Essential History | The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
By 1930, failure of the Spanish economy, governmental corruption and a military coup favouring a republic, led to the resignation of the ‘mild dictator’; Miguel Primo de Rivera, who died shortly after in exile. The subsequent 1931 general election returned a left-wing republican government and Spain experienced an all-too-brief period of democracy. Strident in its [...]
Located near Plaza de Colon, the Jardines del Descubrimiento recall the discovery of America by the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus on 12 October 1492, landing at El Salvador in the Bahamas. Voyages of other Spanish-funded ventures during the ‘Siglo de Oro’ are commemorated on the brutalist plinths by architect, Joaquin Vaquero Turcois. Opened in 1970 [...]
The Royal Botanical Garden is a stunning city-centre oasis and base of scientific research in Madrid. Conceived by Charles III in the late 1700s it was deliberately located next to the Prado Museum (originally the Museum of Natural Sciences). The garden has around 5500 species of plant (many brought from former Spanish colonies) – outstripping [...]
On Sundays and bank holidays, Madrid’s famous flea market kicks off at 8am, lasting until around 2pm – stretching one kilometre down Calle Ribera de Curtidores. Owing to its location near a former slaughterhouse, ‘El Rastro’ derives its name from the entrails and blood of the slaughtered livestock. During and after the market, there are [...]
Madrid has over 80 churches, so selecting five to visit is tough. We’ve gone with prioritising beauty and historical importance. The list excludes Madrid’s cathedral (La Almudena), which will be described in a subsequent post – although many Madrilenos (regarding its newness, funding and architecture as inappropriate) have a take it or leave it attitude [...]