40 architectural gems that you may not have known about Madrid
At the end of last April a Twitter thread of “40 unknown architectural jewels of Madrid” managed to go viral and in a matter of days not only had it been shared between the corridors of this social network par excellence, but it had also jumped from group to group between applications such as WhatsApp, Instagram or Facebook delighting the most curious eyes.
Although more than a month later may seem distant now, it should be remembered that our life on April 26 was reduced to video calls with friends and family by Zoom, to long days of teleworking, to baking the biscuits of the afternoon, to online gym sessions and entertainment on social networks.
In those days our confined mind needed to escape in any way and the start dreaming about the future on the street each time it was a reality that motivated us more. That's why this list of unknown places in Madrid which are an architectural fantasy - where we can find places as characteristic as the Basque pelota court Beti Jai , the Zarzuela Racecourse or the Cerralbo Museum - burst into our lives as a breath of fresh air and as a promise to keep as soon as the de-escalation allowed.
Some better known than others, all these enclaves are waiting impatiently for you to discover them now that we can once again conquer the streets slowly but surely. Shall we start with this attractive Madrid route?
THE ORIGIN OF THE TWITTER THREAD
nacho sunday , a young engineering student from the Complutense University of Madrid is the creator of this fantastic initiative with which he acknowledges being " overwhelmed for all the repercussion generated since he published the post that April 26 ”.
"From time to time I did threads on Twitter for mere fun, so that my closest ones could read me. this time arose from a photo of Madrid from the famous Twitter photography account @archillect . I was “stoked” to create a thread of places that I did not consider famous or touristic for the majority of Madrilenians, even though they were true jewels and… this is what came out!”, indicates Nacho Domingo enthusiastically.
His curiosity added to his passion for architecture, sculpture and unknown places , they are his predilection when it comes to traveling and discovering the world, and if he does it outside, how could he not do it inside the city where he has lived all his life.
Cerralbo Museum
And how did you manage to gather a total of 40 addresses, most of them totally anonymous? “I suppose it is information that I have been collecting in my head like a little sponge since I was little. I don't know if I could add as many as the ones I already wrote, but the same In the end I end up encouraging a second part , Madrid has a lot to offer!”, he indicates.
BE THE BEST TOURISTS WITHIN OUR OWN CITIES
And so much so that Madrid has things to reveal. What makes you fall in love with the capital is that it is a city that never rests and that has so much, so much, to offer that not even in a lifetime could we return everything she gives us.
Above all, during these last few months, which have been so punished by the health crisis, it is time to live it with more force than ever, with caution but enjoying it in its maximum splendor. We can start with these 40 architectural jewels of Madrid (and some others). Because there are times when we should be tourists within our own cities, pay more attention to what we have inside and be interested in it.
Write down the following references and do not hesitate to drop by them as soon as the de-escalation allows it. Some are open to the public, others will be soon , others can be visited at certain times of the year and others we have no choice but to admire them from the outside...** but surely there are more than one left for you to discover! **
Image after the rehabilitation of the Frontón Beti Jai, in Madrid
1. Beti Jai Basque pelota fronton . Just recovered, this Well of Cultural Interest It was inaugurated in 1894 in the heart of Chamberí designed by the Spanish architect Joaquín Rucoba.
2. Santoña Palace , located in the Barrio de las Letras and with an artistic value that delights people who have the opportunity to visit it or spend an evening under the vaults of its halls.
3. Church of San Antonio de los Alemanes , an example of Baroque art from Madrid where, without a doubt, its beauty lies within.
Everywhere you look, baroque and art
4. Pavilion of the Hexagons , with which the architects Jose Antonio Corral and Ramon Vazquez Molezun They won the first prize at the Universal Exhibition in Brussels in 1958, winning the well-known Atonium that represented Brussels and became its city hallmark. Currently, this Madrid jewel in a state of abandonment in the Cottage it is in a reconstruction process to give it the value that corresponds to it.
5. Headquarters of the Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute , created by the architects Fernando Higueras and Antonio Miró.
The emblematic 'Crown of Thorns' by Fernando Higueras
6. Francisco Giner de los Ríos Foundation , located a few steps from the Iglesia metro, a space that from the outside already draws your attention due to its appearance. And this is nothing more than a preview of what awaits us inside.
7.ABC Museum , located a few steps from the Count Duke Cultural Center with a legacy of graphic art full of drawings and illustrations for which it is well worth dropping by and exploring its almost 4000m2 of facilities.
ABC Museum
8. Longoria Palace , current headquarters of the SGAE and designed at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect José Grases Riera.
9.Viñuelas Castle , whose current construction dates back to the 18th century. It is the perfect enclave to celebrate a wedding on the outskirts of Madrid.
10. Bardon Bookstore founded in 1947 by Luis Bardón and considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world
11. Quinta de Vista Alegre , a great heritage treasure abandoned but which, according to official sources of the Community of Madrid, is being recovered to open soon to the public.
