Spain

Madrid is Spain’s capital and political center, home to the national parliament (Cortes Generales), the Prime Minister’s seat in Moncloa, and the Royal Palace. Chosen by King Philip II in 1561 for its central location on the Meseta plateau, Madrid became the administrative heart connecting all regions. Barcelona (Catalonia), Seville (Andalusia), and Valencia are major regional capitals but not the national one. To remember: think “Middle = Madrid”—Spain’s capital sits near the country’s geographic center, marked by Puerta del Sol’s “Kilometer Zero.” Real Madrid, the Prado Museum, and grand boulevards also signal its national stature.