Fun Facts about Madrid

Fun Facts Madrid Second biggest Park: The Retiro park the second biggest park in Madrid after Casa de Campo and is a third of the size of the size of Central Park in Manhattan. It has about 15 000 trees and 20 entrances. Oldest construction: At more than 2 milleniums of age, Templo de Debod is an ancient African structure, as well as a middle aged old resident of Madrid! This old monument was given to Madrid by Egypt in 1968. Hottest Summer Day: The hottest day in Madrid in 92 years occurred this year on the 10th of August 2012. Mercury levels reached 40.5 degrees celcious or 104.9 degree 40.5°C Fahrenheit! Oldest Restaurant: Restaurante Botín is the oldest restaurant in the world. Dont just take my word for it: Guinness World Re- cords certifies that Restaurante Sobrino de Botín, founded in 1725 is the oldest establishment in the world. No wonder personalities from centuries ago to present day like Span- ish painter Goya, American writers Hemingway and Truman Capote as well as Hollywood actors Christopher Reeve and Catherine Zeta Jones have visited it. Major Sporting Competitions: Madrid Masters Tour is a professional tennis tour- nament that takes place in Madrid's Caja Magica sports centre every year during the first week of May attracting top World ATP players. Madrid has also become a popular host of the RedBull motorcross moto bike stunt competition in its famous bullring of Las Ventas. Goya's Ghost, Abre los Ojos, Vantage Point, The Lovers of the Arctic Circle, The Limits of Control and Bourne Ultimatum all have scenes from Madrid including the Gran Via Street, Plaza Mayor and the Atocha Train Station Population: 3.3 million The last census in 2011 revealed a population of 3.3 million people Zero Kilometre: O KM Right in front of the Palace of the Regional Government of Madrid, a stone marks the radial centre of the 6 original and oldest highways of Spain. New Year's Eve Rituals: New Year's Eve revellers gather in the Puerta de Sol square to welcome in the new year by eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight. Most Visited Destination: The Prado museum is one of the top 10 most important museums in DO Europe due to the historical and cultural value of its collection. About 3 million people visited this museum in 2011. Bullfighting: Las Ventas Bullring is the biggest and most important bull- fighting arena in Spain. Its seating capacity is a little less than 24 000 and is the third biggest in the world after bull- fighting rings in Mexico and Venezuela.