Madrilenos have a saying, “de Madrid al cielo,” from Madrid to heaven. The phrase, meant to sum up all they feel about their royal and vested town, is likely a residual sentiment left over from the Siglo de Oro, the so called Golden Century, when Madrid, holding a good portion of the world in its grasp, felt on top of it. Today the city remains elevated, both as the seat of Spanish culture and politics and as a town set on the Castilian plateau, which is just over two thousand feet in height.

The trappings of modern commerce laced with the remnants of the Spanish monarchy make up a conspicuous part of the town’s lure. While Madrid keeps a future focus with its skyscrapers and updated infrastructure, it also treasures its historic monuments and old neighborhoods. Its towering glass-and-concrete boxes and new-urban shopping centers share a place in the city alongside such traditional preserves as the Palacio Real, the Plaza Mayor and the time-forgotten quarters of Malasana and Chuenca, among others. Besides being a caché of culture, Madrid is also vibrant metropolis whose streets are dotted with any large number of bars, cafes, and nightclubs.