History UsefulNotes / Madrid

Mostly middle class residential districts which used to be independent towns. Hortaleza is strongly working class at its north, middle class at its middle[[note]]no pun intended[[/note]] (around Mar de Cristal) and upper class at its south (Where the ''Lycee Français'' is located), thus, inverting the general trend of the city. Mostly of social-democrat leanings with a slight conservative taste. Barajas is way more working class, way more leftist and this is also where the International Madrid Barajas - Adolfo Suarez Airport is located. The Moscow scenes in DoctorZhivago were actually filmed there, in the Canillas borough (then a barren field, now a middle class neighbourhood).

The original burgeois colonies. At the end of the 19th Century the upper classes where sickened from the unhealthy and overpopulated old town (read: Centro District) and begged for the king to tear down the city walls and expand the city. The project was conducted upon the orders of the Marquis of Salamanca and gave birth to these three districts. Chamberí and Salamanca are akin to the Upper West and East Side of New York, they are on opposing sides of the Paseo de la Castellana, and they hate each other's guts. Chamberi is populated mostly by old aristocracy, retired diplomats, and [[UpperClassTwit general old money]] that regard the denizens of Salamanca as obnoxious nouveau riches. The Chamberi Borough was utterly ravished on the SpanishCivilWar and holds the Joaquin Sorolla Museum, pinnacle of spanish impressionism, as well as many embassies. The Salamanca Borough holds high executives, Media Personalities and Bankers and the USA Embassy, and regard the denizens of CHamberi as a dying chaste who has nothing to say and UpperClassTwit galore. [[NotSoDifferent Both are notably economically affluent and conservative]]. Retiro holds the eponymous park, that used to be the King's private gardens, and is usually the odd man out, politically and otherwise.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/poblacion_por_distritos_de_madrid.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]

[[caption-width-right:350:some Plaza de Callao, for you all cinema lovers]]

Mostly middle class residential districts which used to be independent towns. Hortaleza is strongly working class at its north, middle class at its middle[[note]]no pun intended[[/note]] (around Mar de Cristal) and upper class at its south (Where the ''Lycee Français'' is located), thus, inverting the general trend of the city. Mostly of social-democrat leanings with a slight conservative taste. Barajas is way more working class, way more leftist and this is also where the International Madrid Barajas - Adolfo Suarez Airport is located. The Moscow scenes in DoctorZhivago were actually filmed there.

* ''Centro'': This is the old town and where most of the touristic sites can be found. The Royal Palace[[note]]The Royal Family doesn't live there since 1931[[/note]], built upon the former muslim enclave, the Opera right in front of it, the Puerta del Sol[[note]]a square in the center of the city with a UsefulNotes/{{Hachiko}}-esque statue of a bear and a strawberry tree, symbol of the city and a popular meeting place. It's also very popular for being in the geographical center of the country, and the starting point of most of its radial-like road and highway network (Also known as the "Km. Zero"). One of Madrid's biggest icons[[/note]] nearby and the Golden Triangle of Art[[note]]The Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía Museum[[/note]]. The Centro district notably [[WhereEverybodyKnowsYourFlame notably holds a large LGBT population]] concentrated around Chueca Metro Station in the Justicia Borough that has decentralized a lot during TheNewTens and has expanded over the nearby Universidad borough[[note]]where there isn't any university located[[note]] which is noted for its hipster and alternative scene and for being the place where the ''Movida Madrileña'' happened[[note]]This has something to do with a certain Pedro Almodovar[[/note]]. Cortes Borough is also informally known as ''Barrio de las Letras'' where the likes of Cervantes used to hang out and is now a well known ''tapas'' & bistro bar stockholder. Palacio Borough holds Plaza de España and is well known for its otaku, heavy-metal, emo and far right skinhead scenes[[note]]which are some odd things to put near each other[[/note]]. Embajadores Borough is well known for high Middle-Eastern immigration, extreme liberalism, and so-called alternative arts.

