Madrid Explained
Video Overview & Insights
Madrid, for a European capital, is surprisingly young. From a medieval fortress to the capital of an empire and a modern metropolis, its history has completely transformed the city. Join me as we explore how its urban form evolved, from the Madrid of the Habsburgs and Bourbons to the modern Madrid.
What is your favorite Spanish city?
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This was so well researched and made, thank you
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Fun and much easier way to see Madrid…the Four Seasons is on my new favorites…
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Welcome to my channel! Dive into the fascinating world of architecture and urban planning as we explore the masterpieces of Ancient Rome, Egypt, the Renaissance, the Middle Ages, and more. Join me on a journey through history, design, and the stories behind iconic structures and cities. Subscribe for insightful videos in multiple languages!
You FORGOT to mention that MADRID was FOUNDED BY ARAB MUSLIMS. Mayrit.
Watch my video explaining Rome: https://youtu.be/e6ZtmXxStMY
Watch my video explaining Paris: https://youtu.be/DOH-HNotTaE
❤
Origins of Madrid: 00:00
Puerta del Sol: 1:37
Διάβαζα ότι η Μεγάλη Πλατεία (Plaza Major) ήταν το κεντρικό θέατρο της Ισπανικής Ιεράς Εξέτασης, ο τόπος της καταδίκης, του εξευτελισμού και του μαρτυρίου. Ξαφνικά ένιωσα μια πικράδα στη γλώσσα μου. Απ' ό,τι φαίνεται, υπάρχουν πολλές ρυτίδες πίσω από το όμορφο πρόσωπο της Μαδρίτης
Plaza Mayor: 2:53
Palacio Real: 6:23
The Moorish citadel had been turned into the Real Alcázar of Madrid (that is, a royal palace) long before Felipe II. The two main renovations were carried out by Juan II (around 1450) and Carlos I (around 1525).
Prado: 9:52
Buen Retiro: 11:37
did you just say "expanding civilisation" to the new world? lol. That's quite a nonsensical phrasing. do better!
Puerta de Alcalá: 12:43
Ensanche: 13:33
No mention to the moors the real builders of the city 😂😂 it’s funny how hard you guys try to erase the Muslim dominance and what Muslims did for Spain , Europe and all humanity 😂😂 but it’s okay because we know
Gran Vía: 14:41
Layers of Madrid: 15:45
Great video. Only comment it that several large streets enter the Plaza Mayor without a view of the statue. But maybe that is just a question of what you see as the major streets.
More User Perspectives
Madrid is quite similar to Warsaw in a way: both are capitals from the ±1500s onwards, both are roughly in the center of the country, and both are "overshadowed" for tourists by other cities in the country. (Barcelona and Krakow.)
@k.s.9400Girona!
@rwrae72awesome
Can we please have some Austria
Excelente video, gracias. Me he suscrito al canal.
@lfarrolasThank you. I have never visited Madrid, so it was very informative, also with regards to history.
@jenslrkedal9219How wonderfully and clearly explained! After this episode, nobody needs any tourist guide for Madrid. Congratulations! Enhorabuena!
@nedadmemic8199Gracias!!! Para mi siempre MADRID! DESDE MADRID PARA EL CIELO!!!
@carlosprieto1242Muy guapo el video, enhorabuena. Te ha faltado comentar la basílica de San Francisco el grande, que le da mil vueltas a la almudena, pero entiendo que las necesidades del video quizá no lo permitían
@whispie.En español manooo
@edwardvargasmelo3299I watched your videos about Paris and Rome, and really enjoyed them. So I started watching your Madrid video, but I was disappointed by how you completely ignored the actual founding history of the city.
Madrid was founded by the Arabs in the 9th century. It was established by Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba (Umayyad dynasty) around 865–886 AD. The original name was Majrīṭ (مجريط), an Arabic name that roughly means “place of abundant water” or “source of water.”
Even the famous Alcázar (the royal palace/fortress) comes from the Arabic word al-qasr (القصر), meaning “the castle” or “the palace.”
Alcalá (as in Puerta de Alcalá) → from Arabic al-qalʿa (القلعة) meaning "the fortress"
Thanks!
@SyedAhmed-uc4yuI live in London and travel to other major European cities on a regular basis - Madrid is definitely on my favourite list of places to visit - The people in Madrid are quite classy - I don't like Barcelona as any time I've been there then the robbers & prostitutes just wont leave you alone - I actually do feel safe in Madrid and it has a great metro system - My other favourite Spanish city is Seville which is a real gem - I love city breaks
@patrickryan5570guiris go home we don't want you here
@tysch_21Madrid enjoys the bluest sky among the european capitals
@rafaelprats5710I first came to Madrid from Ireland in 2019 at 14 and fell in love with the city, the people were lovely and very friendly especially at the Casa de la Moneda.
