Madrid’s Literary District: A Barrio de las Letras Tour

The charming Huertas area has been Madrid’s literary hub ever since 1583. That year, the city’s first theatre was established, known first as Teatro del Príncipe, then Corral del Príncipe and, today, Teatro Español.

On this walking tour through Barrio de las Letras (known as the Literary Quarter), you’ll find out how writers shaped the city, from the Golden Age (Siglo de Oro) up to the present day.

Starting in front of Teatro Español on Plaza de Santa Ana, you’ll stroll through the district’s quaint streets to see where a world-weary Cervantes settled to pen Don Quijote, just down the road from his greatest frenemy, Lope de Vega. I’ll also show you where, centuries later during the Spanish Civil War, Hemingway whet his whistle in bars like La Venencia and Ceveceria Alemana.

Along the way, you’ll discover interesting shops like Miguel Miranda bookstore and Brown Bear Bakery, and historical bars like Viva Madrid and Casa Alberto. I’ll show you the ancient convent, Convento de las Trinitarias Descalzas de San Ildefonso, where Cervantes’ bones are interred. You’ll also see a statue of Spain’s greatest writer, Miguel de Cervantes, standing proudly in Plaza de las Cortes where you can learn all about Spain’s rocky road to democracy.

The tour ends at El Angel del Jardin, a picturesque garden and florist that’s haunted by the lively spirits of the neighbourhood’s long-dead writers.

Along the way, you’ll:

• Visit Lope de Vega’s House Museum, the playwright’s charming 16th-century house and garden
• Learn about the bitter rivalries raging between Madrid’s talented writers
• Pass by the historic literary institution, Ateneo de Madrid
• Drop by some of Hemingway’s favourite drinking holes
• Witness the Siege of Madrid through the eyes of writers like Laurie Lee
• See the statue of Frederico Garcia Lorca, Spain’s greatest poet

Join me on this leisurely 60-minute walk through Barrio de las Letras, Madrid’s literary district, and find out how the area, the city and the country were shaped by some of the world’s greatest writers.