Filled with beautiful, historic architecture like the Almudena cathedral, along with world-famous art museums and spectacular parks, Madrid is an ideal destination to spend your Gap Year abroad. Gap Year internships in Spain offer a young person the chance to earn professional experience in a field that interests them while also living an unforgettable adventure abroad. During their time in Spain, interns will develop an appreciation for the Madrid’s rich history and culture. During their work days, interns will learn about international office culture, taking on important professional roles at their internships at top Madrid firms. An internship abroad will teach a young professional about their future career and shape them with international experience that will give them a lifelong multicultural perspective.
Interning in Spain is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Gap Year students to explore a foreign country and boost their resume. A competitive, global city, Madrid is rich with opportunities for young professionals interested in gaining unique, valuable work experience. An internship in Spain offers a Gap Year student the chance to develop professionally and personally, living in a foreign city full of top professionals and thousands of cultural events and spaces.
Hands-on, multicultural experience in a competitive field is hard to beat. The Intern Group’s Gap Year internships will prepare a budding professional for their career with relevant roles in sectors like engineering, entrepreneurship, IT, marketing and many more.
Malissa has no regrets about deciding on Madrid for her architecture internship. She said, “Choosing this program with The Intern Group was probably the best choice I’ve ever made. The second I came here I knew no one but you get set up with accommodation and stay with others from the Madrid program. I’ve met so many beautiful people here, made friends, they’re like my second family. A home away from home!”
Brenda said she felt her finance internship in Madrid prepared her for her future in the professional world, “This experience has definitely taught me a lot in terms of fast tracking your future career into a global context, building a personal brand and having a major head start in the financial world. There’s no room for adventure and opportunity within your comfort zone so unless you step out of this, then you won’t be able to expose yourself to other possibilities.”
Madrid is large, vibrant city full of gorgeous parks, treasured museums and hip neighborhoods. Filled with both modern and historic gems, Madrid is the ideal location for a young person looking for a place to spend their year abroad. Accommodations for Gap Year interns come with sheets, Wifi and cleaning. Intern housing is set a reasonable distance from work and classes within Madrid’s safest neighborhoods. Previously interns have lived in Sol, Salamanca, Nuevos Ministerios, Moncloa and Tribunal.
Take advantage of your Gap Year abroad by learning a new language! Madrid is the perfect to improve or learn Spanish language skills. The Intern Group Gap Year internship program offers optional Spanish language classes at many different levels at the Don Quijote school. After class, interns can practice their castellano with locals. Despite being an international city, many locals speak limited English.
Madrid is a gorgeous city to explore, with a lovely historic center that contains multiple world-famous sites. Home to the notable bronze statue of King Philip III, Plaza Mayor is solid place to explore, where interns can sip on a coffee or meander in and out of the area’s traditional shops. A short walking distance away, sightseers can take a gander at the regal Royal Palace and stunning Almudena cathedral.
One of Madrid’s less famous treasures is the Templo de Debod, an Egyptian temple that was rebuilt in a Spanish park. The temple is peaceful and gorgeous, particularly at night when the temple is lit up with its reflection glittering over the water that surrounds it. Another must-see spot is the Madrid Rio, which is a river that runs through Madrid and is surrounded by parks. Many locals run or bike on paths along the river.
Madrid is also home to some of the world’s finest art. The internationally famous mural Guernica by Spanish painter Pablo Picasso draws in visitors from around the world to the local Reina Sofia modern art museum. Meanwhile, thousands of international visitors flock to the Prado museum, which boasts works by Goya and Rubens.
After a challenging day at work, interns abroad can unwind in the authentic Spanish style: tapas. The tradition of “tapeo” is popular among many Madrid residents or “Madrileños”, who gather for tapas or small plates of local dishes like patatas bravas, pincho de tortilla and croquetas. Madrileños will often wash down their tapas with beers, regional wine or sangria.
For going out, the La Latina neighborhood is a reliable spot, particularly Cava Baja street, which is full of a variety of tapas bars. Calle Pez, which is lined with cool vintage shops during the day, is another hip area to snag food or a cocktail in the evening. Another recommended spot for after-hours fun is the counter-cultural, bohemian neighborhood Malasaña. It’s hipster mecca and perfect for grabbing a drink, food and people-watching.
Madrid is conveniently located near many tourist destinations around Spain, allowing interns the chance to travel. A day trip to UNESCO World Heritage Site Toledo is included in The Intern Group internship program, where interns can visit the iconic stone fortification Alcazar of Toledo. Also located just a train ride away from Madrid is the World Heritage City Segovia.
Sources: www.everytrail.com, humanresources.about.com, Wolters World, Rick Steves, Museo Nacional del Prado, Wikipedia – Madrid, GoMadrid, TripAdvisor, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Photo 1. based on Gran Vía (Madrid), by Felipe Gabaldón, CC-by-2.0</p
Photo 2. based on Fiscal Bridge Pyrenees #dailyshoot #Spain, by Les Haines, CC-by-2.0</p
Photo 3. based on Madrid-Stock market, Spain (2012), by Alberto Carrasco-Casado, CC-by-2.0</p