“Madrileños” spend their time hanging out in small cafes and terraces, filling streets of the Sunday flea market, knows as the “Rastro”, and revelling until dawn in numerous bars, pubs and discos. The unique spirit of Madrid is both composed and vivacious, making it a perfect destination to study Spanish in Spain.

Sheltered by the central mountain range and the hills of Toledo, the capital of Spain is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. Madrid lies 650 meters above the sea level and almost 300 kilometers inland. Now with almost 4 milion inhabitants is financial, commercial and cultural heart of Spain.

Madrid was established a capital of Spain in 1562 by Philip II. The capital was moved from Toledo to Madrid mainly because of the central location of the city, what was a facilitation for communication after the consolidation of Spanish kingdoms.

Madrid may not have the Roman origins with rich cultural heritage, nor such a strong Moorish influence seen in the south part of Spain but still it is one of the most interesting places. The home of Spanish Royal Family, headquarters for the Public Administaration, Goverment and Parliment, with Museum Prado and Football Club Real Madrid this is the most cosmopolitan cities in this part of Europe.

As situated in zone of continental Mediterranean climate temperatures in Madrid reach even 40 ºC in summer and fall to 5ºC in winter. The contrasts between summer and winter, day and night, and sun and shade are thundering.

The capital of Spain is one of few places in the world where you can get stuck in a traffic jam at 4 am. That`s because it seems that “Madrileños” never sleep. Usually they spend their time hanging out in small cafes and terraces, filling streets of Sunday flea market “Rastro” and reveling till the dawn in a numerous bars, pubs and discos. Than its a time to have cafe con churros, take a shower and... go to work. That`s it! Madrid never sleeps!