACM to cheer you on for a great Fourth of July celebration!
WELCOME TO THE LIRIA PALACE, DEPOSITORY OF THE DIARY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WROTE IN HIS VOYAGES TO THE NEW WORLD »
Palacio de Liria: the official residence of the Duke/Duchess of Alba, the biggest private residence in the capital, next only in importance to the Royal Palace a stone’s throw away. It houses the Fundacion Casa de Alba’s art and historical collection, one of the biggest and most important privately owned collections in Spain. It used to be that you had to wait years for the (paid) privilege of visiting the Liria. But now the House of Alba Foundation has decided to convert the Liria into a regular museum, open to the public everyday
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN CLUB OF MADRID »
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