Madrid

PAGINA DE PRUEBA DE MADRID

== == GENERAL INFORMATION == ==

== THE CITY ==

Madrid (pronounced /ma’ðrið/ in Spanish, and /mʌˈdɹɪd/ in English) is the capital and largest city of Spain.

Due to its economic output, standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial center of the Iberian Peninsula; it hosts the head offices of the vast majority of the major Spanish companies. It’s the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political center of Spain.

Madrid is a city of great cultural and political importance. While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighborhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the huge Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real (Royal theatre) with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro park, founded in 1631; the imposing 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain’s historical archives; an archaeological museum of international reputation; and three superb art museums: Prado Museum, which hosts one of the finest art collections in the world, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace

The city’s population is roughly 3.2 million (December 2005), while the estimated urban area population is 5.1 million. The entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area (urban area and suburbs) is calculated to be 5.84 million. The city spans a total of 607 km² (234 sq mi).

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS

Madrid is divided into different “barrios” (districts) which have their own distinct and unique features.

The natural starting point is the “Puerta del Sol” with its famous km cero - the curious thing about the km cero is the fact that all roads in Spain lead to this point. Madrid’s km cero is a busy square with street vendors, some tourist shops, the central shopping area which stretches out between Sol and Gran Via. Km cero is the popular meeting point.

The most appealing “barrios” of Madrid are all situated around Puerta de Sol: Sol, Huertas, La Latina, Chueca, Malasaña, a little more to the south the colourful Lavapiés and to the north the students´ quarter Moncloa / Argüelles.

Madrid is administratively divided into 21 districts, which are further subdivided into 128 wards (barrios)

Centro: Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia, Universidad, Sol. Arganzuela: Paseo Imperial, Acacias, Chopera, Legazpi, Delicias, Palos de la Frontera, Atocha. Retiro: Pacífico, Adelfas, Estrella, Ibiza, Jerónimos, Niño Jesús. Salamanca: Recoletos, Goya, Fuente del Berro, Guindalera, Lista, Castellana. Chamartín El Viso, Prosperidad, Ciudad Jardín, Hispanoamérica, Nueva España, Pza. Castilla. Tetuán: Bellas Vistas, Cuatro Caminos, Castillejos, Almenara, Valdeacederas, Berruguete. Chamberi Gaztambide, Arapiles, Trafalgar, Almagro, Vallehermoso, Ríos Rosas. Fuencarral-El Pardo: El Pardo, Fuentelarreina, Peñagrande, Barrio del Pilar, La Paz, Valverde, Mirasierra, El Goloso. Moncloa-Aravaca: Casa de Campo, Argüelles, Ciudad Universitaria, Valdezarza, Valdemarín, El Plantío, Aravaca. Latina: Los Cármenes, Puerta del Ángel, Lucero, Aluche, Las Águilas, Campamento, Cuatro Vientos. Carabanchel: Comillas, Opañel, San Isidro, Vista Alegre, Puerta Bonita, Buenavista, Abrantes. Usera: Orcasitas, Orcasur, San Fermín, Almendrales, Moscardó, Zofio, Pradolongo. Puente de Vallecas: Entrevías, San Diego, Palomeras Bajas, Palomeras Sureste, Portazgo, Numancia. Moratalaz: Pavones, Horcajo, Marroquina, Media Legua, Fontarrón, Vinateros. Ciudad Lineal: Ventas, Pueblo Nuevo, Quintana, La Concepción, San Pascual, San Juan Bautista, Colina, Atalaya, Costillares. Hortaleza: Palomas, Valdefuentes, Canillas, Pinar del Rey, Apóstol Santiago, Piovera. Villaverde: San Andrés, San Cristóbal, Butarque, Los Rosales, Los Ángeles (Villaverde). Villa de Vallecas: Casco Histórico de Vallecas, Santa Eugenia. Vicálvaro: Casco Histórico de Vicálvaro, Ambroz. San Blas: Simancas, Hellín, Amposta, Arcos, Rosas, Rejas, Canillejas, Salvador. Barajas: Alameda de Osuna, Aeropuerto, Casco Histórico de Barajas, Timón, Corralejos. Largest cities in the metropolitan area are: Mostóles, Leganés, Alcorcón, Fuenlabrada, Getafe, Alcobendas, Tres Cantos., Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez..

The population of Madrid has been generally increasing ever since the city became the national capital several hundred years ago.

