History of Madrid in Timeline

Madrid, the capital and most populous city of Spain, boasts a population of over 3.4 million within the city and approximately 6.8 million in its metropolitan area. As the second-largest city in the EU after Berlin, Madrid serves as the political, economic, and cultural heart of Spain. Situated on the River Manzanares in the Iberian Peninsula's center, it stands at an elevation of about 660 meters. It is also the capital of the autonomous community of Madrid.

1902: Foundation of Real Madrid

In 1902, Real Madrid was founded.

1903: Foundation of Atlético Madrid

In 1903, Atlético Madrid was founded.

1904: Reference to Snowfall Record Since 1904

From 7 to 9 January 2021, Madrid received the most snow in its recorded history since 1904.

1919: Metro founded

In 1919, the Metro, the rapid transit system serving Madrid, was founded.

1924: Foundation of Rayo Vallecano

In 1924, Rayo Vallecano was founded in the Vallecas neighbourhood of Madrid.

1927: Plan for a new University City

In 1927, a new University City (Ciudad Universitaria) was planned to be built in the district of Moncloa-Aravaca.

1928: Foundation of CD Leganés

In 1928, CD Leganés was founded.

1929: Establishment of Las Ventas Bullring

In 1929, Las Ventas, the largest plaza de toros (bullring) in Spain, was established in Madrid.

May 1931: Burning of convents after riots in May 1931

In May 1931, anti-clerical riots in Madrid led to the burning of convents, worsening the political environment in the city.

1931: Casa de Campo Ceded to Municipality in 1931

Following the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, the Casa de Campo was ceded to the municipality.

1931: Real Madrid Baloncesto Founded

In 1931, Real Madrid Baloncesto was founded and went on to compete in Liga ACB and play their home games at the Palacio de Deportes (WiZink Center).

1931: Sabatini Gardens Opened to the Public in 1931

The Sabatini Gardens, adjacent to the Royal Palace, were opened to the public in 1931.

1931: Madrid Designated as Capital in 1931 Constitution

The Spanish Constitution of 1931 explicitly designated Madrid as the country's capital. During this time, Madrid was demographically young, urbanizing, and becoming a center for new political movements. Illiteracy rates were down to below 20%.

1934: Failed Insurrection in Madrid in 1934

In 1934, an insurrection largely failed in Madrid.

July 1936: Madrid Becomes Republican Stronghold in July 1936

From July 1936, Madrid became a stronghold of the Republican faction and an international symbol of anti-fascist struggle during the Spanish Civil War.

November 1936: Battle in Western Suburbs in November 1936

In November 1936, Madrid's western suburbs were the scene of an all-out battle during the Spanish Civil War, with the city suffering aerial bombing.

1937: Pablo Picasso's Guernica

In 1937, Pablo Picasso created his anti-war masterpiece, Guernica, which is housed in the Reina Sofía National Art Museum in Madrid.

March 1939: Madrid Falls to Francoists in March 1939

In March 1939, Madrid fell to the Francoists, marking a significant turning point in the Spanish Civil War.

1939: EFE Headquarters in Madrid

In 1939, the Spanish international news agency EFE established its headquarters in Madrid since its inception.

January 1945: Lowest Recorded Temperature in January 1945

On 16 January 1945, the lowest recorded temperature was −10.1 °C (13.8 °F) in Madrid. At the airport, the lowest recorded temperature was −15.2 °C (4.6 °F).

1948: Club Baloncesto Estudiantes Founded

In 1948, Club Baloncesto Estudiantes was founded and went on to compete in LEB Oro and play their home games at the Palacio de Deportes (WiZink Center).

1953: Inauguration of Edificio España

In 1953, the Edificio España was inaugurated and presented as the tallest building in Europe, marking a return to an outmoded architectural language after the Spanish Civil War.

1953: Europa Press Founded

In 1953, the privately owned Europa Press, the second news agency of Spain, was founded and headquartered in Madrid.

1956: Proliferation of Shacks in 1956

By 1956, Madrid experienced increased wealth polarization, with as many as 50,000 shacks scattered around the city due to mass immigration from rural areas.

1964: Euro 1964 Final

In 1964, the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid hosted the Euro 1964 Final, which Spain won.

1970: Population Drop from 1970

From 1970 until the mid-1990s, the population of Madrid dropped due to the growth of satellite suburbs.

1970: Government reforms higher education

In 1970, the Government reformed higher education, and the Central University became the Complutense University of Madrid. A new campus at Somosaguas was created to house the new School of Social Sciences.

1971: Secondary campus of Somosaguas founded

In 1971, the secondary campus of Somosaguas, belonging to the Complutense University of Madrid, was founded outside the city limits in Pozuelo de Alarcón.