12.Quinta del Duque del Arco , is a little known and very quiet country house in El Pardo.
13.Fernán Nuñez Palace , a residence that dates back to the end of the 18th century and that is currently the headquarters of the Spanish Railways Foundation.
14. Pías School of San Fernando , declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1996.
15.Santa Monica Parish , the work of the architects Ignacio Vicens and José Antonio Ramos and a real gem for design lovers.
Quinta del Duque del Arco
16. Zarzuela Racecourse, A must see whether you like horse racing or not.
17. Daoiz and Velarde Cultural Center , rehabilitated in 2015 by the Rafael de la Hoz architecture studio and located a short distance from the Atocha Station.
The Rafael de la Hoz studio was in charge of shaping the Daoíz y Velarde Cultural Space
18.The Cerralbo Museum It is the building very close to the Temple of Debod that both tourists and locals pass by on numerous occasions without realizing that a true relic is hidden inside, which in its day was an aristocratic residence from the end of the 19th century.
19.Palazuelo House, It was built by **Antonio Palacios **to house a commercial building at number 4 Calle Mayor.
20. State Mobile Park , is a car park that is currently closed to the public in charge of the administration and management of automobiles. Curious is a bit.
21.Engine Ship and Pacific Station , an old power plant that has been out of service since 1972.
22. Run Run Cafe , the only gastronomic proposal on this peculiar list that belongs to Grupo La Musa, based on a menu of healthy dishes and a colorful decoration full of geometric shapes created by the architect Andres Jaque.
Run Run Cafe
23. Monastery of the Descalzas Reales , in the heart of the capital we find this monastery of cloistered nuns that can be visited today d. On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, access is free.
24.The Castelar Building is an office building designed by the Rafael de la Hoz studio which, in addition, is Nacho Domingo's favorite , the creator of this fantastic selection.
25. Ministry of the Environment Building , signed by Ricardo de Bastida in 1923 and completely restored in 2001.
26. Fuencarral Police Station , created by the Madrid studio Voluar Architecture with the intention of changing the perception of these spaces intended for this public service.
27.Museum of the Royal Collections , whose opening is scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year and in which it is intended to house a large collection of pieces that were hoarded over the centuries by the different kings that Spain has had.
Castelar Building
28.Medialab Prado , a metropolitan digital cultural center conceived as a citizen laboratory.
29. German school, located north of the capital (in Montecarmelo) is considered the largest German civil works abroad. Studying under this infrastructure is a privilege!
30.Pantheon of Illustrious Men , is a Neo-Byzantine style work declared in 1992 a Site of Cultural Interest.
31.Slide House , in a futuristic style made up of three floors and made up of two houses together where nature takes on special importance.
Slide House
32. Alameda Castle , also known as Castillo de Barajas, dates from the 15th century and we find what remains of it 500 meters from the Alameda de Osuna metro stop.
33.The Eagle , a complex that belonged to the beer manufacturer and was built in the second decade of the 20th century next to the Delicias metro.
34.The Hotel Puerta de America It is characterized as a collective project formulated by a total of 18 renowned architects and designers. Some of their rooms are the M-Á-S!
35.Athenaeum of Madrid It is a private cultural institution through which presidents of the stature of Miguel de Unamuno, Valle-Inclán, Manuel Azaña or Gregorio Marañón . Don't miss their bar!
Athenaeum of Madrid
36.Eduardo Torroja Institute of Construction Sciences , located north of the capital.
37. Maudes Hospital , whose original name is Hospital for Day Laborers of San Francisco de Paula It is one of the best-known facades in Madrid, located a few steps from the Cuatro Caminos metro. As a curious fact, it is important to emphasize that it is one of the few infrastructures of the 20th century built almost entirely with limestone. It is mandatory to admire its peculiar facade!
38.Chamberí Station , converted into a museum in 2008. Under the Plaza de Chamberí is this old 'ghost' station that is a historical delight of Metro Madrid and that everyone should visit to find original elements of the time.
39.Xifré Palace , one of the forgotten and disappeared buildings of Madrid's history. Of neo-Mudejar origin, we had a small Alhambra in the center of Madrid and we let it get lost.
40.Jorba Laboratories , another example of lost architecture, designed by the Spanish architect Miguel Fisac and sadly demolished in 1999 after a great controversy behind it.
To this list of Nacho Domingo we can add other jewels that well deserve a mention, such as the Hermitage of Saint Anthony of Florida a few steps from the Príncipe Pío shopping center and where the painter Francisco de Goya is buried; the Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church in Madrid; the Astronomical Observatory of Madrid or the gardens of Campo del Moro , few frequented and overshadowed on most occasions by the Royal Palace or the Temple of Debod. And adding!
What do you say, we start with this route of the most unknown Madrid?
Interior of the missing Palace of Xifré