* ''Retiro, Salamanca and Chamberí'': The original burgeois colonies. At the end of the 19th Century the upper classes where sickened from the unhealthy and overpopulated old town (read: Centro District) and begged for the king to tear down the city walls and expand the city. The project was conducted upon the orders of the Marquis of Salamanca and gave birth to these three districts. Chamberí and Salamanca are akin to the Upper West and East Side of New York, they are on opposing sides of the Paseo de la Castellana, and they hate each other's guts. Chamberi is populated mostly by old aristocracy, retired diplomats, and [[UpperClassTwit general old money]] that regard the denizens of Salamanca as obnoxious nouveau riches. The Chamberi Borough was utterly ravished on the SpanishCivilWar and holds the Joaquin Sorolla Museum, pinnacle of spanish impressionism, as well as many embassies. The Salamanca Borough holds high executives, Media Personalities and Bankers and the USA Embassy, and regard the denizens of CHamberi as a dying chaste who has nothing to say and UpperClassTwit galore. [[NotSoDifferent Both are notably economically affluent and conservative]]. Retiro holds the eponymous park, that used to be the King's private gardens, and is usually the odd man out, politically and otherwise.

* ''Tetuán and Chamartín'': Basically, Chamartín is the financial center of Madrid, home of some large companies and some Ministries[[note]]on the aptly named Nuevos Ministerios[[/note]]. This is where the top image buildings are located. Also, this is where the Chamartín Train Station is located. Tetuán is just a mostly middle class residential district. Notably, Real Madrid Stadium, Santiago Bernabeu, is located in south Chamartin (Hispanoamérica borough).

* ''Hortaleza and Barajas'': Mostly middle class residential districts which used to be independent towns. Hortaleza is strongly working class at its north, middle class at its middle[[note]]no pun intended[[/note]] (around Mar de Cristal) and upper class at its south (Where the ''Lycee Français'' is located), thus, inverting the general trend of the city. Mostly of social-democrat leanings with a slight conservative taste. Barajas is way more working class, way more leftist and this is also where the International Madrid Barajas - Adolfo Suarez Airport is located.

* ''Fuecarral-El Pardo and Moncloa-Aravaca'' - The first is mostly a residential district (as the two districts above) notable for its humongous size most of which is not urbanized[[note]]The urbanized area is ''actually'' Fuencarral, the non urbanized area is El Pardo, which is a large forest upon a hill]]. This is where the Royal Family actually lives[[note]]on an isolated palace on the northwesternmost part of the aforementioned forest[[/note]]. Moncloa-Aravaca is notable because of the large government facilities related to the Spanish Air Force and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid main campus[[note]]Notably, Palacio de la Moncloa, which is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Spain, it's not located on these government facilities but in another government complex enclosed within the UCM Campus[[/note]]. Aravaca is mostly high class {{suburbia}}. Also, Fuencarral has a sizeable japanese population and Moncloa has a large forest mass known as Casa de Campo that used to be, well, a royalty country house.

* ''Latina'', ''Carabanchel'', ''Usera'' and ''Villaverde'' - Districts that are mostly working class residential area with a distinct "urban" bent due to the large hispanic (read: latin american) population. Usera has, also, a rather large muslim population, mostly from Morocco. Carabanchel is the setting of the popular nineties children novels ''Manolito Gafotas'', detailing the life of the eponymous chubby kid with his struggling parents, cynical grandfather and rather marginal neighbors and friends in a comedic/satyrical tone[[note]]Also, [[RunningGag he was from]] ''Upper Carabanchel'', [[BerserkButton not]] ''Lower Carabanchel''[[/note]]

* ''Puente de Vallecas'' and ''Villa de Vallecas'' - Well known traditional working class districts with distinct communist leanings, the only districts to always fall on the left in results maps. With the same ''urban'' aspects as Latina, Carabanchel, Usera or Villaverde, it is less diverse though immigration is still strong there. Has its own, underdog and proud of it, football team: Rayo Vallekano.

* The aforementioned ElDiaDeLaBestia'' as well as ''La Comunidad'' by AlexDeLaIglesia.

* OpenYourEyes, by AlejandroAmenabar, shows a vacant Gran Vía
* TieMeUp, by [[Creator/PedroAlmodovar]].

* TieMeUp, by PedroAlmodovar.

* ToReturn, by PedroAlmodovar.

* The aforementioned ''El Dia de la Bestia'' as well as ''La Comunidad'' by Alex de la Iglesia.

* OpenYourEyes shows a vacant Gran Vía
* TieMeUp, by Pedro Almodovar.

* ''El Dia de la Bestia'' ends [[spoiler: confronting TheAntichrist]] at the Torres Kio in Chamartín.

* {{Tesis}} by Alejandro Amenabar. Set at UCM Campus as well as Aravaca.

* ToReturn, by Pedro Almodovar.

