Architecture Tour Old Madrid, from the Arabs to the Borbons, trough the Austrias

We propose that you learn more about the origins of the city from the urban, historical and architectural point of view since the arabs founded it at the end of the 9th century, following with the conquest of the city by Alfonso VI of Castilla in the 11th century or the moment when Felipe II decided to fix the capital in Madrid, in 1561. We will begin in front of the Royal Palace, reviewing its history since the Arabs built the Alcázar, the defensive castle when Madrid was founded till the moment Felipe V ordered to built the Royal Palace as we know today. From there, we will learn more about the history of the Cathedral and the the new Royal Collections Museum designed by Tuñón and Mansilla. We will enjoy the only rests we have of the Walls built by the arabs. Crossing the Viaduct of Segovia, we will enjoy the views of the forest called Casa de Campo, the green lung, three times bigger than Central Park, the King’s private hunting site until 1931 and a Civil War front, stopping at a viewpoint from which we will enjoy the views of part of the cornice of Madrid. We will continue the walk trough La Latina where the muslims lived for centuries. Walking throught these old small streets and squares we will arrive to Plaza de la Paja where we will find the Palace of the Vargas and the Church of San Andrés where San Isidro were buried, close to the Museum of San Isidro. We will continue our walk discovering some of the rests of the Christian walls built in the XIIth century. Crossing Cava Baja full of old taverns and bars of tapas, we will arrive to the Square of Puerta Cerrada, one of the old gates of the old city. Mercado de San Miguel will be other of one stops where you could have a drink and tapas after visiting Plaza de la Villa where the old City Hall of the city is located. From there you will learn the history of Plaza Mayor, the best example of castillians squares, built 400 years ago.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Teatro Real, Plaza de Isabel II, 29013 Madrid Spain

We will enjoy the building, reviewing the history of the Opeara Theater

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Plaza de Oriente, Calle de Bailen, 28013 Madrid Spain

We will learn the urban development of the Square from the arabs till today,

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Monasterio de la Encarnacion, Plaza Encarnacion 1, 28013 Madrid Spain

We wil visit the church of this Monastery, a good example of Spanish Baroque at the main facade and we will be alowwed to visit the chruch when there were not a religious ceremony.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Palacio Del Senado, Plaza Marina Espanola 10, 28013 Madrid Spain

We will review the history of the building since it was a school till it became our Senate.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Royal Palace of Madrid, Calle de Bailen s/n, 28071 Madrid Spain

We will admire every facade and we will explain you the different architects and kings that they were involved in this project,. We will not include the visit of the interior.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Plaza de Ramales, Madrid Spain

We wil see the ruins of the Church of San Juan, where the painter Velazquez was buried and the Church of Santiago.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Iglesia de San Nicolas, Calle San Miguel 15, 31001 Pamplona Spain

We will visit the oldest church in Madrid with a mudejar tower full of horseshoes arches.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Museo de la Catedral de la Almudena, Calle Mayor 92 Catedral de la Almudena, 28013 Madrid Spain

From a seaview, we will explain you the history of the Cathedral of La Almudena

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Arab Wall, Cuesta de la Vega S/N, 28013 Madrid Spain

We will enjoy the only rests we have of the old Arab Walls built in the 9th century,

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: La Latina, La Latina, Madrid

We will walk trough the old neighborhood where the muslims lived till they were expulsed.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Museo de San Isidro, Plaza San Andres 2, 28005 Madrid Spain

We will visit the house of San Isido, we will know more about his miracles, models and archeological rests of the old Madrid.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Plaza de la Villa, Calle Mayor, Madrid Spain

We will visit the old City Hall and the building that surrounds the square, as Casa de Cisneros and Casa de los Lujanes.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mercado San Miguel, Plaza San Miguel, 28005 Madrid Spain

We will stop in the only market with the structure mad of steel we have in Madrid, where you can have a drink and eat tapas.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Plaza Mayor, Calle Gerona 4, 28012 Madrid Spain

We will finish in the social and comercial center of the city for the last 400 yeats of this example of square from Castilla.

Duration: 10 minutes