From around 1970 until the mid 1990s, the city’s population dropped . This phenomenon, which also affected Barcelona and other European cities, was caused in part by the growth of satellite suburbs at the expense of the downtown. Another reason might have been the slowdown in the rate of growth of the European economy.

The demographic boom accelerated in the late 1990s and early 2000s due to international immigration, in response to a strong pick-up in Spanish economic growth. For example, according to census data, the population of the city grew by 271,856 between 2001 and 2005.

As the capital city of Spain, the city has attracted many immigrants from around the world. While less than 85% of the inhabitants are Spaniards of different backgrounds and ethnicities, there are many recent immigrants who come from Latin America, Europe, Asia, North Africa and West Africa.

The largest immigrant groups include: Ecuadorian , Romanian:, Moroccan, Chinese, Colombian and Peruvian. There are also important communities of Guinean, Bolivian and Filipino people.

== MADRID WEATHER ==

Madrid has a continental climate with temperatures that range from 32º F (0º Celsius), or slightly lower in the winter, to up to 104º F (40º C) in the summertime. Yet, the temperatures in the northern mountainous area of the region are much colder than those mentioned above in the winter and milder in the summer.

The average annual temperature is 57.2 º F (14º C), ranging from 41º F (5º C) in the colder months to 77ºF (25º C) in the hotter. In May, it’s 66.1º F (19º C).

The amount of rain varies, though it is mainly scarce in the large continental area of the region.

== CAR AND PARKING FACILITIES ==

Just like in any other big city, it is not advisable to drive in Madrid. It is always more convenient to use public transport. In any case, several public and private parking areas are available in the city, where you pay for the time your car is parked. Parking in the streets is limited during certain hours in Madrid’´s innermost districts by the Servicio de Estacionamiento Regulado (SER) (Controlled Parking Facilities). There are parking meters, know as parquímetros, in all the limited parking zones, from where you can purchase your ticket that you must place in a visible area in your car’s dashboard. You can pay in coins.

For cars parked in the blue area, you will get tickets from the blue parquímetros, and for those parked in the green areas the corresponding tickets are available in the green parquímetros.

Types of parking lots Blue parking lots: allotted preferably to visitors, with a maximum parking time limit of two hours. Green parking lots: allotted preferably to residents who have paid the relevant annual rates, and who will be subjected to time restrictions. Visitors may park here for a maximum of one hour.

Timetables Monday to Friday: from 9 am to 8 pm Saturday: from 9 am to 3 pm August: Monday to Saturday: from 9 am to 3 pm Sábados: de 09:00 a 15:00 horas.

== PUBLIC TRANSPORT ==

Madrid is served by Barajas International Airport. It consequently serves as the main gateway to the Iberian peninsula from Europe, America and the rest of the world. Current passenger volumes range upwards of 40 million passengers per year, putting it in the top 20 busiest airports in the world. Access by bus: taking line number 101, Canillejas-Airport-Barajas or taking line number 200, Avenida de América- Airport (EMT red buses).

The subway’s line number 8, Nuevos Ministerios-Barajas T4, directly links the center of Madrid to the airport. In the Nuevos Ministerios station you can check-in to the flights belonging to the following airlines: Air Europa (except the flight to Buenos Aires), Iberia (except the flights from Madrid to Barcelona), Spanair, Alitalia and Pluna.

Spain’s railway system, the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles (Renfe) operates the vast majority of Spain’s railways. In Madrid, the main rail terminals are Atocha in the south and Chamartín in the north. The city of Madrid is connected to eleven Spanish cities by means of RENFE’S star product: high speed (AVE). There are six lines that are in service today.

The Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid came into existence in 1986 to combine the efforts of public and private institutions related to Public Transport for the purpose of coordinating services: Metro Cercanías Renfe, Bus, and suburban bus.

Serving the city’s population of some six million, the Madrid Metro is one of the most extensive and fastest-growing metro networks in the world With the addition of a loop serving suburbs to Madrid’s south-west “Metrosur”, it is now the second largest metro system in Western Europe, second only to London’s Underground. In May 2007, By January 1, 2007, the Metro System had in operation twelve lines (plus the Ópera-Príncipe Pío Branch Line).

