By: john albert
Submitted: 2010-07-29 04:47:08 | Word Count: 492
Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain. It is not like Paris, London or even Barcelona which you have immediate crush at the first sight because there no Eiffel Tower, no Big Ben, or Colosseum. However, as it sings in the song ‘Madrid, incredible’.
With a population of 3.3 million, the city is full of diversity. Most of the Madrilènes were not born in Madrid actually. That’s why people always say that ‘if you are in Madrid, you are from Madrid’. The diversity in Madrid has made itself one of the most open and welcoming metropolitan city in Europe.
Real Madrid
Do not be misled. I am not talking about the capital city in Spain; instead, Real Madrid is one of the world’s top football clubs. Madrid is home to Real Madrid which has won a record 9 European Cups. During one period, people call it ‘warship of the Galaxy’ as it has attracted too many world famous players such as David Beckham from England, Zinedine Zidane from France, Louis Figo from Portugal and the prince of Real Madrid Raul from Spain.
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Madrid Barajas Airport
Madrid Barajas Airport which is 12 km (8 miles) northeast of city centre of Madrid is the major international airport serving Madrid in Spain. It is Spain’s largest and busiest airport and Europe’s fourth busiest.
In terms of the airport name, it is not ‘Madrid Airport’ but ‘Madrid Barajas Airport’ which is because that Barajas is a district in Madrid, which is the gateway to the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of the world and is the prominent link to Latin America for Europe.
Each year, Madrid Barajas Airport serves around 48 million passengers from all over the world.
In the year of 2006, with an investment of €1 billion, the new Terminal 4 opened in February. It mainly serves for Iberia airline which is responsible for up to 60% of Barajas‘s traffic and all Oneworld alliance member including British Airways, American Airlines and so forth. The new Terminal is made up a new terminal building, a satellite building and two new runways. In this way, Madrid Barajas Airport gains the capability to handle 70 million passengers twice than before annually.
Terminal 4 was designed by Antonio Lamela and British architect Richard Rogers. It won the RIBA Sterling Prize 2006 for outstanding architecture and the 2006 IStructE Award for Commercial Structures.
In 2008, Madrid Barajas Airport was even voted to be the best airport by Condé Nast Traveller.
Car rental in Madrid
Madrid is a place for people who seek for freedom and romance, so what would be more romantic can free than hiring a car to explore this city? Car hiring service is easily accessible and there are plenty of suppliers listed for you. Compare and contrast to find out the one which best suitable for you: Companies include Avis, Europcar, Hertz and National Atesa, with desks located in terminals 1, 2 and 4. AeroCity-Ares Mobile provides chauffeur-driven cars.
