Madrid is the alpha and omega of the Iberian Peninsula, the place where all  \n roads begin and end, and also one of the most contrasting in terms of life.  \n From the peace of the museums to the frenzy of the night with its restau- \n rants and parties, Madrid never ends, and perhaps nobody knows where ́it  \n begins either. Each neighbourhood of Madrid has its own golden age, and  \n even each street has its own character. Madrid is a perfect mosaic where not  \n a single tessera fits in.

Discover local - Madrid - EN

More than four thousand years ago, an ancient temple was built on the Egyptian island of Philae. Originally commissioned by the Cushite king of Meroe to honor the god Amun, it was eventually expanded to form a small temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. In 1960, the construction of the Aswan Dam threatened to flood the archaeological sites on the Egyptian island. In the midst of the crisis, the Spanish government helped to relocate the famous temples to a higher and more protected area. As thanks, in 1968 the temple of Debod was donated, which is now located in the center of Madrid. Specifically, in the Parque del Oeste. Open to the public since 1972, it is an essential visit at sunset, especially when the heat arrives and the summer light contrasts with the earthy colors of the ancient building.

🏛 In order to move it to Madrid, the temple was dismantled and reassembled stone by stone.

💦 To commemorate the Nile, a pond was installed around the temple after its arrival in Madrid. 

🙏🏻When  it was ordered to be built, it was a place of religious worship.

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Madrid or Ancient Egypt?

“Art is Art.” That’s the statement of principles of the alternative space La Neomudejar. Located in an old railway warehouse near Atocha, it houses a centre for avant-garde art known to few. La Neomudejar was born in 2013 with the mission of bringing together emerging arts and the language of avant-garde, and currently has a collection of over 1,500 works, highlighting video art production. Artists like Ciria, Marina Núñez, Carmen Isasi, or Manuel Bouzo exhibit their work in the facilities, which also serve as a railway interpretation centre. An alternative to traditional museums that will take you on a journey through time.

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🕒 They host over 20 exhibitions annually and offer workshops, artistic residencies, and scholarships.🎟️ General admission costs 6 euros and is open from Wednesday to Sunday.

🎨 From La Neomudejar, the Art House Spain network has been built, combining creative spaces in the periphery, rural areas, and urban centres.

The Neomudejar: the alternative to traditional museums

There is little in the neighborhood of La Latina more emblematic than the Cebada market. And no wonder: it is one of the largest food markets in the capital and perpetuates a tradition that dates back to the sixteenth century. With an area of about 6000m² spread over two floors, here you can buy not only meat, fruit, fish or poultry, but also cosmetics, flowers, glasses or fabrics, among a thousand other things. The best time to visit is Saturday lunchtime, when the aisles become a huge assortment of seafood products. The atmosphere is dazzling: all kinds of people share shrimp, octopus, squid... washed down, of course, with a glass -or two- of Valdepeñas wine. A must experience for anyone who wants to get into the real Madrid!

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📍The square where it is located, the Plaza de la Cebada, is one of the oldest in the city and was once a Moorish cemetery. 

🛵 The market stalls have delivery service and organize thematic activities such as gastronomic days.

👨🏻‍💼 As we have already mentioned, there is not only food, but its walls even house a law firm.

The soul of Spanish urban life

Harry Potter wasn’t British but Madrilenian, and Hogwarts is in reality the Headquarters of the Spanish Navy. Or at least, we would love it to be so. The truth is that the staircase built by José Espelius and Francisco Javier de Luque in 1928, located in the Naval Museum headquarters, looks the part. This monumental staircase made of Carrara marble with pyramidal pinnacles and wooden railings wrapped in stained glass transports anyone who steps on it to a world of fantasy. \n 📍The staircase leads to a landing that splits into two  \n flights towards the second floor. \n 🕗Free guided tours of the building are held on  \n Saturdays at 11 a.m. \n 💡One of its friezes comes from the former  \n Godoy palace.

The Hogwarts staircase is in Madrid

A good Madrid-style torrija can brighten up the day  of the saddest person in the world. The best place to try them is La Casa de las Torrijas, a small tavern just a few meters from Plaza Mayor, which is still standing since 1907. There, not only can you taste the original torrijas made with bread and milk, but they also prepare them with wine, dulce de leche, or liqueurs, preserving the traditional flavour. Lastly, if you visit La Casa de las Torrijas, you can’t leave without trying their small glasses of sweet wine or  homemade vermouth to accompany the sweet treat of your choice. 

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🗓They are only open for one hour a day, so plan well to try their torrijas. 

💡If you prefer, you can order them to go and continue exploring the city. 

📍The tavern is located at Calle de la Paz, 4, and accepts reservations on its website.

The best torrijas in the capital

Casa Labra has been a Madrid icon since 1860. Its cod croquettes and soldaditos de Pavía have filled  the mouths of thousands of people for two centuries, becoming a reference point in local gastronomy. They no longer serve meals, but their tapas endure. Additionally, the façade of the establishment preserves a crucial historical detail: it was where Pablo Iglesias founded the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party in 1879. 

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📍Casa Labra is located at Calle Tetuán, 12, next to the El Corte Inglés in Sol. 

🍷Enjoy a glass of Valdepeñas wine or a “fino” with your tapa, you won’t regret it. 

🧀Their specialty is cod, but you can also savour a wide variety of cheeses and cured meats

Discover local - Madrid - EN

The best torrijas in the capital

The Hogwarts staircase is in Madrid

Cod croquettes and soldaditos de Pavía at Casa Labra

The Neomudejar: the alternative to traditional museums

Madrid or Ancient Egypt?

The soul of Spanish urban life