* ''El Dia de la Bestia'' ends [[Spoiler: confronting TheAntichrist]] at the Torres Kio in Chamartín.

*

* ''Puente de Vallecas'' and ''Villa de Vallecas'' - Well known traditional working class districts with distinct communist leanings, the only districts to always fall on the left in results maps. With the same ''urban'' aspects as Latina, Carabanchel, Usera or Villaverde, it is less diverse though immigration is still strong there. Has its own, underdog and proud of it, football team: Rayo Vallekano.

* OpenYourEyes shows a bacant Gran Vía

* [[Film/TheBourneUltimatum]]

* ''Tetuán and Chamartín'': Basically, Chamartín is the financial center of Madrid, home of some large companies and some Ministries[[note]]on the aptly named Nuevos Ministerios[[/note]]. This is where the top image buildings are located. Also, this is where the Chamartín Train Station is located. Tetuán is just a mostly middle class residential district. Notably, ''Real Madrid'' Stadium, Santiago Bernabeu'' is located in south Chamartin (Hispanoamérica borough).

* ''Latina'', ''Carabanchel'', ''Usera'' and ''Villaverde'' - Districts that are mostly working class residential area with a distinct "urban" bent due to the large hispanic (read: latin american) population. Usera has, also, a rather large muslim population, mostly from Morocco. Carabanchel is the setting of the popular nineties children novels ''Manolito Gafotas'', detailing the life of the eponymous chubby kid with his struggling parents, cynical grandfather and rather marginal neighbors and friends in a comedic/satyrical tone[[note]]Also, [[RunningGag he was from]] ''Upper Carabanchel'', [[BerserkButton not]] ''Lower Carabanchel''[[/note]]

* [[Flim/TheLastCircus Balada Triste de Trompeta]] by the aforementioned Alex de la Iglesia, a very, very, ''very'' dark and twisted portrayal of the city, and, by extension, Spanish society starting with the last shots of the SpanishCivilWar to the last breath of [[UsefulNotes/FranciscoFranco Franco]] forty years later. Franco, himself, makes a cameo and is [[NiceGuy arguably the nicest character in the film]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards which is saying something]].`

* ''Retiro, Salamanca and Chamberí'': The original burgeois colonies. At the end of the 19th Century the upper classes where sickened from the unhealthy and overpopulated old town (read: Centro District) and begged for the king to tear down the city walls and expand the city. The project was conducted upon the orders of the Marquis of Salamanca and gave birth to these three districts. Chamberí and Salamanca are akin to the Upper West and East Side of New York, they are on opposing sides of the Paseo de la Castellana, and they hate each other's guts. Chamberi is populated mostly by old aristocracy, retired diplomats, and UpperClassTwits that regard the denizens of Salamanca as obnoxious nouveau riches. The Chamberi Borough was utterly ravished on the SpanishCivilWar and holds the Joaquin Sorolla Museum, pinnacle of spanish impressionism, as well as many embassies. The Salamanca Borough holds CEOs, Media Personalities and Bankers and the USA Embassy, and regard the denizens of CHamberi as a dying chaste who has nothing to say and UpperClassTwit galore. [[NotSoDIfferent Both are notably economically affluent and conservative]]. Retiro holds the eponymous park, that used to be the King's private gardens, and is usually the odd man out, politically and otherwise.

* ''Tetuán and Chamartín'': Basically, Chamartín is the financial center of Madrid, home of some large companies and some Ministries[[note]]on the aptly named Nuevos Ministerios[[/note]]. This is where the top image buildings are located. Also, this is where the Chamartín Train Station is located. Tetuán is just a mostly middle class residential district.

* ''Latina'', ''Carabanchel'', ''Usera'' and ''Villaverde'' - Districts that are mostly working class residential area with a distinct "urban" bent due to the large hispanic (read: latin american) population. Usera has, also, a rather large muslim population, mostly from Morocco. Carabanchel is the setting of the popular nineties children novels ''Manolito Gafotas'', detailing the life of the eponymous chubby kid with his struggling parents, cynical grandfather and rather marginal neighbors and friends in a comedic/satyrical tone[[note]]Also, [[Catchphrase he was from]] ''Upper Carabanchel'', [[BerserkButton not]] ''Lower Carabanchel''[[/note]]

* ''Fuecarral-El Pardo and Moncloa-Aravaca'' - The first is mostly a residential district (as the two districts above) notable for its humongous size most of which is not urbanized[[note]]The urbanized area is ''actually'' Fuencarral, the non urbanized area is El Pardo, which is a large forest upon a hill]]. This is where the Royal Family actually lives[[note]]on an isolated palace on the northwesternmost part of the aforementioned forest[[/note]]. Moncloa-Aravaca is notable because of the large government facilities related to the Spanish Air Force and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid main campus[[note]]Notably, Palacio de la Moncloa, which is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Spain, it's not located on these government facilities but in another government complex enclosed within the UCM Campus[[/note]]. Aravaca is mostly high class {{suburbia}}.

