Mug Shot — «Madrid - Bear and the Madroño Tree»

City: Madrid Country: Spain Edition: 2008 Icon Edition Belongs to: 700 users (47 trading, 147 seeking)

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million. It is the third-largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third-largest in the European Union after London and Paris. The city is located on the Manzanares river in the centre of both the country and the Community of Madrid; this community is bordered by the autonomous communities of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha. As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political centre of Spain. The current mayor is Ana Botella from the People's Party. The Madrid urban agglomeration has the third-largest GDP in the European Union and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, environment, media, fashion, science, culture, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. Due to its economic output, high standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial centre of Southern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula; it hosts the head offices of the vast majority of the major Spanish companies, such as Telefónica, Iberia or Repsol. Madrid ranks among the 12 greenest European cities in 2010. While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631; the 19th-century National Library building containing some of Spain's historical archives; a large number of National museums, and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: Prado Museum, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which completes the shortcomings of the other two museums. In the years the Cibeles Palace and Fountain have become the monument symbol of the city.

Bear and the Madroño Tree is the Coat of arms of Madrid. It has its origin in the Middle Ages, but was redesigned in 1967. In 2004 a logo it includes a shield similar to the symbol of the city and its council. The shield is Argent, a bear sable supported on a strawberry tree vert fructed gules; on a bordure azure seven stars argent. The shield is adorned with a Grandee crown of gold and precious stones, with eight rosettes alternating with eight pearls; this crown is commonly used in Spanish heraldry for territorial and municipal arms. Statue presented on a mug stands on Puerta del Sol - one of the best known and busiest places in Madrid.

photo by lucky
edited by mobydick74

  Spain, Madrid, MIC, MIT, MIC/MIT

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