Spanish Courses in Madrid
Overview
Madrid, Spain’s largest city and its capital, is famous for its nightlife, cultural liveliness, its squares, its history, its cuisine and its markets.
Why study Spanish in Madrid?
In Spain, different languages are spoken in addition to the standard Spanish, like Catalan and Basque, but Madrid remains one of the best cities to learn and improve one’s Spanish because its residents speak the standard Castilian. Of the 130,000 foreign students that Spain welcomes each year, over 20,000 choose Madrid to study this language, which is becoming indispensable in many areas. There are also many university students from the rest of Europe who move to Madrid to complete their academic education, and international language students will appreciate the possibility of making lifelong friendships with them during a vacation study abroad. Here are some more good reasons to study Spanish in Madrid:
Madrid is the Door to Spain
Felipe II chose Madrid as Spain’s capital for the first time for its privileged position in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula. From Madrid, it is easy to explore the rest of the country. No national destination is more than 4 or 8 hours away thanks to the AVA, Spain’s high-speed train.
Madrid is a Capital of Commerce and Bridge to Latin America
Madrid also serves as a bridge between Europe and Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East, thanks to its past and its privileged geostrategic position. Madrid is a city at the forefront of new technologies and infrastructures. The city hosts the offices of some important national and international companies and institutions (the Spanish Stock Exchange, the Banco de España, the Department of General Administration of the State, and the World Tourism Organization, just to name a few). Fitur, Arco, SIMO, Pasarela Cibeles are just four examples of international fairs that take place every year in Madrid.
Madrid’s Villages and World Heritage
Greater Madrid consists of 179 fascinating municipalities, many of which contain World Heritage monuments, palaces and churches, such as San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Alcalá de Henares or Aranjuez. Just one hour away, language students can visit other UNESCO cities including Toledo, Segovia and Cuenca.
Madrid is LIFE
Life exudes from the movement of the city—the streets are always full of people, and night never seems to fall. La Vida is the very soul of Madrid.
Language Schools and Camps in this Destination
In Madrid, Marshall Language Services offers full-immersion Spanish courses at the following language schools:
- Eureka School of Spanish Language (Spanish courses for adults)
- Instituto Sampere (Spanish courses for adults)
- International House Ih Madrid (Spanish courses for adults)
- Don Quijote (Spanish courses for adults)
Madrid, Spain
Things to Do and See During a Vacation Study
Madrid’s Museo del Prado
The Museo del Prado is without a doubt the most important museum in Madrid, in all of Spain, and one of the most spectacular in Europe. It is impossible to visit everything in a few hours (it houses more than 7,600 paintings and 1,000 sculptures!) but visitors can still get a taste of the works of art that Madrid has been able to collect and preserve with care over the years. To “go for the gold,” visitors should head straight to its collection of Spanish painting, which is the best in the world and includes works by Goya and Velázquez.
Madrid’s Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is located in the heart of old Madrid. It dates back to 1619 and is a perfect example of architecture of the Golden Age. The Plaza Mayor has a rectangular shape and is completely enclosed by three-story buildings, with 237 balconies overlooking it. The Casa de la Panaderia is one of its most beautiful and famous buildings, and at the center is an equestrian statue of King Philip III. Plaza Mayor is the perfect place to have a drink, enjoy the sun and people-watch.
Madrid’s Gran Via
The Gran Via starts from Via Alcalá and ends at Plaza de España, and was built in the early twentieth century to connect the north-west area of the city to the center. Today, it is an important place for shopping, tourism and leisure. The area around Plaza Callao is so full of musical theaters as to merit the title the “Broadway of Madrid.” For Heminway lovers, the Whip Museum offers aperitifs and was a favorite of the writer.
Madrid’s Reina Sofia Museum
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, housed in a former 18th century neoclassical hospital, is the southern point of the Madrid Art Triangle, the museum area in which one of the most important collections of paintings in the world is concentrated. The Reina Sofia’s permanent collection of contemporary art includes many works by the great Spanish artists of the Twentieth Century, such as Picasso, Dalí, Miró and many others.
Madrid’s Mercado del Rastro
Taking place every Sunday morning, the Mercato del Rastro is the most important flea market in the city. There is a bit of everything, from vintage clothes to all kinds to collectibles. Visitors to the market can also enjoy a glass of wine or beer to accompany the famous tapas in one of the many bars nearby.
Madrid’s Parque del Retiro
The Parque del Retiro (or simply El Retiro) is one of the must-see destinations of Madrid. Its 118 hectares of green spaces are ideal for walking, enjoying the weather, or having a picnic with friends. The park is also full of street artists who improvise shows at all hours. In “Statue Way,” there are some dedicated to various kings and queens of Spain and the Fountain of the Rebel Angel, which is dedicated to the devil. La Rosaleda, the Crystal Palace (with its contemporary art exhibitions) and the artificial lake are also not to be missed.
Madrid’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is the third point in Madrid’s Art Triangle. This gallery shows more than 940 pieces from the private collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza family. Those who love Impressionism and Post-Impressionism can admire works by Manet, Renoir, Monet, Degas, Pissaro, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and Kilometer Zero
Perhaps the most famous square in Spain, the Puerta del Sol is the epicenter of Madrid, a venue for events and the 12 tolls that on New Year’s Eve announce the new year. It also represents the zero kilometer of Spain’s road network (the point from which all the roads of the country start) and a favorite place for locals to meet up.
Madrid’s Royal Palace
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family, who use it for state ceremonies. At 135,000 square meters and with its 3,418 rooms, it is the largest Royal Palace in Western Europe. It was built by King Philip V on the site where the Real Alcázar had been located in the 18th century, and is a perfect example of Baroque architecture.
Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Inaugurated in 1947, the legendary Bernabeu has more than 81,000 seats: within those walls, the Real Madrid has become the most successful football team ever. Visitors can take a tour of the stadium museum to admire the many trophies, and to discover the history – and the present – of this historical club, a piece of history of Madrid and of Spain. And, if the wallet and opportunity allows for it, there are always the games!
How to Arrive at your Language Course
By Air
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD) airport is 14 km from the center of Madrid city.
Public transport to the city center:
A train every 30 minutes, 25-minute journey.
Main train stops: Aeropuerto T4, Fuente de la Mora, Chamartin, Nuevos Ministerios, Recoletos
A bus every 10 minutes, 45-minute journey.
Main bus stops: Aeropuerto T4, Aeropuerto T2, Aeropuerto 1, Metro O Donnell, Cibeles
There are direct international flights from:
- USA: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, Boston Logan International, Charlotte Douglas, Chicago O’Hare International, Dallas Fort Worth International, Los Angeles International, Miami International, New York John F. Kennedy, New York Newark, Philadelphia International, Washington Dulles
- Italy: Bologna International, Catania Fontanarossa, Florence, Milan Bergamo, Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Naples International, Olbia, Palermo, Pisa, Rome Ciampino, Rome Fiumicino, Turin, Venice Marco Polo
- Ireland: Cork, Dublin
- South Africa: Johannesburg O.R. Tambo
- Canada: Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Toronto Pearson International