Viva Espana

European joie de vivre, affordable living and world-class dining seemingly on every corner – the Spanish capital holds its own.

 

- Chris Rae

Autumn has settled on the Spanish capital of Madrid like the return of an old, familiar friend. The hellish temperatures of the summer heatwave dubbed “Lucifer” have finally abated and Madrileños who fled to the relatively cooler climes of the Mediterranean coast have now returned to their city. Restaurants and businesses that closed up shop through the oppressive heat of summer are now back up and running. On the football pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo and his colleagues at Real Madrid are looking to establish their dominance in La Liga for another season.

Madrid has the highest number of green spaces per inhabitant in Europe and in its many famous parks the leaves have begun their transition to hues of red and yellow. The famous Parque del Buen Retiro, or Park of the Pleasant Retreat, certainly lives up to its name much more in this season, when the average daytime temperatures sit at around 20 degrees, and one doesn’t need to constantly seek shady respite under the next tall tree. A stroll through the park leads to Salamanca, a luxurious enclave in the geographical heart of the city.