Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain, with around 3.5 million people in the municipality and more than six million across the wider metropolitan area. The first historical record of Madrid dates from 865, when the Muslim emir Muhammad I ordered the construction of a fortress at Mayrit beside the Manzanares River, although the settlement remained relatively modest until Philip II established his royal court here in 1561. Today the historic centre is centred around Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, with major landmarks including the Royal Palace, Retiro Park, Gran Vía and the Prado Museum. Despite its size, many of the central districts are easily explored on foot, while an extensive Metro system connects the wider city. Madrid also played a central role in the development of Spanish heavy metal during the early 1980s. Barón Rojo and Obús were both formed in Madrid in 1980 and became two of the defining bands of the country’s first major heavy metal generation, helping establish the capital as one of Spain’s most important centres for hard rock and metal.

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