The Making of Madrid
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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…
Best Day Trips from Madrid
While Madrid boasts fantastic art galleries and fabulous museums, if you’re interested in Spain’s Roman and medieval history, a day trip is your best bet. Only a short train or bus ride away, destinations like Segovia, Toledo, and Alcala de Henares never disappoint. Toledo Once the Visigothic capital of Spain, Toledo’s history goes all the way…
Three Myths About the Spanish Inquisition
Challenging the Myths of the Spanish Inquisition Founded in 1478 to root out false Jewish converts to Christianity, the Spanish Inquisition was a bloodthirsty organization that killed between 5,000 and 10,000 people during its 350-year existence. Given these horrifying statistics, it might seem odd to say that the Spanish Inquisition wasn’t quite as bad as it…
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…
Recent blog posts
Guide to La Latina
In the heart of old Madrid and yet a world apart from the touristy mayhem surrounding the royal palace, La Latina is the perfect place to base a stay in the city. For me, the steeply sloping squares and cobbled streets of the barrio (neighbourhood) offer a tranquil retreat into historic Madrid. By contrast, the bustling…
Why Spain Has to Clamp Down on Airbnb
In cities around the world, a housing crisis is brewing, and platforms like Airbnb are increasingly being identified as part of the problem. What started as a seemingly innocent “sharing economy” concept has evolved into a force that’s reshaping urban housing markets—and not for the better. In my years living in Madrid, I’ve seen the impacts…
From Civil War to Chinese New Year: The Fascinating Evolution of Madrid’s Usera
This is the first in a three-part series exploring Madrid’s Usera district. Look out for upcoming episodes/posts on “Things to Do in Usera” and “A Foodie’s Guide to Usera’s Multicultural Cuisine”! https://open.spotify.com/episode/7J96NmML0CuVKmKzyCrxkE?si=0e6de5ce1aee432c In a city as historically rich as Madrid, it’s easy to focus solely on the grand boulevards and famous plazas of the centre. But…
New Audio Tour of the City’s Muslim Origins
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…