* ''Fuecarral-El Pardo and Moncloa-Aravaca'' - The first is mostly a residential district (as the two districts above) notable for its humongous size most of which is not urbanized[[note]]The urbanized area is ''actually'' Fuencarral, the non urbanized area is El Pardo, which is a large forest upon a hill]]. This is where the Royal Family actually lives[[note]]on an isolated palace on the northwesternmost part of the aforementioned forest[[/note]]. Moncloa-Aravaca is notable because of the large government facilities related to the Spanish Air Force and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid main campus[[note]]Notably, Palacio de la Moncloa, which is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Spain, it's not located on these government facilities but in another government complex enclosed within the UCM Campus[[/Note]]. Aravaca is mostly high class {{suburbia}}.


!!Sights you might be interested in seeing while you’re there include:
* The Golden Triangle of Art, three museums that hold the masterpieces of many famous artists: the Prado (considered the second most important art museum in the world after the Louvre of Paris, it contains "Las Meninas" by Velazquez), the Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Reina Sofía (which contains the "Guernica" by Picasso).
* The Royal Palace, official residence of the Kings of Spain and built on the site of the fortress that founded Madrid.
* The Puerta del Sol ("the Sun's Gate"), .
* The Retiro, the main city park with a rowing pond.
* The Plaza de las Ventas, the city’s main bullring.

Getting around is unusually easy because the Madrid Metro is the 6th longest in the world, despite serving the world's 50th largest metropolitan area.

* The Puerta del Sol ("the Sun's Gate"), a square in the center of the city with a UsefulNotes/{{Hachiko}}-esque statue of a bear and a strawberry tree, symbol of the city and a popular meeting place. It's also very popular for being in the geographical center of the country, and the starting point of most of its radial-like road and highway network (Also known as the "Km. Zero"). One of Madrid's biggest icons.

Today, Madrid is considered an Alpha World City, one of the top ten most powerful cities in the world, and is usually regarded in spanish media and culture in three flavors:

Prior to that, Madrid had been mainly populated by [[SleazyPolitician societal elites]], [[TheBeautifulElite aristocrats]] and the [[GeneralRipper military higher ranks]] as well as [[RoyallyScrewedUp the royals]], all of them [[RealityEnsues getting]] [[BreakTheHaughty severely broken]] by the time the war started, [[FromBadToWorse and got worse during the war]]

As TheOtherWiki reads, Madrid is the third-largest city and metropolitan area of the European Union and also happens to be the capital city of Spain, and the largely discussed center of the iberian peninsula, mostly by historical tensions between France-like political centralists and both left-leaning and conservative elites mainly in Barcelona or even Lisbon.

Unlike most other european capitals, Madrid wasn't always the capital of Spain, as, although academical and political discussion about when Spain actually became Spain exists, the truth is that there wasn't a capital for Spain before the Habsburgs (namely, Charles I) who settled for Madrid as a political and economic gravity center as it was becoming custom in their native HRE (Though, political centralism in the HRE never actually existed, and was mainly both a goal and a pain in the ass for the late Charles I (V of Germany), along with religious uniformity, thus starting quite a few wars).

Madrid's growth was substantially slow compared to other European capitals, and only skyrocketed after the SpanishCivilWar, where it got the bulk of the industrialisation after the Eisenhower-Franco agreements of 1959.

* [[Flim/TheLastCircus Balada Triste de Trompeta]] by the aforementioned Alex de la Iglesia, a very, very, ''very'' dark and twisted portrayal of the city, and, by extension, Spanish society starting with the last shots of the SpanishCivilWar to the last breath of [[FranciscoFranco Franco]] forty years later. Franco, himself, makes a cameo and is [[NiceGuy arguably the nicest character in the film]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards which is saying something]].`