1972: UNED seeks to translate into action equal opportunity

Since 1972, the National Distance Education University (UNED) has sought to translate into action the principle of equal opportunity in access to higher education through distance learning.

1977: First Pride Parade

In 1977, Madrid's Pride Parade began in the Chueca neighbourhood, marking the beginning of the LGBT rights movement after being repressed for forty years in a dictatorship.

1977: Reopening of the Alcalá campus

In 1977, the old Alcalá campus was reopened as the independent UAH, University of Alcalá.

1978: Campo del Moro Opened to the Public in 1978

The Campo del Moro gardens were opened to the public in 1978.

1978: 1978 Constitution Confirmed Madrid as Capital

The new 1978 constitution confirmed Madrid as the capital of Spain.

1979: First Democratically Elected Mayor in 1979

The 1979 municipal election brought Madrid's first democratically elected mayor since the Second Republic to power.

February 1981: Mass Demonstrations After Failed Coup in February 1981

On 23 February 1981, Madrid was the scene of mass demonstrations of support for democracy after the failed coup, 23-F.

October 1982: Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities

In October 1982, Madrid became part of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities establishing brotherly relations with other cities through a collective statement.

1982: 1982 FIFA World Cup Final

In 1982, the Santiago Bernabéu stadium hosted the FIFA World Cup Final.

1983: Foundation of Getafe CF

In 1983, Getafe CF was founded.

1986: 1986 FIBA World Cup Final

In 1986, Madrid hosted the final matches for the FIBA World Cup at the Palacio de Deportes.

1997: Increase in Green Areas Since 1997

Since 1997, green areas in Madrid have increased by 16%.

2000: Construction Sector Earnings

In 2000, the construction sector earned more than in 2009.

2003: Industrial Gross Value Added Growth

During the period of 2003, Industrial Gross Value Added grew by 4.3%.

2004: Getafe CF Promotion to La Liga

In 2004, Getafe CF was promoted to La Liga for the first time.

July 2005: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

In July 2005, after Spain legalized same-sex marriage, Madrid became one of the largest hot spots for LGBT culture.

2005: Industrial Gross Value Added Growth

During the period of 2005, Industrial Gross Value Added grew by 4.3%.

2005: Madrid Leading European Destination for Migrants in 2005

In 2005, Madrid was the leading European destination for migrants from developing countries, as well as the largest employer of non-European workforce in Spain.

2006: Inauguration of Terminal 4 at Madrid-Barajas Airport

In 2006, Terminal 4 at Madrid-Barajas Airport was inaugurated and won several architectural awards. The terminal is one of the world's largest and features glass panes and domes for natural light.

2006: Creation of Matadero Madrid

In 2006, the Matadero Madrid, a cultural complex, was created with the aim of promoting research, production, learning, and diffusion of creative works and contemporary thought.

2006: "At Risk of Poverty" Classification in 2006

In 2006, the proportion of Madrid's population classified as "at risk of poverty" was 13.0%.

2007: Residential Property Prices Fall Since 2007

Although residential property prices in Madrid have fallen by 39% since 2007, the average price of dwelling space was €2,375.6 per sq. m. in early 2014.

2007: Recession Commencing in 2007

Following the recession commencing 2007/8, recovery was under way by 2014.

2007: Drop in Residential Sector Prices

From 2007 to 2012/13, residential sector prices in Madrid dropped by 25%–27%.

2007: Madrid Hosted EuroPride

In 2007, Madrid hosted EuroPride, which was hailed as "the best EuroPride in history" by the then President of the EPOA.

2007: EuroBasket 2007 final

In 2007, Madrid hosted the EuroBasket final at the Palacio de Deportes.

2007: Cybele Palace Becomes City Hall in 2007

Since 2007, the Cybele Palace (or Palace of Communications) serves as City Hall.

2008: Financial Crisis Impact in 2008

As a consequence of the spillover of the 2008 financial and mortgage crisis, Madrid has been affected by the increasing number of second-hand homes held by banks and house evictions.

2008: Decrease in Industrial Gross Value Added

During the period of 2008, Industrial Gross Value Added decreased by 10%.

2009: IE Business School ranked #1 by WSJ

In 2009, IE Business School was ranked #1 in WSJ's rankings for Best MBA Programs under 2 years, scoring ahead of INSEAD and IMD.

2009: Decrease in Construction Sector Earnings

In 2009, the construction sector in Madrid earned 8% less than it had in 2000.

2010: Industry Contribution to Value-Added

In 2010, industry contributed 7.5% to Madrid's value-added. However, industry has slowly declined within the city boundaries as more industry has moved outward to the periphery.

2010: Construction Sector Contribution

In 2010, the construction sector contributed 6.5% to Madrid's economy.

2010: "At Risk of Poverty" Classification in 2010

In 2010, the proportion of Madrid's population classified as "at risk of poverty" was 15.6%.

