In Madrid (pop. 4.5 million), Spain's capital, the reveling lasts long into the night. In no other European capital will you find the city center so crowded so late into the night, as if some unwritten law forbade sleeping before dawn. To experience Madrid is to explore its restaurants and eateries, its countless bars, and the nocturnal madness of its music scene and clubs. Ambitious programs to modernize the city are afoot, but the gatos (locals) of Madrid can rest assured that their town remains as refreshingly unlike Paris, London or Rome as ever. Madrid is home to Spain's royal family and center of government. It is at the center of Spanish culture, technology, fashion, art, film, theatre, and music. Be sure to check out the famous Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace, el Museo del Prado, one of the world's finest art museums, and the Reina Sofía museum of modern art, home to Picasso's Guernica.