MADRID

Noble

After Madrid became the capital of the newly kingdom of Spain in the XVI century, the city got invaded by nobles who built over the centuries sumptuous residences with ornate interiors that still stand till this day; and you can visit some of these hidden palaces and feel like noble for a day.

This tour would take you through the streets of Malasaña, the neighborhood where the royal elite used to live and through Calle de Alcalá, the extension of the old Main Street of Madrid. The area is characterized by hidden palaces, baroque churches, and monuments. The evolution of Madrid was extremely related to the court; first it grew from a small al andaluz village into a royal Christian town under Phillip the II when he moved the royal court to the old alcazar in 1561. The population boomed, going up from about 18,000 in 1561 to 80,000 in 1598 but for some periods the royals left the city to Valladolid and the court left with them turning Madrid into a ghost town but when they moved back it turned into a bustling city with “royal manufactures” like the ones in Venice. The tour suggest visiting 3 historical palaces from nobles in the morning (one of which belonged to the iconic Duchess of Alba), 2 iconic pink baroque buildings plus a walk to the puerta de Alcalá in the afternoon, and a night walk in El Parque del Retiro.

Stops:

1 Museo Cerralbo


2 Palacio de la Liria


3 Museo del Romanticismo


4 Museo de Historia de Madrid


5 Iglesia de las Calatravas


6 Puerta de Alcalá


7 Centro Cultural Casa de Vacas


8 Parque del Retiro