What is the capital of Spain?
Madrid is the capital of Spain and its largest city, with about 3.4 million people. It has been the seat of the Spanish court since 1561, apart from a short break.
King Philip II moved the royal court to Madrid in 1561, partly because of its central location on the Iberian Peninsula. From 1601 to 1606, the court moved to Valladolid before returning to Madrid for good.
Madrid is home to the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in Europe, and to world-famous art museums, including the Prado, the Reina Sofía, which holds Picasso's Guernica, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. The Puerta del Sol square marks Kilometer Zero, the starting point of Spain's national roads.
Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain's second-largest city, is the capital of the region of Catalonia, not of Spain. It is famous for Antoni Gaudí's architecture, including the Sagrada Família.
Madrid is known for its art museums, especially the Prado, which holds works by Velázquez, Goya and El Greco, and the Reina Sofía, home to Picasso's Guernica. The Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the largest palaces in Europe. The city is also home to the famous football clubs Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
Did You Know?
At about 650 meters above sea level, Madrid is one of the highest capital cities in Europe.