Calle de Serrano by Yuri Rapoport Calle de Serrano, Madrid, between Calle de Diego de León and Calle
Calle de Serrano by Yuri Rapoport Calle de Serrano, Madrid, between Calle de Diego de León and Calle de Maldonado. Located at the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid is the capital and the largest city of Spain. Unlike other prominent Spanish cities, though, Madrid took its time rising to prominence. By far not as ancient as the likes of Cadiz, Seville or Granada, Madrid’s documented history only dates back to the Muslim era when it was a peripheral town of Al-Andalus at its border with kingdoms of León and Castile, a military stronghold with a fortress built by Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba in the late 9th century. Its primary role was to protect Toledo from Christian raids. When both Toledo and Madrid were conquered by Alfonso XI of Castile in 1085, Madrid’s fortunes improved. Not exposed to a military threat any longer, Madrid gradually grew in importance. In 1309, the Courts of Castile were joined in Madrid under Ferdinand IV, making the city the center of the early phases of the Spanish unification process. Nevertheless, the population of Madrid was a tiny 4,000 by 1530. In 1561, Valladolid, the then capital, suffered from a fire prompting King Philip II to relocate the capital. Although Lisbon looked like an obvious choice at the time, Philip II opted for Madrid as a permanent residence for himself, his wife Elisabeth of Valois and their courts. The choice was all the more unlikely because Madrid does not possess mineral deposits or other natural wealth, nor was it ever a destination of pilgrimages, although its patron saint, San Isidro, enjoys the all-but-unique distinction of having been married to another saint. Thanks to this, however, Madrid became the political center of the monarchy and has remained the capital of Spain ever since (with the exception of a short period from 1601 to 1606). The following decades saw the city evolve rapidly, with geniuses like as Miguel de Cervantes, Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Quevedo and Lope de Vega all helping the cause. The city especially thrived under King Charles III who transformed the city’s architecture and infrastructure. In 1706, during the War of the Spanish Succession, Madrid was occupied by a Portuguese army and a century later, in 1808, the city was captured by Napoleon’s troops which led to the popular uprising. Another period of growth started in the middle of the 19th century under Isabella II, who had the city walls demolished to allow for the expansion of the city. Nowadays, Madrid is an influential global metropolis with advanced political and educational institutions, well-developed industry, infrastructure, finance, science, media, fashion, sports (most notable Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid football clubs), culture, arts scene (Prado Museum a standout) and a vibrant night life [May 28, 2017]. https://flic.kr/p/2inCMUa -- source link
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