2011: City's GDP per capita in 2011

In 2011 the city itself had a GDP per capita 74% above the national average and 70% above that of the 27 European Union member states, although 11% behind the average of the top 10 cities of the EU.

2011: Unemployment Rate

In 2011, Madrid's unemployment rate was 15.8%, which was lower than the overall rate in Spain. The unemployment rate among those aged 16–24 was 39.6%. Additionally, the service sector accounted for 86% of all jobs in Madrid, compared to 74% in all of Spain.

2011: Tourist Spending

In 2011, Tourist spending in Madrid was estimated at €9,546.5M, or 7.7% of the city's GDP.

2011: Labour Force Participation in 2011

In 2011, participation in the labour force was 1,638,200 in Madrid, or 79.0%.

2011: Service Sector Dominance in 2011

In 2011, services accounted for 85.9% of value added in Madrid's economy, while industry contributed 7.9% and construction 6.1%.

2011: Anti-Austerity Protests in 2011

Madrid was a center of the anti-austerity protests that erupted in Spain in 2011.

2012: Drop in Residential Sector Prices

From 2007 to 2012/13, residential sector prices in Madrid dropped by 25%–27%.

2012: Rise in Sales Tax in 2012

In 2012, consumption by Madrid residents was affected by job losses and austerity measures, including a rise in sales tax from 8% to 21%.

2012: Unsuccessful Bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics

Madrid launched an unsuccessful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

2013: Peak Unemployment

In 2013, Madrid's unemployment reached a peak of 19.1%.

2014: Forecast Growth Rate in 2014

Following the recession commencing 2007/8, recovery was under way by 2014, with forecast growth rates for the city of 1.4% in 2014.

2014: Forecast Growth for Services and Industry in 2014

Following the recession, services and industry were forecast to return to growth in 2014.

2014: Economic Recovery and Increased Employment

In 2014, Madrid experienced the start of an economic recovery, leading to an increase in employment.

2014: 2014 FIBA World Cup Final

In 2014, Madrid hosted the final matches for the FIBA World Cup at the Palacio de Deportes.

2014: Madrid taxi fleet in 2014

In 2014, the fleet of taxis in Madrid accounted for 15,600 vehicles.

2014: Average Price of Dwelling Space in 2014

In early 2014, the average price of dwelling space in Madrid was €2,375.6 per sq. m.

2015: UNED student population in 2015

As of 2015, the National Distance Education University (UNED) has the largest student population in Spain with more than 205,000 students.

2015: Valdebebas Park Opened in 2015

As of 2015, the most recent big park in the municipality is the Valdebebas Park, covering a total area of 4.7 km (1.8 sq mi).

2015: Forecast Growth Rate in 2015

Following the recession commencing 2007/8, recovery was under way by 2014, with forecast growth rates for the city of 2.7% in 2015.

2015: Forecast Growth for Construction in 2015

Following the recession, construction was forecast to return to growth in 2015.

2015: Leganés Earns Promotion to La Liga

In 2015, for the first time in their history, Leganés earned promotion to La Liga for the 2015–16 season.

2015: Left-Wing Mayor Takes Office in 2015

In 2015, the mandate of left-wing Mayor Manuela Carmena began, delivering the renaturalization of the course of the Manzanares across the city.

2016: Forecast Growth Rate in 2016

Following the recession commencing 2007/8, recovery was under way by 2014, with forecast growth rates for the city of 2.8% in 2016.

2016: Getafe CF Competes in La Liga

In 2016, Getafe CF was participated in the top level of Spanish football.

2016: Madrid announces diesel car ban

In 2016, it was announced that Madrid will stop the use of all diesel powered cars and trucks within the next decade.

2016: Creation of Mad Cool Festival

In 2016, the Mad Cool festival was created in Madrid.

2016: Average Life Expectancy in 2016

In 2016, the average life expectancy in the wider Madrid region was 82.2 years for males and 87.8 years for females.

2016: Unsuccessful Bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics

Madrid launched an unsuccessful bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

2017: WorldPride Madrid

In 2017, Madrid celebrated the 40th anniversary of their first Pride Parade by hosting WorldPride Madrid 2017, which included numerous conferences, seminars, workshops, cultural activities, and sports activities. More than one million people attended the pride's central march.

2017: GDP of Community of Madrid in 2017

In 2017, the Community of Madrid had a GDP of €220B, equating to a GDP per capita of €33,800.

2017: Getafe CF Competes in La Liga

Since 2017, Getafe CF has been participating in the top level of Spanish football.

2018: Peak Ranking of CD Leganes

In 2018, CD Leganes reached a peak of 13th in La Liga.

2018: Madrid Central low-emission zone ban

In 2018, Cars (except for hybrid and electric vehicles as well as residents and guests) were banned in the Madrid Central low-emission zone.