The first line of the Madrid metro opened on 17 October 1919 under the direction of the Compañía de Metro Alfonso XIII, with 8 stations and 3.5 km. The Metro network has 316 stations on 12 lines plus one branch line, totalling 282 km, of which approximately 92% is underground. Additionally, some 30 km of Metro Ligero (light rail) lines serve the various regions of the metropolitan area which have been deemed not populated enough to justify the extraordinary spending of new Metro lines. Most of the ML track length is on surface, usually running on platforms separated from normal road traffic. However, ML1 line has some underground stretches and stations. Traditionally, the Madrid metro was restricted to the city proper, but today nearly one third of its track length runs outside the border of the Madrid municipality

The province of Madrid is also served by an extensive commuter rail network called Cercanías. Cercanías Madrid is the commuter rail service that serves Madrid, and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Cercanías Renfe. The system is infamous for being the target of the 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings. The attacks triggered a small reduction in the ridership of the system but it is still the most used and most profitable (by 2004) of the commuter rail services in Spain. The total length spans 339.1 km..

Rather strange for a so night-living city as Madrid, trains don’t operate late at night, mostly for union and safety reasons. The first train to operate in weekdays in the lines start to operate around 5 a.m.The frequency of the trains depends on the size of the towns served and the traffic on the line. The central section of the network (from Atocha to Chamartín, through Recoletos and Nuevos Ministerios has trains each 3-4 minutes (of various lines) on weekdays peak hours; the farther branches of the C-8 line have trains each two hours on weekends.All lines (except C-9) finish their operations around midnight.

Therea re also urban bus, operated by EMT. By January 1, 2007, EMT was operating 209 lines. The habitual transport tickets are valid in the whole network, like: single ticket, 10-trip Metro/Bus Pass and the Travel Card.

This thickness of the network can be subdivided as well in 169 lines that compose the Integrated Diurnal Network (IDN), 38 nocturnal lines and 2 special services. It is necessary to add the new network of nocturnal lines, the Metrobuhos, that reproduces in surface the Metro network, and that is composed by 83 vehicles.

The interurban bus system in the Madrid Region consisted of 326 lines that operate completely within the region of Madrid. These lines are operated by 33 private companies under 44 government franchises. There are also 7 municipal franchises, and 2 public municipal companies. There are a main bus station , Mendez Alvaro, and more bus station (Avenida de America, Conde de Casal), all served by Metro.

Fares The Regional Transportation Consortium sells monthly and yearly passes worth unlimited trips within the zone covered on every transportation method adscribed to it

The Madrid Metro network is split into the six “functional” zones . Each one has a “single” ticket (Billete Sencillo), valid for one trip within the zone, and a 10-trip ticket for a comparatively lower price. When crossing zone boundaries, one has to buy a new ticket for the zone being entered. There is also a “combined” ticked, which provides for a single trip between any two points of the network except the Airport stations, which have an additional supplement of 1€. All in all, it is possible to go from the airport to any other point of the network for 2.75 €.

Also, the Consorcio Regional de Transportes has a division of its own, with geographic zones named A through C2. This body sells monthly and annual passes for unlimited trips within their zone of validity, and also a range of Tourist Passes for 1, 3, 5 or 7 days. All of them are accepted at the Metro stations within their zones, and passengers using a CRT pass do not have to pay the airport supplement.

You can buy a ticket valid for 10 journeys, the “MetroBus” (valid for Metro and bus EMT) but you can buy it only from Metro stations or “Estancos” (Tobacco shops), not from buses. It is then perfectly legal to pass the ticket around between 2 or more people using the same train

TRANSPORT FROM/TO THE AIRPORT

At hours whitout public transport from / to airport there’s a service: Aerocity. It ’s a rental service offering chauffeur-driven automobiles with drivers specialized in the door-to-door transport of passengers between the Madrid metropolitan area and the Madrid airport Barajas. AeroCITY operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays and weekends. See the rates here (download PDF)

== == TIPS == ==

TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF INTEREST

Tourist Offices Plaza Mayor, 27 Tel.: 91 588 16 36 / 91 366 54 77 Fax: 91 366 54 77 mailto:turismo@munimadrid.es

Barajas Airport Barajas Airport, s/n International Arrivals (T1) Tel.: 91 305 86 56 Fax: 91 301 00 33

Barajas Airport Barajas Airport, s/n Terminal (T4) Tel.: 902 100 007

Duque Medinaceli Street, 2 Tel.: 91 429 49 51 / 902 100 007 Fax: 91 429 37 05

Puerta de Atocha Station Atocha Station (Terminal de Cercanías) Tel.: 902 100 007

