¶ … Traditional Spanish Culture While the cafe's of Paris may have captured the romantic imagination of Western visitors to the Old Continent, and London's blend of medieval and modern architecture attracts the historically minded, the ancient city of Madrid is home to countless cultural sites, museums, and monuments which are definitely worth exploring. The capital city of Spain and the historical seat of the Spanish monarchy, Madrid is a sprawling metropolitan center located on the banks of the Manzanares River that serves as the economic, political, and cultural heart of the country. Home to approximately 3.3 million residents in Madrid proper, and over 6.5 million within the greater metropolitan area including suburbs and surrounding communities, the city is considered to be the third-largest urban center in the European Union, behind London and Berlin (UN Data, 2013). From the 16th through 18th centuries, when the Spanish empire's naval dominance allowed the nation's dominance to circle the globe, Madrid experienced a corresponding cultural revival, with King Carlos III using his royal authority to transform the venerable city into a capital worthy of his crown. Under the reign of Carols III many of Madrid's most recognizable monuments were constructed, including the Puerta de Alcala (Alcala Gate), and the Museo del Prado (Prado Museum), adding considerably to the city's already rich cultural heritage. These monuments stand along with the Museo Arqueologico Nacional (National Archaeological Museum of Spain), the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Complutense University of Madrid), one of the oldest institutions of learning in the world, and the marble sculpted wonders of the Plaza de Cibeles as five of the most...

Throughout its more than seven centuries of continuous operation, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid has educated many of history's most renowned philosophers, authors, military strategists, and scientists, providing refinement and knowledge to several figures who influenced the course of European civilization. Presently, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid has been consistently ranked among the world's foremost institutions of higher learning, with the university adapting admirably in a successful effort to modernize and meet the educational demands of socially empowered young Spaniards. As the established home of higher education in Madrid, and indeed throughout all of Spain, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid has also managed to accumulate an impressive collection of historical artifacts, works of fine art, and other items of cultural significance, all of which are housed in the university's elaborate network of museums and collections.
While the museums contained within Madrid's largest university are undoubtedly remarkable, any aficionado of history's wonder would be lucky to visit the city's pair of signature museums, the massive Museo del Prado and the Museo Arqueologico Nacional. The Museo del Prado is known as Spain's national sanctuary for fine art, and as it contains much of the former Spanish Royal Collection, the building is home to many of the world's most treasured expressions of classic artistic inspiration.…