Madrid's moment

To be recognised as one of the world's finest cities, Madrid has had to become more Madrid.

Photo by Carlos Zurita on Unsplash

Autumn is for Madrid.

While the Mediterranean coast deploys torrential tantrums to wring summer out of its system, Madrid jolts into life like the resume button on a treadmill that’s been paused on speed 20.

The well-heeled Madrileños with topped-up tans waltz back into the city, beautiful faces reflecting the fluorescent lights of the Gran Via night. These are the weeks when the pre-lunch vermut can be enjoyed out on the terraza. The sunshine again enjoyed, not escaped. These are the days when Madrid reassumes its status as one of the best cities in the world to live - for those with the wallets and autonomy to enjoy its best and escape its worst.

Madrid on a whim

For me, Madrid became home in 2016 on a blind punt. I knew nothing about the city beyond its Galáctico footballers and the March 2004 commuter train bombings that killed 192 people.

“Like many Europeans, we barely knew Madrid,” wrote Financial Times journalist Simon Kuper about the school year …