Think you know Madrid? Think again.
Beneath the grand boulevards and baroque palaces lies a city with a very different origin story—one that’s largely hidden from view. My new audio tour with Voicemap, Medieval Madrid: A Guide to the City’s Muslim Past, peels back the layers of time to reveal a forgotten history that begins not with kings and cathedrals, but with a ninth-century watchtower built to defend the kingdom of Al Andaluz.
Back in 2023 I wrote an article for Al Jazeera about how Madrid is the only European capital founded by a Muslim ruler. While this is the consensus among historians, there’s little signposting about this on the ground, which is why I was so delighted to get this opportunity to show visitors how to uncover the traces of this history. On this walk, I take you through the cobblestone streets of the city’s oldest quarter, tracing the Arabic roots of what was once known as Mayrit. From underground ruins hidden in a car park to quiet plazas and overlooked architectural details, you’ll encounter a side of Madrid that’s rarely explored.
The tour begins in front of the Monument to Felipe IV in Plaza de Oriente, where I ask a deceptively simple question: Why did the people of Iberia welcome Muslim conquerors in 711? From there, we journey through time, unearthing stories of forgotten towers, contested borders, and a medieval world that was surprisingly tolerant. During the tour you’ll learn why Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba chose to place a watchtower here, and why Madrid’s oldest church, San Nicolás el Real, looks strikingly like a mosque.
One of the highlights of the tour is the remnants of the original city walls—walls built of flint that sparked when struck by arrows, inspiring part of the city’s medieval motto: “My walls are made of fire.” You’ll also walk through the Morería, the city’s former Muslim quarter, and discover how Muslim artisans—though demoted to second-class citizens after the Christian reconquest—continued to shape Madrid’s architecture with the exquisite mudéjar style, visible in horseshoe arches and brick towers that still stand today.
Along the way, I share local legends (ever wonder why Madrileños are called gatos?) and point out the subtle ways in which Islamic heritage still infuses Spanish culture—from garden design to flamenco culture and even the language itself.
Whether you’re a history buff, an architecture lover, or just curious about the layers that make up this fascinating city, this tour offers a new perspective on Madrid—one that’s rooted in a multicultural past often overlooked.
Ready to explore a side of Madrid you’ve never seen before?
Grab your headphones and join me on Medieval Madrid: A Guide to the City’s Muslim Past, available now on the Voicemap app.
