Cycling in Madrid began operations in 2014 and it comprises with 123 stations and 1580 bicycles. La Vuelta a España, Spain's most popular cycling competition, always ends in Madrid. The "Anillo Verde Ciclista" (Cyclist Green Ring) is a bikeway that surrounds the city of Madrid. It is 64 kilometres long, and the average time to go across it is 4 hours and a half. It was built by phases, between the year 1995 and 2007. "Madrid Río" (literally: Madrid River) is a park located in the banks of the Manzanares River. It opened in 2011, and it is crossed by a cycle route
Siege of Madrid renowned poet Rafael Alberti, "Madrid, corazón de España", which begins thus: Siege of Madrid The Siege of Madrid was a two and a half year siege of the Spanish capital city of Madrid, during the Spanish Civil War of 1936 to 1939. The city, besieged from October 1936, eventually fell to the Francoist armies on 28 March 1939. Madrid was held by various forces loyal to the Spanish Republic and was besieged and subject to aerial bombardment by the rebel faction under General Francisco Franco. The Battle of Madrid in November 1936 saw the most intense fighting in and around