2018: Madrid bans non-resident vehicles

In 2018, Madrid banned all non-resident vehicles from its downtown areas.

2018: Tourism in Madrid

In 2018, Madrid received 10.21 million tourists, with 53.3% being international. The majority of international tourists came from the United States, followed by Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. As of 2018, the city had 793 hotels, 85,418 hotel places, 43,816 hotel rooms, and an estimated 20,217 tourist apartments.

2018: Mad Cool Festival Attendance

In 2018, the Mad Cool festival reached an attendance of 240,000 during the three-day event.

2018: Madrid Municipal Police Workforce in 2018

In 2018, the Madrid Municipal Police (Policía Municipal de Madrid) had a workforce of 6,190 civil servants.

2018: Museum Visitors

In 2018, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía was the most visited museum in Madrid, with 3.8 million visitors. The Prado Museum had 2.8 million visitors, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum had 906,815 visitors.

2018: Unemployment Rate in Second Quarter

In the second quarter of 2018, Madrid's unemployment rate was 10.06%.

2018: Netflix's Madrid Production Hub

Since 2018, Madrid has been home to Netflix's Madrid Production Hub, along with Mediapro Studio and Viacom International Studios, solidifying its position as a film and television production hub.

2018: Madrid Pride Participants

The 2018 Madrid Pride roughly had 1.5 million participants.

April 2019: Plan to Regulate Tourist Apartments

In April 2019, the plenary of the ayuntamiento in Madrid passed a plan intending to regulate the practice of tourist apartments, aiming to limit their number and enforce a requirement for independent access.

June 2019: Change in Municipal Administration

In June 2019, after a change of government, the new municipal administration in Madrid planned to revert the regulation of tourist apartments.

2019: Religious Beliefs Survey in 2019

According to a 2019 survey, 20.7% of respondents in Madrid identify as practising Catholics, 45.8% as non-practising Catholics, and the remaining respondents hold other religious beliefs or no religious beliefs.

2019: Madrid Metro statistics

As of 2019, the Madrid Metro has 302 stations.

2019: Fastest-Growing Immigrant Group in 2019

As of 2019, the fastest-growing group of immigrants in Madrid were Venezuelans, with a population of 60,000.

2019: Employment in Film and Television Industry

As of 2019, the film and television industry in Madrid employed 19,000 people locally, representing 44% of the people in Spain working in this industry.

2019: Champions League final at the Metropolitano

In 2019, Madrid hosted the Champions League final at the Metropolitano stadium.

2019: End of Left-Wing Mayor's Mandate in 2019

In 2019, the mandate of left-wing Mayor Manuela Carmena ended, during which she delivered the renaturalization of the course of the Manzanares across the city.

2019: José Luis Martínez-Almeida Becomes Mayor in 2019

José Luis Martínez-Almeida, a member of the People's Party, has served as mayor of Madrid since 2019.

2019: Madrid hosts Davis Cup finals

Since 2019, Madrid hosts the finals of the major tournament for men's national teams, Davis Cup.

2020: Immigrant Population in 2020

In 2020, around 76% of the registered population of Madrid was Spain-born, with a significant portion of the foreign-born population coming from the Americas.

2020: Business schools investment in Madrid

In 2020, the most important Spanish business schools (IESE, IE, ESADE) invested 125 million euros in expanding their campuses in Madrid.

2020: Unsuccessful Bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics

Madrid launched an unsuccessful bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

January 2021: Heavy Snowfall in January 2021

From 7 to 9 January 2021, Madrid received the most snow in its recorded history since 1904, with between 50 and 60 cm of accumulated snow.

August 2021: Highest Recorded Temperature in August 2021

On 14 August 2021, the highest recorded temperature in central Madrid's Retiro Park was 40.7 °C (105.3 °F). At the airport, the highest recorded temperature was 42.7 °C (108.9 °F).

2021: Rayo Vallecano Secured Promotion

In 2021, Rayo Vallecano secured promotion to La Liga.

2021: Scheduled Opening of Museo de las Colecciones Reales

In 2021, the Museo de las Colecciones Reales is tentatively scheduled to open next to the Royal Palace and the Almudena. The museum is intended to host outstanding pieces of the Royal Collections part of the Patrimonio Nacional.

2021: Estudiantes Relegation

Until 2021, Estudiantes was one of only three teams that had never been relegated from Spain's top division.

January 2024: Madrid to host 2026 Spanish Grand Prix

In January 2024, Formula 1 announced that Madrid will host the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix around the IFEMA exhibition centre in Campo de las Naciones.

2025: Madrid's Population in 2025

In 2025, Madrid had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper and approximately 6.8 million in its metropolitan area, making it the second-largest city in the European Union after Berlin.