Chamartín Station Main Hall Agustín de Foxá Street, s/n Tel.: 91 315 99 76 Fax: 91 323 79 51 Other telephone numbers of interest

Airport Tel.: 902 35 35 70 / 91 305 83 43/ 91 305 83 45

Madrid City Hall Tel.: 010

Fire Dpt Tel.: 080

Community of Madrid Tel.: 012

Road Conditions Tel.: 900 12 35 05

Emergencies Tel.: 112

All-day Pharmacies Tel.: 098

Local Police Tel.: 092

National Police Tel.: 091

Radio taxi Tel.: 91 447 51 80 / 91 405 55 00

Independent Radio taxi Tel.: 91 405 12 13

RENFE (trains) Tel.: 902 24 02 02

Taxi for people with reduced mobility Tel.: 91 547 86 00

Tele taxi Tel.: 91 445 90 08

Public transportation Tel.: 91 580 42 60 / 012

Serious Medical Emergencies Tel.: 061

== POLICE: FOREIGN TOURIST ASSINTTANCE SERVICE (SATE) ==

Address: Comisaría de Centro. C/ Leganitos,19 (next to Plaza de España). Metro: Santo Domingo (Line 2), Plaza de España (Line 3 and Line 10) and Callao (Line 3 and Line 5) Bus lines: 1, 2, 44, 46, 74, 75, 133, 148 and C E-mail: satemadrid@munimadrid.es Phone numbers: (+34) 91 548 85 37 / (+34) 91 548 80 08 24/7 phone number: 902 102 112 Opening hours: 09:30-22:00 h (every day)

• Assistance is given by specially trained officers and personnel from the Madrid Tourist Board and the National Police

SAFETY

Madrid has a fair amount of non-violent pickpocket crime so always watch any bags (purses, luggage, shopping bags, etc) you may have with you especially in the underground and in the Puerta del Sol/ Gran Via areas /Rastro. Men should carry their wallets in their front pocket and women should carry purses that zip and should always wear their purse with the head of the zipper facing forward. Be extra careful with your luggage and if you are carrying numerous bags beware of anyone approaching you with an outspread map in hand asking for directions (this is very possibly a bid to distract you while an accomplice steals your luggage). . Be very careful not to leave bags next to you on the floor in bars or restaurants - keep them on your lap. Pickpockets and bag snatchers tend to work in pairs or small groups in Madrid and often one or two members of a gang will distract you (by shoving you, asking an innocent question, showing you a map) while another robs you - be particularly aware in the Metro and around major tourist attractions such as museums. Busy tourist areas are obvious prime targets, but pubs and clubs are not uncommon target zones. However, don’t worry, pickpocket crime in Madrid is very rarely confrontational and the city is equipped with cameras and there are always a lot of people in the streets, even at night time, so you can walk across the city without fear. Madrid is as safe as or safer than most mainstream tourist cities but. A little precaution and common sense can save you some nasty surprises.

MONEY

In 2002, the EURO became Spain’s currency unit, joining most of western Europe. Bills are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, & 500 Euro notes while coins are 1 & 2 Euros as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, & 50-cent pieces. Please visit http://www.xe.com/ucc/es/ for your exchange rate.

The Peseta, Spain’s long-time currency, is no longer legal tender and is not accepted (or found) anywhere in Spain except among collectors.

== PASSPORT - VISAS ==

We recommend that you ensure you remain legal while resident in Spain and do not try to enter the country without the required paperwork. There is a large population of illegal immigrants and this is a politically sensitive issue so there are efforts being made to prevent entry and to find and deport people living illegally in the country.

Citizens of the European Union are not required to get a visa for Spain since they already have the right to residency. In order to officially remain resident in Spain you are meant to apply for a NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and a residency card ( Tarjeta de Residente Comunitario). In practice this is not an urgent thing to get done, but you will need it eventually for some things.

Non-EU citizens visiting Spain need a visa ( visado) in order to enter and visit Spain, unless there exists a special agreement between Spain and your home country; these countries are those of North & South America in addition to:

Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Gibraltar, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia and Switzerland.

If you are one of these nationalities, you can enter Spain without a visa and stay for up to 90 days in any 6-month period.

Non-EU citizens coming to work, study or live in Spain are required to obtain a visa - note that this also includes non-EU spouses and dependents. Even if you are not required to have get a visa, in order to officially stay resident in Spain everyone needs to apply for a NIE ( Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and a residency card ( Tarjeta de Residente Comunitario).

