About Madrid
Madrid, Spain's central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry. The city is located on the Manzanares River in the centre of both the country and the Community of Madrid (which comprises the city of Madrid, its conurbation and extended suburbs and villages). The population of the city is almost 3.1 million with a metropolitan area population of around 6.5 million. Madrid is considered one of the top European destinations concerning art museums. Best known is the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three museums. There are many other world class museums and art galleries in Madrid. In the year 2006 Madrid was the fourth most visited city in Europe and the first of Spain, with almost seven million tourists. The nightlife in Madrid is one of the city's main attractions. Tapas bars, cocktail bars, clubs, jazz lounges, live music venues, flamenco theatres, and establishments of all kinds cater to all.
Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in Madrid
Located in central Spain, Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain and home to 3,500 Jews. The history of Madrid Jewry is much like the history of Jews elsewhere in Spain, consisting of periods of great development layered between periods of severe persecution. Though once a thriving center of Jewish life, most of Madrid's Jewish population was brutally murdered during the riots of 1391, while many others fled or converted to escape persecution. Jewish life in Madrid came to an end in 1491 with the expulsion of Jews from all of Spain. Today the Jewish community of Spain has re-established its presence and maintains several synagogues as well as a Jewish day school. Except for the ancient Jewish quarters of the city, few noteworthy Jewish attractions remain in Madrid. Yet, despite the shortage of historical Jewish sites, Madrid plays host to an assortment of national institutions that hold centuries-old Jewish texts not to be found anywhere else in the world. There is one main synagogue on Calle Balmes, there are several shops where you can buy kosher food, and there are also two catering companies, one at the synagogue.
Check out our blog post,
A Jewish Vacation in Madrid: Exploring the Spanish Heritage and Community, to help you plan your kosher vacation to Madrid.
