The Making of Madrid
Your guide to Spain’s capital
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Eight scams to avoid in Madrid
Visitors coming to Madrid are often nervous about being targeted by scammers. A legitimate fear if you don’t understand the language and are reliant on the kindness of bilingual strangers to help you navigate your way around a foreign city. As problems can start as soon as you get off the plane with unscrupulous taxi drivers…
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Madrid
From Islamic origins to saintly bones, to mind blowing miracles, here are a few surprising things you didn’t know about Madrid. Its name derives from Arabic Top of our list of things you didn’t know about Spain’s capital is that its name derives from Arabic. The settlement was chosen for its strategic position high above the…
Quiet corners of the Prado
Out of the pandemic, there’s no perfect time to visit the Prado. Even if you visit first thing in the morning or during lunchtime – that’s 2 pm to 4 pm in Spain – you’ll still have to contend with crowds swarming around the museum’s greatest masterpieces. And while Velazquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s Black Paintings and…
Madrid off the Beaten Track
On a visit to Madrid, it’s really easy to fall into the well-trodden paths. While the Royal Palace, the Prado and Retiro are all excellent places to visit, shuffling along with the crowds of tourists, you can feel as if you’re being force-fed a cookie-cutter experience that lacks any authentic flavor. But never fear, nine times…
Recent blog posts
Madrid’s Unsung Wines
Most people associate Spanish wine with the Rioja or Ribera del Duero regions. So it comes as a surprise that Madrid DO (Denominación de Origen) produces some truly exceptional wines that deserve more recognition. This topic was top of the agenda during my recent podcast interview with Luke Darracott, co-owner of Madrid & Darracott – who…
Hidden Gems: the Hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida
Goya’s Hermitage: an ode to the majo Tucked away beneath the palace by the Manzanares River, the Hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida stands as a testament to Francisco de Goya’s artistic genius – a place where 18th-century Madrid comes to life and where the artist himself finds his final rest. Goya’s frescoes transform the…
The Burial of the Sardine
On Ash Wednesday, while much of the Catholic world begins its solemn observation of Lent, the streets alongside Madrid’s Manzanares River erupt in a boisterous bacchanal. The Burial of the Sardine (Entierro de la Sardina) stands as one of the city’s most enigmatic festivals, where religious tradition meets carnival spirit in a uniquely Madrileño way. Royal…
Hidden Madrid : Calle de la Pasa
Tucked away in the old part of Madrid is a street with an interesting saying attached to it: “Quien no pasa por Calle de la Pasa, no se casa.” This means: “Whoever doesn’t pass by Calle de la Pasa, won’t get married.” Surprisingly, this was not a superstition, the saying was 100% true if you lived…