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2nd Comenius 2nd Comenius MeetingMeeting

(Madrid 4th – 8th March 2013)(Madrid 4th – 8th March 2013)

Introducing Spain, Madrid and Parque Aluche Introducing Spain, Madrid and Parque Aluche School.School.

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SpainSpain Spanish cultureSpanish culture is widely known  is widely known

for Flamenco music and for Flamenco music and dance, bullfights, dance, bullfights, fantastic beaches and lots of fantastic beaches and lots of sunshine. But what is Spain sunshine. But what is Spain known for? It has much more to known for? It has much more to offer than that. It is - and has offer than that. It is - and has been for thousands of years, one been for thousands of years, one of the cultural centers of Europe. of the cultural centers of Europe.

Spain is among those countries Spain is among those countries that have a long history of that have a long history of invasions and invaders. This, invasions and invaders. This, summed up with its geographic summed up with its geographic location, have together resulted in location, have together resulted in the formation of a very unique, yet the formation of a very unique, yet rich and diverse culture. rich and diverse culture.

The country has the second The country has the second highest UNESCO World Heritage highest UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world (a total of 44), Sites in the world (a total of 44), with 39 being only cultural sites.with 39 being only cultural sites.

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Some factsSome facts

PopulationPopulation: 47,042,984 .: 47,042,984 . Total areaTotal area: 504,782 sq km.: 504,782 sq km. Administrative divisionAdministrative division: 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous : 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous

cities.cities. ClimateClimate:  Mild, with clear, hot summers in the interior and more moderate :  Mild, with clear, hot summers in the interior and more moderate

and cloudy weather along the coast. The winters are cold in the interior and cloudy weather along the coast. The winters are cold in the interior and partly cloudy and cool along the coast.and partly cloudy and cool along the coast.

LanguagesLanguages: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, : Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, and Basque 2% . and Basque 2% .

ReligionReligion: Roman Catholic 70%, other faith 2.7% .: Roman Catholic 70%, other faith 2.7% . Government typeGovernment type: Parliamentary Monarchy. : Parliamentary Monarchy. Major citiesMajor cities – population: MADRID (capital) 5,762 million; Barcelona – population: MADRID (capital) 5,762 million; Barcelona

5,029 million; Valencia 812,000.5,029 million; Valencia 812,000.

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MadridMadrid Madrid, the capital of Spain, is Madrid, the capital of Spain, is

also known for being the also known for being the country's largest city as well as country's largest city as well as a center of arts and industry. a center of arts and industry. Located at the geographical Located at the geographical center of the Iberian center of the Iberian Peninsula, the inhabitants of Peninsula, the inhabitants of Madrid enjoy a vibrant street Madrid enjoy a vibrant street life, keeping late hours life, keeping late hours strolling the streets and strolling the streets and passing time in the many passing time in the many outdoor cafés. Madrid is very outdoor cafés. Madrid is very much a modern city, with much a modern city, with many museums, parks and many museums, parks and public gardens. The people of public gardens. The people of Madrid express their love for Madrid express their love for their city with the local their city with the local proverb, "From Madrid to proverb, "From Madrid to heaven." heaven."

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Top 10 Madrid sights:Top 10 Madrid sights:

Royal PalaceRoyal Palace. Madrid's most beautiful building, the largest royal palace in Western . Madrid's most beautiful building, the largest royal palace in Western Europe. Europe. 

Puerta del SolPuerta del Sol. Madrid's most central and best known square. . Madrid's most central and best known square.  Plaza MayorPlaza Mayor. Marvellous enclosed square, perfect to sit outside and watch people.. Marvellous enclosed square, perfect to sit outside and watch people. Templo de DebodTemplo de Debod. An authentic Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid! . An authentic Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid!  Madrid CathedralMadrid Cathedral. Madrid's largest and most important church. . Madrid's largest and most important church.  Plaza de la VillaPlaza de la Villa. Incredibly historic square, home to important historic buildings. . Incredibly historic square, home to important historic buildings. Puerta de AlcaláPuerta de Alcalá. A Madrid icon, this old city gate even has a song dedicated to it!. A Madrid icon, this old city gate even has a song dedicated to it! Gran VíaGran Vía. Madrid's most famous and most central street, also called the Spanish . Madrid's most famous and most central street, also called the Spanish

Broadway. It’s close to the main shopping area.Broadway. It’s close to the main shopping area. Plaza de CibelesPlaza de Cibeles. Central square where Real Madrid celebrates championship wins . Central square where Real Madrid celebrates championship wins

and home to the Bank of Spain. and home to the Bank of Spain.  Plaza de OrientePlaza de Oriente. Beautiful square located in front of the Royal Palace. . Beautiful square located in front of the Royal Palace. 

