Madrid's old town is hiding centuries of mysteries, dark legends, and secrets that most visitors never get to hear. Ready to dig into the hidden history of the city?
Tour Details
At the designated time, we'll meet in front of the Monasterio de la Encarnación in Plaza de la Encarnación. Founded in 1611, this monastery contains many a notorious secret... let's dive in!
After our initial introduction to Madrid's dark side, we'll stroll over to the Royal Palace, where the ghost of Philip II is said to wander in search of lost treasure, and then to the Teatro Real, haunted according to legend by a woman in white.
We'll continue through Calle de San Nicolás and Calle del Sacramento, among the oldest streets in the city and, as we'll discover, hiding stories of centuries-old intrigue, secret affairs between communities that were officially forbidden from mixing, and the long shadow of the Spanish Inquisition, which turned neighbor against neighbor across Madrid.
From there, we'll reach the Plaza de la Villa, one of the most historically loaded squares in the city. For centuries, this was the civic heart of Madrid, a place where justice was publicly dealt out in ways that would make your hair stand on end, and where, if you listen to the locals, certain presences have never quite left.
Next, we'll stop at the church of San Ginés, one of the oldest in the city, where Lope de Vega was married, and Quevedo was baptised. The darker story here dates to the late 16th century, when thieves broke in for the church's gold and silenced a man praying in the dark. His ghost, so the legend goes, has kept watch ever since.
We'll finish at Puerta del Sol, and after 2 hours and 15 minutes exploring Madrid's hidden corners, we'll say our goodbyes right in the heart of the city.
