The Making of Madrid

Los Gabrieles on Calle Echegaray has finally reopened after more than 20 years, and it was worth every minute of the wait. In this episode, I dig into the history of one of Madrid's most spectacular bars and the remarkable renaissance of commercial ceramic tile art in the city during the 1920s. Places mentioned in this episode: Los Gabrieles , Calle Echegaray 17, Barrio de las Letras — no rese...

What does Madrid's history look like when you include the stories that have long been left out? In this episode, I sit down with activist and tour guide Kwame Ondo. He's spent years piecing together the hidden history of Black people in Spain — from pre-Colonial trade routes and the time of Al-Andalus, through to the slave markets of Seville and the abolitionist movement of the First Republic — to...

Planning your first visit to Madrid? This episode contains a three-day itinerary designed to give you an authentic taste of Spain's capital city. On day one, you get oriented with the city's historical background, day two covers art, while day three takes you shopping. But nothing is set in stone: alongside big-name attractions, I give you lesser-known alternatives to suit your individual needs: f...

Graffiti-spattered yet elegant Malasaña is filled with achingly cool boutique shops and hidden treasures. Once seedy and even a little dangerous, it's been transformed for better and worse in the past few years by gentrification, making it a safer, yet increasingly chichi destination. While its heart is in Plaza Dos de Mayo, the great thing about Malasaña is that it sprawls across a wide area, so...

How healthy is the famous Mediterranean diet really? And where can you stay fit in Madrid without breaking the bank? In this episode, I chat with personal trainer and nutrition coach Marietta Sandiland about navigating health and fitness in Spain's capital. In it Marietta shares the surprising truth about changing dietary patterns in Spain, where to find the best fresh produce, and how Madrid&...

To get the best out of a stay in Madrid, it's important to stay in the right area. This episode covers the advantages and disadvantages of all the main barrios (neighbourhoods), so you can make an informed decision. It's an honest guide, so there are a couple of areas I recommend avoiding, but you'll have to listen to find out where they are. Visit my website and subscribe for a FREE c...

Season two of The Making of Madrid is on its way! Before the new episodes drop, I'm taking you behind the scenes with a roundup of my five favourite episodes from season one. From the wildly popular "Overrated and Underrated" episode to a deep dive into Madrid's hidden Islamic heritage, literary culture, and the story of a remarkably powerful woman in 16th-century Spain, this pre...

In this fruity festive issue from the archives, I reveal all about the history of the madroño or strawberry tree and explain why it's part of Madrid's iconography. I also delve into why Spanish people eat 12 grapes at New Year along with the bongs from the clock in Sol. This is an archive episode from 2024. For an updated blog post based on the episode, visit the ⁠Making of Madrid⁠ , there...

In this festive episode of Making of Madrid , I take you through the magical experience of Christmas in the Spanish capital. From bustling holiday markets and dazzling illuminations to the rich traditions of El Gordo lottery and Three Kings Day , discover everything you need to know to enjoy the festive season in Madrid. Whether you’re planning a visit or just curious about how the city celebrates...

Madrid's plazas are being systematically stripped of trees. In this last episode of the first season of The Making of Madrid, musician and activist AmyJo Doherty (sister of Pete Doherty) shares the story behind the "No a la Tala" movement—a campaign fighting to preserve Madrid's green spaces against development projects that prioritize tourism and construction over the city's...

Narratives surrounding Spain's Jewish converts to Christianity and their descendants (known collectively as conversos ) understandably focus on the victimization of this community. Historian Kevin Ingram shifts the perspective a little by asking what role they played as innovators in modern Spain. In the latest episode of the podcast to coincide with the presentation of his book Converso Non-c...

Madrid is the only European capital founded by a Muslim ruler—a fact widely accepted in academic circles—yet traces of this Islamic heritage remain frustratingly hard to find. From poor signposting to restrictive opening hours, the city council seems to do little to highlight Madrid's true origins.  In this two-part episode, released alongside my new Medieval Madrid Voicemap tour, I examine th...

Madrid is the only European capital founded by a Muslim ruler—a fact widely accepted in academic circles—yet traces of this Islamic heritage remain frustratingly hard to find. From poor signposting to restrictive opening hours, the city council seems to do little to highlight Madrid's true origins.  In this two-part episode, released alongside my new Medieval Madrid Voicemap tour, I examine th...

