Welcome to Madrid and Ideas for This Week

We're kicking off the summer with a fantastic new group of students! And soon the Scholars group will join us to fill the AU Madrid classrooms with even more excitement and adventure. Welcome to our blog!

We invite you to browse the fixed sections of our blog, but also these short suggestions for this week (you can find information on dates, locations, and how to purchase tickets at the links below):

MUSIC:

The Tomavistas Festival: A music festival held in Madrid, known for its diverse programming and commitment to independent and emerging music. It is characterized by its openness to different musical styles and proposals, both from national and international artists, and by its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/festival-tomavistas

Ed Sheeran's Concert: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/ed-sheeran-metropolitano-stadium

DANCE

Contemporary Dance: Martha Graham's Company: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/martha-graham-dance-company-centro-danza-matadero-nave-11

Flamenco: The Flamenco Biennial 2025: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/bienal-flamenco-madrid

BOOKS

The Madrid Book Fair is a large annual literary event held in El Retiro Park, showcasing books from Spanish-speaking countries and promoting the literature of a guest country. It's a major cultural event for literature lovers, featuring over 300 booths, book signings, and opportunities to meet authors: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/ferialibromadrid-parque-de-el-retiro

Some Tips to Celebrate the Good Weather

Spring is finally here! Aren't you bursting with energy? Here are some very different ideas to get you going! :-)

PROUST IN THE THYSSEN MUSEUM The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza is offering an exhibition from March 4 to June 8, 2025, showcasing how art influenced the work of the illustrious Parisian writer. Proust is considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, who also excelled in philosophy and art history. In his literary production, one can observe the influence of past and contemporary artists, as well as the recreation of landscapes and monuments that captivated him in his day, along with the artistic environment he experienced. This period was marked by the renewal in the arts brought by the Impressionist artists in a modern and cosmopolitan Paris – where Marcel Proust already lived – illuminated by electricity, with Parisians traveling by car and filling cafés, restaurants, and shows. It is precisely the environment in which he lived and developed his life and work related to the arts that is the fundamental element on which this exhibition is based.

IFEMA (Institución Ferial de Madrid) is a major event venue in Madrid, Spain. It hosts a wide range of fairs, congresses, and exhibitions throughout the year. Located near the Campo de las Naciones and Barajas Airport, IFEMA is known for events like FITUR (International Tourism Fair), ARCO (International Contemporary Art Fair), and MOTORTEC. Two current events:

**WAH MADRID_In true Las Vegas and Broadway style, you can enjoy a musical and gastronomic show from Thursday to Sunday at ESPACIO WAH, located at the IFEMA MADRID fairgrounds. It features a cast of artists and professionals who have worked on the Oscars ceremonies, Eurovision, London's West End, and Broadway, as well as for the world's leading bands and singers from Sting to AC/DC. An unforgettable playlist. Puccini, Paco de Lucia, Guns & Roses, David Guetta, or Lady Gaga, among other music giants, take the stage, starring in a fusion of styles ranging from opera to house, flamenco, electronic, gospel, or rock. Designed to thrill and move the audience through music and its original gastronomic performance. https://wahshow.com/en/

**FRIENDS' EXPERIENCE_The experience inspired by one of the most popular television series in history arrives in Spain for the first time, bringing fans closer to their favorite characters with life-sized recreated sets, iconic backdrops, costumes, and a wide variety of accessories and memorabilia. It can be visited from March 17 to June 29 at the IFEMA MADRID fairgrounds (Pavilion 14.1). Fans of the series will find numerous interactive recreations full of nostalgia and can recreate some of their favorite scenes, such as posing behind the famous purple door of Monica and Rachel's apartment, relaxing in Chandler and Joey's recliners, and, of course, lounging on the legendary orange couch at the famous Central Perk café.  https://madrid.friendstheexperience.com/en/

 A LITTLE OUTDOOR EXERCISE_And next to the Manzanares river, on its west bank, you will find Madrid's largest public park, the Casa de Campo. With its more than 1,535 hectares, it is the ideal setting not only for hiking and cycling along various routes but also for enjoying the outdoor terraces located next to its impressive artificial lake, whose origins date back to the 16th century. If you're up for it, you can even embark on the adventure of rowing in one of its recreational boats available at its large dock.

Carnival and Other Ideas for the Weekend

Of course, one of the star cultural activities these days will be the Carnivals, which in Madrid are a bit peculiar (nothing to do with Rio 😉). If you want to read a very brief explanation about their origin you can find it in an old post on our blog: https://exploringwithauspain.blogspot.com/2023/02/carnivals-and-gastronomy.html

This year it will be from March 1 to 5. From Carnival Friday to Ash Wednesday, Madrid surrenders year after year to the party of the game of identities, with parties, parades, musical performances and many more activities. Do you remember that in the previous post I told you about the beautiful Matadero cultural center? Well, that will be where most of the activities will be held. You can find all the information in English here: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/carnaval-madrid

I've been told that the Iberian Experience group is going to participate in the Burial of the Sardine! On that website you can see some photos and read about the "burial", but also about the previous days, the parade, the music groups, dance, theatre, magic...

