The Royal Palace

Madrid - Alive and Welcoming

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November 14th 2008
Today I left Istanbul after a week of fascinating discoveries and arrived in a very welcoming Madrid. The city of Madrid was founded by the Moors and its location was chosen by Emir Mohammed (852-886) as a strategic position to defend Toledo. The city's name, which is Arabic in origin, was reconquered from the Moors in 1085. At this time, most of the inhabitants worked in the fields as this was a ... read more

Europe » Spain » District of Madrid » Madrid

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Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in ... ... read more