A stroll through Madrid’s undiscovered gems
If you’re going to Madrid this summer, you won’t miss the beach one bit. The Spanish capital is packed with lots of hidden delights. Come and discover them!
Places off the beaten track
Wondering what to see in Madrid? Worry no more, because we’ve mapped out some of the most beautiful hidden spots in the city.
Iglesia de San Manuel y San Benito: in Calle Alcalá, opposite the famous Parque del Retiro, and yet still unknown to many locals. Designed by architect Fernando Arbós y Tremanti, who also designed the Casa Encendida, it boasts remarkable Byzantine architecture and a marvellous blue, green and golden dome.
Café del Jardín del Museo del Romanticismo: this great café and tearoom with homemade cakes is inside the Museo del Romanticismo. So if you like cakes and pastries as well as works by Goethe, Bécquer and Lord Byron, this is the place for you!
Escuela de Ingenieros de Minas: designed by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, this elegant, beautiful building has a central courtyard with two storeys of arched columns covered by a glass and metal structure that lets the light flood in. Underground, you can see a reconstruction of a real mine.
Mercado de Motores: a very special market, ideal for lovers of vintage vehicles. It is located inside the Museo del Ferrocarril and it sells books, vinyl records, bicycles, recycled furniture, handicrafts and food… All amongst old trains and platforms. A unique setting for the coolest monthly market in Madrid.
Jardín del Príncipe de Anglona: behind a brick wall in the La Latina neighbourhood is the Plaza de la Paja, with a fantastic 500 m² garden. You can picture the Príncipe de Anglona strolling along its cobbled paths in the 19th century, and its rose gardens and tall trees are truly breathtaking. No to mention the stunning views over the neighbourhood from one end of the garden.
La Tabacalera de Lavapiés: a great place for fans of street art. You’ll find some of the city’s best graffiti on its walls. Amazing works of art in black and white and full colour.
Banco de España: monumental outside and beautiful inside, although only a lucky few have ever managed to see it. Its interior design combines modern and Art Deco features. Declared a Cultural Heritage Site, it boasts a stunning upper stained-glass window. Tours are currently only available to schools, universities and cultural associations.
El Huerto de las Monjas: No. 7 Calle Sacramento hides a secret. At the end of a passageway between modern buildings lies a charming garden. Used historically as a vegetable garden by the nuns at a nearby convent, it is now a wonderful haven of peace and quiet right in the city centre.
Palacio de Longoria: the current headquarters of the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE) was built in Modernista style with a beautiful glass dome. Its Casa Maumejean stained glass windows make quite an impression when lit up by the sun.
La Quinta de los Molinos: the Salvador neighbourhood in the San Blas district is home to this lovely 21.5 ha shady park with eucalyptus, olive, pine and lots of almond trees, which make fantastic photos when in flower! Once the property of the Conde de Torre Arias, it is now a historic park.