📍 Location: Matadero (and much more). Metro Legazpi, lines 3 and 6.

📅 Dates: March 1-5, 2025.

💸 Price: free entry.

Another option for the weekend is the following: The Vegan Association of Madrid organizes Madrid Vegan Market, a vegan market that this Sunday (from 10:00 to 16:00) returns for its third edition with different stalls that will show food products, cosmetics, gastro area... there will also be talks. We will find the delights of Freedom Cakes, Urban Nomad Cooking, Good Shit Vegan Kebabs, Vegasun and Vegasauria or Pastelería Macchi, among others.

📍 Location: Espacio Rastro, on Calle San Cayetano, 5 (La Latina)

📅 Dates: Sunday March 2, 2025.

💸 Price: free entry.

And if you want to travel nearby: Chinchón, considered one of the most beautiful towns in the Community of Madrid, is celebrating its traditional Medieval Market once again this year. Jugglers, knights, musicians and itinerant artists will fill its streets with life and activities – check out the full programme here –. They will also be joined by craft stalls, traditional cuisine and a children's area for this date with the past.

📍 Location: Various locations in Chinchón

📅 Dates: From February 28 to March 2, 2025

Little Secret Plans ;-)

In this post we are going to share with you some not-so-well-known places to enjoy Madrid (but remember that the almond trees have just blossomed, check out my post from last week!).

If you are a movie lover, you can find many movie theaters with current films in their original version in Madrid (for example Los Cines Ideal, Los Renoir, Golem...) with much cheaper prices than in the US. However, there are other less-known cinemas, which are wonderful. One of my favorite places is the magical Cine Doré (one of the first cinemas in Madrid, in art deco style). Prices are ridiculous (3 euros per session! and even less if you buy multi-session passes. The films can be old classics from many different countries, or come in thematic cycles, or be current, and they are different every day. Next door is the Antón Martín market, where you can eat well for a low price. 

WHERE: Calle Santa Isabel 3 (Metro Antón Martín, line 1).

TICKETS: https://entradasfilmoteca.gob.es/ (up to 72 hours before).

Another fantastic place with the same system of changing films is the Cineteca del Matadero. If you don't know this cultural centre (Matadero), you should go and have a look! (https://www.mataderomadrid.org/en) They offer electronic music concerts, dance shows (in particular, this weekend it looks very interesting!: https://www.mataderomadrid.org/en/schedule/it-dansa), theater, art exhibitions, and much more. Also, the Madrid Río Park is very close by (check the picture below). But coming back to the movies:

WHERE: Plaza de Legazpi (Metro Legazpi 8, lines 3 and 6).

TICKETS: https://tienda.madrid-destino.com/es/cineteca/

If you need information about bookstores specializing in film, don't hesitate to ask us. There are some great places with a cafe where you can grab a bite to eat in the meantime!

Madrid’s Musical Melting Pot this Week

Tuesday January 21_As part of Inverfest, the Movistar Arena (located inside the WiZink Center) hosts an event that pays tribute to the legacy of the immortal Van Morrison. https://www.movistararena.es/busqueda?evento=van-morrison-2021

Wednesday January 22_Pianist and composer Joep Beving released his latest album last summer. In collaboration with cellist Maarten Vos, in a small cabin in the woods, he wrote Vision of Contentment, an album dedicated to his friend, who passed away the previous year. Halfway between classical, minimalist and the most avant-garde experimentation. https://www.teatroscanal.com/espectaculo/joep-beving-maarten-vos-tc2425/

Wednesday January 22-Tuesday February18_The prestigious German director Christof Loy ('Arabella', 'Rusalka' or 'Capriccio') is in charge of directing the adaptation of Eugene Onegin, a classic opera by Tchaikovsky that returns after 15 years to the Teatro Real. https://tickets.teatroreal.es/selection/event/date?productId=10229194556811&lang=en 

Last minute tickets are very interesting because of their reduced price: for those under 26 years old, 20 euros in any area of ​​the theatre!: https://www.teatroreal.es/en/how-buy

Sunday January 26_Sho Hai, member of the influential rap band Violadores del Verso, ends his Polvo tour with a great concert at the La Riviera venue, in an event that is part of the Inverfest programme. https://inverfest.com/events/sho-hai/

Sunday January 26_Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live music experience to incredible venues in Madrid. Buy your tickets now to discover Coldplay's music at the exclusive Four Seasons Hotel under the soft light of candles: https://feverup.com/m/115425/en