@katiegriffin9354👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@GegeTorinoSigo esperando la versión en español! :D
Varias veces vi el video en inglés en el momento de publicación para 2 días después salir la versión en español jeje
Siempre me da mucho gusto ver tus videos. Sigue así, paisano.
@Ad-Waldmuy intresante, muy buena historia. muy hermoso alli
@lovelynordichomeSpain just got rich due to South and latin american gold and silver and resources... and luckily Spain didn't get destroyed during 2. WW 😅
@andylee7862Malaga is my favorite city in Spain: hot beaches, cool water, tasty food, Flamenca, Bull Fights, Roman ruins, Catholic Cathedral, Moorish Palace and Castle ruins, lots of unique day-trips.
@lbco5229Ah I lived in madrid for 3 years in calle atocha to be precise I loved it soo much even tho the trash picking up time woke me up I still liked it
@mer5782Madrid is not a beutiful city like Barcelona but is very interesting and grand.
@nacht98El Palacio del Buen Retiro fue la inspiración para el Versalles de Luis XIV.
@n.e.s586404:10 Más que a una herencia islamica el diseño de la Plazs Mayor responde directamente a los ideales racionalistas europeos del Renacimiento.
@n.e.s5864This is an excellent video, great job! It really brings Madrid to life, I learned a lot.
@TedSkidmoreViva la Hispanidad!!!!
@n.e.s5864madrid, the capital of fascism.
@byunbaekhyun2283Great video. The layers and the history of "young Madrid" are clearly and comprehensively explained. I'm from the area, but not from the big capital so I actually don't know that much about the city itself.
I only missed a couple of things:
- More mentions of the arab/mozarab (? mozárabe. idk the english word) past of the city. I mainly think this is important because although maybe architechturally it's less significant, etymologically it is. I also think it would have made an interesting way to mention the river Manzanares
- Something about Franco and the influence of the style of that period on the contemporary Madrid and the outer districts that are now the working class, the exposed brick buildings that most residents call their home, etc.
Maybe a cool bonus would've been to at least mention the M-30, that feels like a huge part of how Madrid is divided in the present.
One of the things I like the most about Madrid is the amount of parks they have. It makes such a difference that even in a big city you can very quickly just go to some green and sit down on the many benches. Not many big cities in other countries have something like that.
@optyfen5276Brilliant presentation thank you! I travel to Spain twice a year from Australia but only ever land at MAD and fly on to BCN. Everyone told me to skip Madrid, nothing to see. Now I know the history and what Madrid has to offer I’m very keen to spend time in Madrid and learn more about this beautiful city. Thank you.
@alanjones7050Live there for a couple of years. I'll always consider it home. ♥
@nesppppits as expensive as toyko
@Dan.RoamingI lived in Madrid for a few years, and I miss the life I had there! I can't wait to visit again this summer!
@Msalazar20110:46 Expanding its civilization you mean commiting genocide. Right?
@danielbello1428There's not much there to be honest. There's no Wow factor anywhere. Lisbon is the same. Third world countries attached to Western Europe.
@MZig-rw7suLoved the video! Its quality is quite simply tremendous.
Just one note, though: even though it is called "Royal Mail House", it is not a post office, nor has that been its function for more than a hundred years (and even before that, in the 19th century, the building was mostly used for other purposes before being completely repurposed).
The building itself has changed functions: from a post office (and customs) to a military base, a ministry, and the Directorate General of Security during Franco's dictatorship (which, among other things, served as a jail where people opposed to the regime were tortured) to what it is today: the Presidency of the Community of Madrid (this should not be confused with Madrid's city government; the community is a sort of pseudo-federal/semi-centralised region that encompasses the entire metropolitan area and has double the population of the city itself). If you saw the news in Mexico or Spain a few weeks ago, you may have been unfortunate enough to hear about its president herself...
Will you translate this video to spanish? I study spanish and your videos provide amazing vocabulary that helps me improve my language skills.
And video is excellent as always!
Wonderful video. It brings back many memories. And next time I visit, I’ll be better informed.
@andrewritchie303I was with my family in Madrid in February 2026, we loved the stay. The city is nice to walk around, clean, feels safe, the museums are great, it's fun to eat tapas in any place at any hour. Great job Spanish brothers! Ciao da Roma.
@guidofoc7057