On the banks of the lake

The 21st June is European Music Day. What better excuse to pay a visit to some of the master craftsmen and women who make handmade guitars? The wisdom of these luthiers is infinite, and their craft brings us works of art that withstand the test of time and allow us to form lasting memories.

Journey through history with the Royal Tapestry Factory, which in 2021 will celebrate 300 years since it first opened its doors. At the heart of its mission is the production and restoration of rugs, tapestries and coats of arms, in addition to conserving Spain’s textile heritage. Its guided tours invite us to discover how today’s […]

Every 15 May on San Isidro, the day Madrid celebrates its patron saint, the city’s patisseries fill with these sweet, utterly tempting treats. They come in a huge variety, dumb ones, smart ones, those of Santa Clara and French ones, and you really must try them all. And you really must try them all. Tradition […]

As the song goes, there was a time when violet sellers would appear on the streets of Madrid “like birds, precursors of spring”. Today we’re going to travel back in time through the flavours of two centuries-old sweetshops. Steeped in history, to this day they still sell their hand-made sweets with the essence of this […]

Although this year the streets of Madrid will not host the city’s annual Easter processions, the Cerería Ortega is still open for business. Steeped in one hundred years of history, this family-run candlemakers is the only shop in the city to sell candles handcrafted using the traditional methods of bygone times. Filled with great passion, […]

An irresistible sin that takes us straight back to our childhood. With Easter just around the corner, there’s not a kitchen in Spain that isn’t filled with the distinctive aroma of cinnamon and lemon coming from freshly cooked torrijas, the favourite sweet treat of everyone in the city at this time of year, read on […]