Visas are managed by the Spanish Ministerio de Asuntos Extranjeros (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) through its consulates and embassies around the world. You apply for and obtain a visa through the Spanish consulate nearest to your residence before you travel. Honorary consuls generally cannot issue visas but may provide application forms.

Since visas are never issued in Spain, you must apply for them before you leave your country of residency. Do not attempt to enter Spain without a visa if you need one. There is no emergency procedure, you can’t bribe the police, your embassy in Spain can’t help and you will probably be refused entry. Spain is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, which enables free circulation of residents within countries in the Schengen Area. A visa granted by one of these countries (for example, Spain) is valid in the whole Schengen Area. Travelling within the Schengen Area is legally the same as travelling within Spain. If you enter Spain with a tourist visa, you will be able to stay in Spain and/or any other country in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days during any 6-month period.

Visit the site http://www.mae.es/en/MenuPpal/Consulares/Servicios+Consulares/Informacion+a+Extranjeros/Visados/ for see visas for entry and http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/extranje/regimen_general/ (only in Spanish) for more information.

== TIPPING ==

Pride keeps Spaniards from acknowledging tips, but while waiters and other service people are generally paid a “living wage” you can be sure your contribution will be appreciated. On the other hand, if you run into some bad or surly service, don’t feel obligated to leave a tip. Restaurant checks may or may not include service, but no more than 10% of the bill is necessary for a tip.

Taxi drivers get about 10% of the total fare, but more for long rides or extra help with luggage, although there is an official surcharge for airport runs and baggage. Paying the exact amount of the fare will not likely bring an unfriendly reaction from the taxi driver. Oftentimes, if the fare is not large, just round UP to the nearest Euro.

Bussiness Hours and Holidays Banks are generally open weekdays 8:30-14, Saturdays 8:30-13. Banks and money exchanges at airports and train stations stay open later. Traveler’s checks can also be cashed at the El Corte Inglés department stores until 9 PM.

HOLIDAYS

National holidays include January 1; January 6 (Epiphany); March 19 (St. Joseph); March 21 (Good Friday);; May 1 (May Day); August 15 (Assumption); October 12 (National Day); November 1 (All Saints Day); December 6 (Constitution); December 8 (Immaculate Conception); December 25; and December 26 (Boxing Day).

In addition, each city and town has its own holidays honoring political events and patron saints. Madrid holidays include March 20 (Good Thursday), May 2 (Madrid Day), May 15 (San Isidro), and November 9 (Almudena).

== == TAPAS == ==

WHAT ARE TAPAS? The word seems to have originated from Andalusia. Tapas are small portions of foods served on a small plate or tray and intended as a snack, usually served with a “caña” or small glass of beer. There’s much debate about the origins of the meaning of the word “tapa” but it’s generally accepted that “tapear”, which means “to cover over”, to mean to COVER a small portion of food served at a bar in order to keep the flies off. Some bars don’t offer the tapa size at all - only larger portions called raciones - but still call themselves a “Bar de Tapas”.

Whether it’s for a snack before lunch, a snack before dinner, or making tapas your entire lunch or dinner, tapas in Madrid CAN BE an affordable alternative to a full meal. Most often, tapas are inexpensive (OR FREE!), the portions are quite small, and you can order many different tapas and share them with friends while standing at the bar - which is how it’s most often done.

ARE TAPAS FREE? Aha! Good question. Historically speaking, nearly every bar would give you one free tapa with your beer, wine, or vermouth order. The offering was always the bartenders choice - not yours - but if you really don’t like what’s offered you can always ask “¿Hay otra cosa?” or “Is there something different?” to change it to something you might like more. Fewer and fewer bars in Madrid (and Spain) offer these freebies. You’ll most often find the free tapas in the smaller, more neighorhood bars but many bars of this sort still remain in old downtown Madrid, including many of those in the galleries of Plaza Mayor. The (usually) nicer/fancier tapas bars SELL tapas and raciones - larger portions. In the city of Granada, for example, the FREE TAPA is very common and the size of the free tapas can be surprisingly large! So in Madrid, you’ll sometimes get a free tapa with your drink order at the bar. But if you want a specific tapa you’ll have to order and pay for it. Free tapas are usually something small like a plate of olives, potato chips, slices of chorizo, slice of tortilla de patata, olive-oil-swimming anchovies on a small slice of bread, a few peel-and-eat shrimp, almonds, small serving of paella, or almost anything.

