MADRID
Beauty spots in the Castilian meseta
Madrid Community (as it is known nowadays), is the direct result of its rich historic legacy, reinforced both by the marks of people and also by some difficulties that have appeared throughout time and history.
Besides Madrid, a cosmopolitan city that contrasts with its important old quarter and also its cultural traditions, the region surrounding suggests the visitor the possibility to discover a great variety of landscapes.
Manzanares river is the main character in the north-occidental zone in Madrid community, as it is in fact in the high basin of the river were there is the Regional Park, a real treasure inside the Guadarrama mountain range, declared UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserve. The high Valley of Lozoya is another of those outstandingly beautiful spots. Another example is the reservoir of Pinilla, flanked by the villagesof Lozoya and Pinilla del Valle, and also the Nature Reserve of La Cumbre, Circo and Lagunas de Peñalara, standing in the very highest point of la Sierra (Madrid’s Mountain Range).
For those who love spelunking there is the Cave of Reguerillo, in Cerro de la Oliva, where you can admire cave engravings dated in the Palaeolithic. Besides, there are lots of towns and villages like Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez or Manzanares del Real where you will enjoy an exceptional nature surrounding and you will be able to taste autochthonous gastronomy
PEOPLE
The locals are hospitable, and show empathy with anyone. They are friendly and supportive, and they enjoy sharing everything: the appetiser, the walks with friends, the social gatherings or the night party. Madrid is the city that never sleeps.
GASTRONOMY
The stellar dish is the madrileño stew, but you have to try the famous callos a la madrileña (tripe), bocadillo de calamares (squid roll), huevos estrellados (eggs sunny-side-up), gallinejas, torrijas, churros and porras (fritters) and anisette of Chinchón.
CULTURE
The festival of the heifer, the celebrations in honour to the Remedies Christ of San Sebastián de los Reyes, the Cervantes Week of Alcalá de Henares, or the Fair of San Isidro. And do not miss visiting the famous flea market of El Rastro.