David Price, owner of The Secret Kingdoms bookshop in Madrid takes us through some autumnal reads. He also discusses his personal essay about his love affair with Madrid that was published by Ybernia press in the recently released Stray Cats compilation as well as the Guide to Madrid’s Literary District , a book he and I launched last year. Visit my website and subscribe for a FREE copy of Madrid...

Overtourism has become an increasing problem in Madrid with rising accommodation costs, endless queues and growing resentment from locals making tourists think twice before booking a trip. A trip to Kyoto this summer on assignment for Lonely Planet made me view the problem from a different angle as the Japanese city is dealing with similar issues. Is Madrid still worth visiting? Check out this lat...

Tucked away under the palace is this lush green oasis that not many people stumble upon because the access points are not that obvious. One of the destinations featured in my new book Quiet Madrid, this place is a world away from the Madrid most tourists encounter. For more, visit my blog . Visit my website and subscribe for a FREE copy of Madrid Beyond the Guidebook ⁠https://shr.pn/tiNH⁠ Support...

Usera is a foodie's heaven with Chinese, South American and Spanish options galore. Here I've listed all my favourite places to eat out. If you follow my advice, I guarantee you'll eat well and cheaply. For links to restaurants, check my website . Visit my website and subscribe for a FREE copy of Madrid Beyond the Guidebook ⁠https://shr.pn/tiNH⁠ Support The Making of Madrid by buying a...

Proof that there is fun to be had in August even though half the city has decamped to the beach! In this episode I introduce three festivals held in Lavapiés during our hottest month. In it you'll learn what a verbena, a vestido chinés and a manton de manila is as well as hear a little bit of my impromptu singing of a zarzuela classic! Visit my website and subscribe for a FREE copy of Madrid B...

Proof that there is life outside Madrid's M30 ring road, the second part of my Guide to Usera goes into what to see and do in Usera from checking out its groovy sundials, to mooching round Chinatown to cycling by the river. Visit my website and subscribe for a FREE copy of Madrid Beyond the Guidebook ⁠https://shr.pn/tiNH⁠ Support The Making of Madrid by buying a copy of Quiet Madrid, a guide t...

My essential Madrid Summer Survival Guide takes you through strategies for enjoying Spain's capital during its scorching summer months. Join me as I explore how to navigate Madrid like a local when temperatures soar above 40°C (100F)—from booking accommodations in the cooler northern neighbourhoods to embracing the traditional siesta rhythm. I'll share insider tips on early morning explora...

In the heart of old Madrid and yet a world apart from the touristy mayhem surrounding the royal palace, La Latina is the perfect place to base a stay in the city. For me, the steeply sloping squares and cobbled streets of the barrio (neighbourhood) offer a tranquil retreat into historic Madrid. By contrast, the bustling Cava Baja and in Mercado de Cebada in the upper section are a foodie heaven. A...

In this episode, I'll be exploring how short-term vacation rentals are contributing to the housing crisis in Madrid, where locals increasingly struggle with skyrocketing rents and limited housing availability. In it, you'll hear about the human impact of these changes and practical alternatives for responsible tourism. Despite sensationalist reports, Spaniards are not asking for all touris...

To celebrate the Puertas Abiertas (open doors) art festival on May 31, this episode explores the history of Usera: how it went from being a quiet rural area to one of Madrid's most multicultural and creative districts. In it I talk about how the area resisted Nationalist troops during the Civil War, controversies over the name of its most famous estate and where most of its Chinese population...

It's the fiestas de San Isidro right now and to celebrate Madrid's biggest festival, here's a video of me discussing typically Madrileño terms with my husband Sergio de Isidro. Here you'll find out about festival food, how to dress as a chulapo and chulapa, how to dance the chotis and much more! Oh, and you'll also meet our gato (cat), Jiji, the most Madrileño member of our hou...

In this episode, I sit down with Katharine Cannings, a teacher, author, TV presenter, and entrepreneur who's been running Fun Box English for 18 years. Katharine shares insights from her new book, Fluent Families: A Road Map to Your Bilingual Home , drawing on both her professional experience teaching English through storytelling and her personal journey raising bilingual children in Madrid. F...