Walking Tour Blood, Sweat & Tears in Madrid

This is not the type of tour that covers the most important places in the city. We will mix the highlights that we will discover along the way, of course, but we will immerse ourselves in the B-side of the capital of Spain. 600 years of blood, sweat, and tears. A tour led by Antonela, a historian, dynamic, and tourist guide of the city for more than 8 years.

Blood… This square was once called Plaza del Progreso: it marks the northern limit of the “Lavapiés” district, and pays tribute to one of the greatest Spanish poets and playwrights who lived between the 1500s and 1600s. His real name was Gabriel Téllez, and he was a monk in the monastery that once existed here, but the fact that he was a religious man didn’t stop Tirso de Molina from inventing one of the most famous characters of erotic literature of all time: Don Juan.

Sweat…Plaza de Cascorro Madrid is a lovely plaza with several shops around, including cafes, restaurants and others. It’s named after a small town in Cuba. So this plaza is named in memory of Cascorro’s siege during the 19th century Spanish-American war in Cuba.

Tears… La Latina is one of the most genuinely authentic neighbourhoods in the city of Madrid. It is located in the centre, and its mediaeval streets are arranged around the squares of La Cebada and La Paja.

The streets in this neighbourhood are an illustration of the most popular side of Madrid. This district is much frequented by Madrid locals thanks to its numerous bars, pubs and traditional taverns full of character in streets such as Cava Baja, Cava Alta and right in the squares of La Cebada and La Paja. Although it tends to be very lively all the time, the atmosphere is particularly animated in the evenings and at weekends. Additionally, every Sunday the neighbouring streets are home to Madrid’s famous El Rastro open-air street market.

Blood… Plaza del Alamillo was of vital importance in the old Barrio de la Morería and today it is one of the most charming corners of Madrid. It is impossible not to imagine the secret passages that, according to legend, are hidden in its basement.

Sweat… It has become famous for being the smallest square in Madrid and its tiny dimensions attest to this. Not in vain, during archaeological excavations, Islamic remains (bones and ceramics) from the 12th and 13th centuries appeared. In “closer” dates, the square already appears in the Texeira map of 1656 and for several centuries it had a prominent role in the life of the city despite its size. At the end of Calle del Conde, and a step away from Calle Segovia, it is a piece of history in a few square meters.

Tears…. a major marketplace during the 13th and 14th century, the plaza got its name (which means “Straw Square”) because in its medieval height it was also a tithing site for the Catholic church – peasants gathered there to offer a fraction of their harvest to feed the chaplain’s and bishop’s mules. The Bishop’s Chapel still stands on the north end of the square, a beautiful 16th-century edifice now joined with the palace that formerly housed the noble Vargas family. Plaza de la Paja was once home to many such palaces, including that of the Marquis de la Romana, the Lasso de Castila, and Isabella la Catolica. Unfortunately, only the Palacio Vargas survives to present day

Blood… Segovia Street lies in the basin at least partially formed by the old San Pedro Creek. In the Middle Ages, this ravine was one of the most important routes of entry into Madrid and connected the town with the old road to Segovia, which started on the other side of the Manzanares River. The Bridge of Segovia (1582-1584) succeeded in crossing the Manzanares, attributed to the architect Juan de Herrera, which replaced the original, built in the first half of the fourteenth century by Alfonso XI of Castile. Abundant in fresh water, the area in the wash of the basin of San Pedro enjoyed many orchards and was called El Pozacho, which was named after a waterwheel or similar hydraulic device which may have existed there

Sweat…. The Plaza shares the style and buildings with the Plaza Mayor, continuing its arcades where typical tourist businesses are located. In its center two monuments stand out, on the one hand a replica of the Orpheus Fountain, whose original is preserved in the National Archaeological Museum, and on the other hand a monolith that commemorates the accession of Spain to the European Union.

Tears… the streets here are steep, narrow and maze-like, which reminds us that the area emerged in the Middle Ages as a quarter outside the walled town soon after Madrid became the capital of the kingdom in 1561.

Since the sixteenth century, Lavapiés has been inhabited by the lower classes. Local residents used to live in apartment blocks, or tenements, called corralas that were arranged around an interior courtyard. You can see a typical example of this type of buildings at the corner of Tribulete and Mesón de Paredes.

Blood… Plaza Mayor was erected on the former Plaza del Arrabal, where Madrid’s most popular market was held till the late 16th century. When King Philip II moved the Spanish court from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, he began to plan a remodelling of the square, although it wasn’t till his son and successor Philip III was in power, that the new square was built. It was designed by architect Juan Gómez de Mora, who brought architectural uniformity to this open space which would be used to host all kinds of events, from local festivities and bullfights to beatifications, coronations and even the occasional auto-da-fé during the Spanish Inquisition.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time as we will be inviting you for a drink before the tour starts.

• Walking Tour Blood, Sweat & Tears in Madrid
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• This Tour is Provided by Central Experiences Madrid.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Madrid.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 1 Travelers is accepted for booking.