“A tapear” - “Ir de tapas” or “to go for tapas”, is almost a sport! Many people, usually locals out on the weekends, will go from one bar to the next, only having one drink and one tapa at each establishment. Those whom are “in the know” will go to bars where they KNOW free tapas will be served with the drink order. If you are one of these people you can spend 1 to 2 € for a “caña” (small glass of beer), eat your free tapa, then move on to the next bar which serves a free tapa with your “caña”. It’s a wonderfully cheap way to go out, be with friends in many different places throughout the evening, and practically eat for free!

Most tapas bars don’t have tables or chairs so be sure you’re up to the task of standing at (OR NEAR) the bar where the tapas are served to you. Other tapas bars have chest-high counters along the walls or tall tables where clients can put their plates of tapas and drinks. At some of the smaller or more popular tapas bars available counter space can be a valuable commodity. Many people often find it uncomfortable to stand for long periods of time. But one can accomplish a quick “Tapas Stop” in about 10 minutes - enough time top to have a caña, tapa, and maybe use the restroom. A “Tapas Stop” can cost you as little as 1.50€. That’s not bad for what you get; a drink, snack, and a bathroom break. Then back to sightseeing in Madrid!

== CHOCOLATE CON CHURROS ==

A churro is a fried-dough pastry-based snack, which originated in Spain, and is popular in Latin America, Brazil, France, Portugal, the USA and Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands. It is sometimes referred to as a Spanish doughnut or Mexican doughnut. The churro is typically fried to a crunchy consistency. Its surface is ridged due to being piped from a churrera, a syringe with a star-shaped nozzle. Churros are generally prisms in shape, and may be straight, curled or spirally twisted. In Andalusia (Spain), a cousin of the churro made with deep-fried wheat flour is sold in spirals or “wheels”, which are cut into manageable portions after frying. These are called porras. Churro making is considered an art and is a tradition that is passed down through generations. Someone who specializes in making churros is held in very high regard. A churro specialist is called a Churrero. Like pretzels, churros are often sold by street vendors who in many cases will fry them freshly on the street stand and sell them hot. Specialized churrerías can be found as street shops or as towable wagons in local fiestas.

== EL RASTRO ==

El Rastro de Madrid or simply el Rastro is the most popular open air flea market in Madrid (Spain). According to municipal rules, el Rastro takes place every Sunday and public holiday of the year, from 9 am to 3 pm, in the barrio de Embajadores (’Ambassador’s district’) in the Central District of Madrid.

The Madrid town council regulates the markets. A maximum of 3500 stalls cover the area from the Plaza de Cascorro, with its statue dedicated to Eloy Gonzalo, in the north, along the main thoroughfare of Ribera de Curtidores and adjoining streets to Calle Embajadores in the east and the Ronda de Toledo and Plaza del Campillo del Mundo Nuevo in the southA great variety of products (new and used) can be found at el Rastro. A number of antique shops in the local area are also open on Sunday

El Rastro’s promotional page advises those wanting a “tourist experience” to go to el Rastro at 11am, as this when the market is busiest. Those wishing to haggle for a bargain in the stalls should be at the market a little earlier, between 9 and 10am. The crowds usually being to thin around midday, as people head for the bars at the edges of the market and around La Plaza de Cascorro for a drink and some tapas. The stalls gradually shut and by 3 or 4 pm (depending if it is winter or summer).

Certain streets or areas within El Rastro are associated, either by tradition or by the gathering of specialist stalls, with particular wares.

Calle Fray Ceferino Gonzales is known as “calle de los Pajáros” (’street of the parrots’) as it was where peddlars and travelling sellers would sell domestic animals and birds and associated paraphenalia. Calle San Cayetano is also known as “calle de los Pintores” (’street of the Painters’), as its permanent stalls sell paintings and drawings and art supplies. Stalls around calle Rodas and the Plaza de General Vara del Rey (formerly Plaza de Antonio Zozaya) and Plaza de Campillo del Mundo Nuevo specialise in buying and selling magazines, trading cards and stamps. A frequent sight in this area is young children swapping and trading with each other. Calle Carnero and calle Carlos Arniches are where bouquinistas sell old, rare and collectible books. The Plaza de Cascorro specialises in selling funky clothing and accessories. Calle Mira el Sol is for the movie buffs with everything from Andrei Tarkovsky to Pajares.

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