Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and its monocentric metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU. The municipality covers 604.3 km2 (233.3 sq mi) geographical area.
Madrid lies on the River Manzanares in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula. Capital city of both Spain (almost without interruption since 1561) and the surrounding autonomous community of Madrid (since 1983), it is also the political, economic and cultural centre of the country. The city is situated on an elevated plain about 300 km (190 mi) from the closest seaside location. The climate of Madrid features hot summers and cool winters.
While Madrid possesses modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighborhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera House;
the Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631; the 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain’s historical archives; many national museums, and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which complements the holdings of the other two museums. Cibeles Palace and Fountain has become one of the monument symbols of the city.These impressive black and white photos were taken by Spanish photographer Julio López Saguaro that show street scenes of Madrid in the 1980s.Geometry, Madrid, 1980
Calle de la Princesa, Madrid, 1981
Beggars, Calle de Goya, Madrid, 1983
Parque Eva Duarte de Perón, Madrid, 1983
Traffic, Madrid, 1983
Juggler, El Retiro, Madrid, 1984
Three, El Retiro, Madrid, 1984
Caramelos Paco, Madrid, 1985
Door, Madrid, 1985
Estación de las Delicias, Madrid, 1985
Estación del Norte, Madrid, 1985
Raining, Eva Duarte de Perón park, Madrid, 1985
Seat 600, Madrid, 1985
Tyres, Madrid, 1985
Zoo, Madrid, 1985
Atocha Station before the reform, Madrid, 1986
Catering, Estudios Barajas, Madrid, 1986
Estación del Norte, Madrid, 1986
Facturación, Estación del Norte, Madrid, 1986
No title, Nuevo Versalles, Fuenlabrada, Madrid, 1986
Pinto, Madrid, 1986
Skeleton, Nuevo Versalles, Fuenlabrada, Madrid, 1986
Talleres García, Alcorcón, Madrid, 1986
Abandoned, Alcorcón, Madrid, 1987
Cleaning, Estación del Norte, Madrid, 1987
Concert, Plaza de la Villa, Madrid, 1987
Downloading, Madrid, 1987
Estación del Norte, Madrid, 1987
Freeze, Madrid, 1987
Medical strike, El Retiro, Madrid, 1987
Smoke, Estación del Norte, Madrid, 1987
The Ritz, Madrid, 1987
Bingo, Casa de Campo, Madrid, 1988
Fair, Casa de Campo, Madrid, 1988
Former El Águila Beer Factory, Antigua Fábrica de Cerveza El Águila, Madrid, 1988
Lunch, Madrid, 1988
Night, Alcorcón, Madrid, 1988
Traffic, Plaza de Colón, Madrid, 1988
El Rastro, Madrid, 1989
Metro, Ciudad de la Imagen, Madrid, 1989