Madrid is located a little north east from the geographical center of the Iberian
Peninsula, in the middle of the Spanish central Castillian plateau (Meseta central), at an average altitude of
650m. Nearly all of the most famous tourist areas are located in the historical center of Madrid, middle south
of the city: Puerta del Sol in the middle, Plaza Mayor a bit to the south, Palacio Real to the west, and Plaza de
Colón to the north-east. Some of those hot spots spread up past the Gran Via, which is one of the main streets in
Madrid (the largest one being Alcalá Street, followed by the Paseo de la Castellana).
