QSIC 2011
11th International Conference
On Quality Software
Madrid, Spain
July 13 - 14, 2011
The city
Madrid
Madrid is one of the major cultural centres of the world. It is the city in southern Europe which is best connected to other European capitals and the rest of the world. There are regular, direct flights from Barajas airport to 34 destinations in Spain and 153 around the world. Besides from visiting our larger museums (Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum), art centers, monuments (Royal Palace, Real theatre, National Library…), theatres, parks and historical places (Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol…), in this city, gastronomy is culture and leisure and it offers a vast range of culinary variety: in Madrid you can find everything, from traditional homemade dishes to the most innovative and creative cuisine. We are lucky enough to enjoy international food from all over the globe, made with the best raw ingredients.
Madrid 's beauty extends beyond its borders. Just two hours away from the city, you will find nine enclaves which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: Alcalá de Henares, Toledo, Cuenca, Segovia, Ávila, Salamanca, Córdoba, the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the Aranjuez Cultural Landscape.
Transport
The Barajas International Airport welcomes all international flights arriving in Madrid. It is located in the northeast, 12 kilometres away from the capital. This short distance means that users can save considerable time and money travelling to and from the airport: by underground, the capital is connected with Barajas international airport, in 30 minutes (current price of one way ticket is 2€), and by taxi the usual rate from the airport to the centre of Madrid is around 25 euros.
With respect to local transportation, Madrid offers a extensive and affordable bus and underground network to get around. The underground is a fast means of transport that is operative from 6 am to 1.30 am, with trains leaving every 2 minutes in the morning rush tour and every 3-10 minutes in other times. Buses operate everyday between 6 am and 11.30 pm, with buses leaving at intervals between 4 and 15 minutes, depending on the time of day. There are also night buses, known as “búhos” (owls), which run along twenty different routes, The price of a ticket (bus or underground) is 1€ and a ten journey ticket, which can also be used on buses, costs 9 €. The Tourist Travel Pass is the most economical and practical way to get to know Madrid. It can be used on all public transport in the region as many times as necessary within the valid dates. There are five passes valid for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days.