8 Interesting Facts About Madrid

Madrid's official symbol is a bear rearing up on its hind legs and feasting on berries from the madroño tree. The symbol is a metaphor for Madrid's growth and represents the possession and importance of wood which is essential to build a country.

If non-aquatic sports are more your thing, the Bullfighting Museum (Museo Taurino) is a great place to get an insight into the sport - its history and changing trends in dressing style. Something that very few people know is that, among its many exhibits, it also has on display the costume worn by Manolete who was gored to death at a young age in Linares' bullring.

If you have a sudden longing to visit Disneyland while in Spain, the Warner Brothers Movie World at Madrid comes pretty close. It is open from March to January and has 5 themed areas – Old West Territory, Hollywood, DC Super Heroes, Cartoon Village, and Warner Bros. Studios. It's around 20 minutes from the city centre, so if you want to be there as soon as doors open, book a stay at one of the hotels surrounding the theme park.

For the foodies among us, Madrid’s tapas are a must-try. There is some interesting history attached to them, dating back to the 13th century. Stagecoach drivers would stop off at a tavern to take a break with a glass of wine after completing another long and often dangerous leg of their journey. After many such stops, they would get so drunk and eventually become such a menace to other travelers, that the government actually passed a law forcing them to eat something along with their drink. This snack would usually be a piece of bread and ham placed on top of their glass. These tapas (tops or lids) have now evolved into a delicious edible tradition that can be enjoyed even now. 

Of the extraordinary variety available, two of the most popular tapas are boquerones en vinagre (marinated anchovies) and empanada (pastry filled with tuna and tomato), which is definitely a winner. If you cannot stomach that much food you can split raciones (larger versions of tapas) which usually consist of chorizo (sausage), jamón serrano (cured ham), tortilla de patata (potato omelette), and champiñones con ajos y jamón (mushrooms with garlic and ham), among a group of your friends.

If you're a foodie at hard, you may want to consider booking your hotel in the area of La Latina - one of the oldest areas in Madrid and famous for its tapas restaurants.

A relaxed approach to life and work then, is just an extension of such refined culinary traditions. Spaniards and especially the good citizens of Madrid are quite happy not being limited by the rigid timetables followed so religiously in other cultures. So don’t be too surprised if you walk into a restaurant at 3 in the afternoon, expecting to find it empty, and find a cheery local family settling down to a three-course lunch complete with wine and coffee!