Madrid is the capital city of Spain of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located on the coast of the river Manzanares. There are more than three million people and it is not only the largest city in Spain but also the third largest city in the whole Europe. It can be characterized by lively artistic, cultural and economic economy and it is the politic centre of Spain. The history of this city can be dated back to the second half of 9th century when Arab Emir Mohamed I decided to build a strong fortifications around the left coast of the river to protect the city, though it actually was the main reason why others became interested in conquering the area. Later on it became the bone of contention between Christians and Arabs. In the 11th century Madrid was finally conquered by Alonso VI.