The population of Madrid is one of the largest in all of western Europe. Although smaller than major cities such as London and Paris, Madrid---which has been the capital of Spain since the 17th century---is Spain's largest city. According to SpanishTownGuides.com, the city has more than 3 million residents and the province surrounding Madrid has about 5 million people as of 2005.
As one of the most popular cities in Spain, Madrid also has millions of tourists each year. Close to 6 million people flock to Madrid to visit the city's historic sites and modern conveniences. Madrid has many popular historic tourist sites--ranging from the grand metropolis, Palacio de Cristal, and the Retiro--that stem from its Arabian and Christian influences.
Although many people think the name Madrid has Spanish origins, the name "Madrid" actually has Arabic origins. It stems from the Arabic word "magerit," which definition means "place of many streams."
Madrid is home to more days without clouds than any other major city in Europe---averaging about 250 days per year. It has an average temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year and it averages almost 17 inches of rainfall per year.
Madrid is home to a football team called Real Madrid FC. This team plays out of Bernabeu stadium, which holds up to 85,000 fans. The team is also considered the most successful football club of the 20th century by Fifa--the International Federation of Association Football--which is the league that governs professional soccer across the globe.
Originally conquered by the Arabs, Spain later became the conquest of the Christians around the 11th century. Spain constructed safety improvements around the 17th century--creating a large city wall that surrounded the entire city and its people.
