Madrid is almost in the exact geographic centre
of Spain and is the nation's chief transportation
and administrative centre. Until 1900 Madrid was
almost entirely an administrative city. Beginning
in the early 20th century, Madrid grew to be an
important industrial centre.
Its commercial and industrial life developed
very rapidly after the 1890s and is rivalled in
Spain only by that of Barcelona. The city's major
industrial products include motor vehicles, aircraft,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals, processed food, printed
materials, and leather goods. Besides its many
manufacturing industries.
While Madrid is an important industrial centre,
it is more important as a centre of service activities.
These include government, banking, publishing,
insurance, and finance. Madrid is also a major
centre of Spain's tourist industry (more than
41 million tourists visited the country in 1996).
