Here is a comprehensive summary of the Wikipedia article about Madrid:

Madrid, the bustling capital of Spain, is home to nearly 3.3 million inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in the European Union and a vital political, economic, and cultural center. Its origins trace back to a late 9th-century Muslim fortress, but Madrid truly rose to prominence in 1561 when King Philip II made it the permanent seat of the Spanish court, fostering its development as an administrative hub. Today, Madrid is recognized as an alpha world city and boasts the second-largest GDP in the EU, hosting major Spanish corporations and the headquarters of international organizations like UN Tourism.

Culturally rich, the city is famed for iconic landmarks such as the Royal Palace and the 1631-established Buen Retiro Park, alongside the renowned "Golden Triangle of Art" featuring the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. As a vibrant hub for major international fairs and world-class football clubs like Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, Madrid also serves as a crucial center for Spanish linguistic prescriptivism.