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Debod Temple

Puerta del Sol (“Sun Puerta del Sol (“Sun Square”)Square”)

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Gran Vía

Alcalá Gate

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Plaza Mayor (Main Square)

Royal Palace

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Things to do in Madrid:Things to do in Madrid:

Watch flamencoWatch flamenco. Madrid is a stage for some of the best flamenco dancers in the world.. Madrid is a stage for some of the best flamenco dancers in the world. Watch Real Madrid playWatch Real Madrid play. The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium plays host to one of the best . The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium plays host to one of the best

football teams in the world. football teams in the world.  Take an open-topped bus tourTake an open-topped bus tour. See the most important sights and monuments in under 2 . See the most important sights and monuments in under 2

hours, enabling you to choose which to visit later. hours, enabling you to choose which to visit later.  Try some tapasTry some tapas and Spanish traditional cuisine.  and Spanish traditional cuisine.  Take a ride on Madrid's cable carTake a ride on Madrid's cable car. The Teleférico gives visitors wonderful panoramic views . The Teleférico gives visitors wonderful panoramic views

of many of the capital's best sights & attractions.of many of the capital's best sights & attractions. Walk in the ParkWalk in the Park. Enjoy the wide open spaces, rose-garden, boating lake, and the wonderful . Enjoy the wide open spaces, rose-garden, boating lake, and the wonderful

street theatre at the Retiro Park. street theatre at the Retiro Park.  Go to the RastroGo to the Rastro. Madrid's weekly flea market allows you to buy almost anything under the . Madrid's weekly flea market allows you to buy almost anything under the

sun! sun!  Try chocolate con churrosTry chocolate con churros. After all the activity above, you'll need to restore your energy . After all the activity above, you'll need to restore your energy

with some with some chocolate with churros chocolate with churros (typical fried pastry). (typical fried pastry).

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Madrid museums:Madrid museums: The PradoThe Prado. One of Europe's premier art . One of Europe's premier art

museums, a must when visiting Madrid. museums, a must when visiting Madrid.  The Reina SofiaThe Reina Sofia. Picasso's 'Woman in Blue' and . Picasso's 'Woman in Blue' and

Guernica paintings are just 2 of the highlights. Guernica paintings are just 2 of the highlights.  The ThyssenThe Thyssen Some say this is the world's best Some say this is the world's best

private art collection. private art collection.  CaixaForumCaixaForum. A new addition to Madrid's cultural . A new addition to Madrid's cultural

offering. The buliding includes an amazing offering. The buliding includes an amazing vertical garden. vertical garden. 

Railway MuseumRailway Museum. . housed in the old Delicias housed in the old Delicias station to the southeast of the city centre.station to the southeast of the city centre.

Museo SorollaMuseo Sorolla. The studio-mansion of the . The studio-mansion of the Impressionist painter.Impressionist painter.

Archaeological MuseumArchaeological Museum. Fully renovated, it . Fully renovated, it offers a journey through history and the different offers a journey through history and the different peoples and cultures in Spain.peoples and cultures in Spain.

National Museum of National ScienceNational Museum of National Science: With : With over 6 million specimens in its collections! over 6 million specimens in its collections!

Naval MuseumNaval Museum. One of the most important in the . One of the most important in the world.world.

Wax Museum, Wax Museum, a journey through history with a journey through history with waxwork figures.waxwork figures.

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Boys on the beach, by Sorolla

Guernica, by Picasso

Diplodocus, at the Science Museum

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Our neighbourhood: Our neighbourhood: AlucheAluche

With 75.871 inhabitants, Aluche is the most densely populated neighbourhood in With 75.871 inhabitants, Aluche is the most densely populated neighbourhood in Madrid. It is situated south- west of the city, near the Casa de Campo (one of the Madrid. It is situated south- west of the city, near the Casa de Campo (one of the biggest green areas in Madrid). biggest green areas in Madrid).

Aluche has excellent communication with the city centre, which can be easily reached Aluche has excellent communication with the city centre, which can be easily reached by underground, suburban train or bus (the jouney time is about 20 minutes).by underground, suburban train or bus (the jouney time is about 20 minutes).

It is a lively neighbourhood full of shops, residential areas, parks, schools and leisure It is a lively neighbourhood full of shops, residential areas, parks, schools and leisure facilities.facilities.

Aluche is a multicultural district, with people coming from various regions of Spain Aluche is a multicultural district, with people coming from various regions of Spain and different countries of the world, especially from South America and Eastern and different countries of the world, especially from South America and Eastern Europe. Aluche is an excellent example of a neighbourhood where different ethnic Europe. Aluche is an excellent example of a neighbourhood where different ethnic groups, cultures and religions coexist peacefully.groups, cultures and religions coexist peacefully.

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Parque Aluche Secondary Parque Aluche Secondary SchoolSchool

Our school was founded in 1965 and nowadays was founded in 1965 and nowadays 882 students attend morning and evening 882 students attend morning and evening classes here.classes here.

Parque Aluche is a Secondary school which also Parque Aluche is a Secondary school which also offers 6th form and Vocational Training studies.offers 6th form and Vocational Training studies.

The following specialities of vocational studies The following specialities of vocational studies are offered in our school: Bodywork, are offered in our school: Bodywork, Electrotechnical motor Vehicle Systems, Electrotechnical motor Vehicle Systems, Bussiness Administration, Electricity, Auto Bussiness Administration, Electricity, Auto Mechanics and Initial Program of Professional Mechanics and Initial Program of Professional Qualification.Qualification.

Apart from the Comenius, our school is Apart from the Comenius, our school is immerse in other European Mobility immerse in other European Mobility Programmes, such as Erasmus and Leonardo.Programmes, such as Erasmus and Leonardo.

Several students with disabilities also come to Several students with disabilities also come to our school. Parque Aluche provides them with our school. Parque Aluche provides them with special teachers and facilities to improve their special teachers and facilities to improve their integration in the school life. integration in the school life.

The school reflects the enriching coexistence of The school reflects the enriching coexistence of cultures of the neighbourhood where it is cultures of the neighbourhood where it is locatedlocated..

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PARQUE ALUCHE SECONDARY PARQUE ALUCHE SECONDARY SCHOOL SCHOOL

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We wish you all a very We wish you all a very enjoyable stay in Madrid!enjoyable stay in Madrid!