Overview
Hola Amigos and Amigas! Welcome to the beating heart one of Europe's most vibrant and colourful nations. Like the succulent vine-ripened tomatoes that flavour the local dishes Madrid is bursting with a juicy intensity that has been delighting visitors for centuries. Enjoying the delights of ‘la calle', the street, is what this Madrid is all about and the city seems as if it's in a permanent mood for good food, great wine and a legendary ‘fiesta'. The locals, madrileños, have a great love of outdoor wining and dining and this brings a warm and energetic atmosphere with hundreds of people enjoying their evening ‘cocido madrileno' - hearty meal- in one of Madrid's many historic and bustling ‘plazas'.

These plazas also act as the arteries for lively social gathering. Over 6 million tourists visit Madrid every year and Madrid is especially known for its friendly inhabitants and if ever there was cause for celebration and bringing people together Madrid is numero uno.

Mad about Madrid
With tight curfews becoming tighter than the trousers in many a great European city it's good to know that Madrid is one grand capital where a relaxed and friendly atmosphere still prevails. As a top tourist destination it's got spectacular outdoor parks such as ‘El Retiro' where you can take a boat ride out on the lake while being entertained by the lakeside performers and marvel at the presence of ‘El Angel Caido' - the only public statue in existence in dedication to the devil. Jaw-dropping art and cultural centres abound in Madrid with The Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia Museums regarded as the ‘big three'. These attract millions of tourists to Madrid on their merits alone and fans of Goya and Picasso will delight in the abundance of masterpieces by these national heroes. Look out for ‘Guernica' Picasso's famed depiction of the Spanish civil war at the Reina Sofia, possibly the most beloved and moving piece by the Spanish cubist.

Madrid by Day
Sure the city is famous for what gets going once the sun has set but Madrid-by-day is a marvel of quaint streets, inexpensive places for tasty refreshments and awash with cultural activity, particularly during the city's many local festivals. The principal day of festival is on May 15 which is the day in honour of San Isidro Labrador, Madrid's patron saint, who is honoured how any good saint should be honoured- with trade fairs, song, dance, beauty pageants and fighting bulls. If you fancy an awesome panorama of Spain's capital then an aerial cable car trip at the Parque del Oeste will take your breath away in spectacular fashion on a 2.5km aerial trip will take you to the largest park in Madrid, the Casa de Campo.

Madrid by Night
It's Saturday night every night in Spain's lively capital. If you still have energy after your day out in Madrid you'll need every ounce of it to keep up with the locals as they take to the evening with mucho gusto. Salsa, sangria and the swinging beats of the evening will take you on your way as you drink and dance as though daybreak was just a flight of fancy. Madrid is famous for traffic jams in the early hours of the morning when revellers rush from their nighttime locales straight to their places of work, it may be a little ‘devil may care' for us in real life but for a few brief moments La Vida loca can certainly teach us to live life as the wonderful fiesta that it is.

A Taste of Madrid
The ‘Plaza Mayor' is a colourful hub of activity and commerce and those wanting to get into the spirit of the myriad local delicacies must head to any one of the ‘calamar bars' which serve a delicious local delicacy ‘bocatas de calamares' - fried squid-ring sandwiches on buns. Washing one of those down with a glass of Cerveza will hit the spot and not the hip pocket at just a few euros apiece. The Spanish are also a generous lot when it comes to their world famous tapas bars and will often give you complementary tapas to go with your drinks. Also look out for delicacies of ham, cheeses and olives.

Conferences and Meetings
Being the nation's capital and the second largest commercial hub, Madrid has an absolutely phenomenal selection of hotels and meeting venues that suit groups of all sizes and most importantly many hotels tend to employ staff who are bilingual and often have a good grasp of English.

Currency
The former Spanish currency has been replaced by the Euro and the rate is roughly 1.45.

How much do things cost?
In comparison to other cities in Spain Madrid can be on the pricey side however in comparison to other capital cities such as London and Paris, the cost of eating, staying and getting around the city is extremely good value and is roughly ¾ the cost of staying and getting around London.

Getting Around Madrid
A compact and easy city to get around, Madrid can be explored on foot with relative ease. For those who like their underground, the Madrid Metro is one of the world's largest and most extensive metro networks in the world. There is no difference between cabs and mini-cabs as only official taxis are legal and available.

Weather
Madrid has four seasons. Summer can be brutally hot and is almost always sunny. Winter is cool to cold and can be damp. Snow is rare in Madrid, but you can get it in the mountains. Autumn is wonderful. Spring is wet and rainy. The humidity level is low due to the desert climate of Madrid. 13ºC (57ºF). Summer 23ºC (73ºF) and winter 7ºC (47ºF). Sun Factor: About 250 days a year

What Do Chillisauce Do For You?
Essentially we provide a one stop shop for sorting out everything for your stay in Madrid. We live, eat and breathe corporate events and weekends and after years of fine tuning, we know what makes a first class stay. As with any tourist hot spot the availability of accommodation is crucial and our partnerships with both hotels and top quality activities will ensure that you don't need to risk taking your colleagues on a dud event. So have a look through the enclosed ideas and give us a call - we're more than happy to answer any of your questions and look forward to giving you a top event!