Sunday January 26_What do you feel when you listen to Vivaldi's Spring? What colours do the rhythms of Autumn suggest to you? The artist collective Projektil has taken this to another level: an immersive experience that opens this Saturday at the church of the German-Speaking Evangelical Community – Friedenskirche. Through site-specific video mapping projections (that is, adapted to the space to generate total immersion), we will be able to feel, see, imagine how Antonio Vivaldi's most famous concertos come to life. https://eonariumexperiences.com/madrid/enlightenment/en/

Alternative Art at a Very Special Terrace

Because not everything happens in the center, crowded with tourists, today I invite you to explore other parts of Madrid. An example is the "Centro de Arte 2 de mayo de la Comunidad de Madrid". It has its headquarters in Móstoles (Avenida de la Constitución, 23). You can always visit it for free, as well as participate in all its activities. It opens its doors from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. You can get there thanks to Metro lines 12, bus lines 1, 2, 519, 520, 521, 525, 526, 527 or Cercanías C-5. Below you can find information about an event at this center that is about to start:

"A new edition of 'Picnic Sessions' returns to the Dos de Mayo Art Center Museum. Between May 30 and July 4, the terrace of the venue will become the space to celebrate an artistic ceremony in six different seasons, break with colonial logic or simplify territories, geography, spirituality or creations. All this through musical performances or dance shows.

In these artistic experiences you can enjoy voices from the Caribbean diaspora accompanied by musical themes related to fruit, musical performances with batá drums, a multi-instrumentalist trio of saxophone, keyboards and percussion, an exploration of violence through writing or postcards sound and body sounds that combine rap, dembow, zumba and contemporary dance. (...) Doors open at 8:30 p.m., while the activities will take place between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. It has free entry until capacity is reached.You can check all the schedules and sign up for additional plans through this link".

(Original text translated from: https://www.timeout.es/madrid/es/noticias/la-terraza-del-centro-de-arte-dos-de-mayo-se-llena-de-conciertos-y-espectaculos-al-aire-libre-051224)

Ireland Week in Madrid!

 From March 11th to 17th, the capital is blooming with activities on the occasion of Saint Patrick's Day!!!! Some interesting events took place yesterday, what can we do from today?

A group of musicians and dancers from the University College Dublin Dance Society will perform at the Ópera (Tuesday), Callao (Wednesday and Thursday), and Gran Vía (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) stations.

Gastronomy will also be present during Ireland Week to pay tribute to the wide variety of fresh products produced on the Emerald Isle. There will be a free tasting of Irish products at the Peace Market (C/Ayala 28. Metro Serrano and Velázquez, line 4) on March 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Wednesday the 23th from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Irish literature will have its special day on Thursday at the Desperate Literature bookstore (Calle Campomanes, 13. Metro Ópera, lines 2, 5, and Ramal), where the Irish author Shane Tivenan will read for the audience, who will also be entertained by the Irish music group Triantan.

At the Monumental Theater (c/ Atocha, 65. Metro Antón Martín. Line 1) you can enjoy the 'Saint Patrick's Day', a show that fuses the energy of Irish folk-rock with dance and the sound of the bagpipes. Among the participants, you will find members of the RTVE choir and orchestra, the Luna Celta Dance school, and the musical group The Green Tones.

On Saturday, March 16, Irish culture will come to Las Rozas and a picnic will be held at the Electrocor Football Club (here) accompanied by Irish music. Public will be able to enjoy Gaelic sports with the Madrid Harps GAA Sports Club.

In adition, on Saturday the traditional St. Patrick's parade will take place and there will also be the opportunity to continue enjoying Celtic rhythms in the Fitz Club room (Calle Princesa 1. Metro Plaza de España, lines 3 and 10) at 7 p.m. with a concert by Bras Rodrigo.

          

On Sunday at the Galileo Galilei (Calle Galileo 100, Metro Canal and Islas Filipinas, lines 2 and 7)  with a performance by the Irish Treble dance group. 

A summary of all this information in English here and more details (but in Spanish) here.

THE SOCIAL HUB

The Social Hub is a home for next-gen students and professionals, a hotel for travellers, a coworking space for big thinkers, a playground for entrepreneurs and a city meeting place for locals. Whatever your journey, it starts at The Social Hub.


Some options - all start at 3 euros

- sign language

- pilates

- yoga

- music jam sessions

- Spanish class

- Pop up night of Sicilian Street Food

LINK

Jazz Madrid !

 

Now through the 22nd of November there are events all over Madrid to experience the language of Jazz. 

There are all sorts of options, full concerts, expeditions, Jazz in clubs, etc. 

Here is the LINK to the programming. 

Some of the options are free, you just have to look!