Live Tours are carried out by our hosts, who are outdoors, on location and connected live to you via video call at all times.
- LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Portuguese
- Duration60 Minutes
Madrid de los Austrias was the name given to the oldest part of the city during the reign of the Habsburgs, known in Spain as the “Casa de Austria”. It refers to the area of central Madrid around Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s 401 year-old central square.
That’s where we will begin our walking tour. We will learn about the plaza’s rich history, from trials during the Spanish Inquisition to bullfights, coronations, royal ceremonies, concerts, royal love affairs, markets… There used to be a cemetery and you will have to guess where! Just a little clue: not underground…
Slowly we will walk to the Corpus Christi Carboneras Church, home to a convent of nuns and founded in 1605. The sisters still make biscuits and sell them in a unique way without being seen, because cloistered nuns never leave the convent (you still have something to learn, Amazon Prime Now…).
We will then arrive to one of the city’s most beautiful squares – three hundred years of architecture are waiting for us. In just one spot, 14th, 15th and 16th century buildings, from medieval to Baroque style. Just amazing!!
And finally, we will admire two of the facades of the Royal Palace, the biggest one palace in Europe. No wonder… it has around 3.000 rooms!!! This Palace represents, probably better than anything else, the new dynasty, and the outstanding changes that it brought: Art, Costumes, Manners, New Age… When Austria’s last King died without an heir, we said AUF WIEDERSEHEN to the Austrias and BIENVENUE to the Bourbons.
Let’s discover some of the hidden spots of beautiful Madrid together. Come Walk With Me!!!
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Hosted By Cristina
My name is Cristina. I'm an official local guide in Madrid and its surroundings. I live in the center of the city, but in fact I was born in Haro, La Rioja, land of wines and cradle of the Spanish language.
Before going to college, I moved to USA to learn English (fantastic experience I must say). Then back to Madrid where I studied Journalism. For a while I worked as a journalist focusing on sports and then, something changed my life: I read in a newspaper that a company was hiring people who loved to travel and spoke English. They were calling me!!! I started working as a Tour Director, first in Spain, then in the rest of Europe and later in Asia and South America as well. In the meantime, I had time to live in Beijing (to learn Chinese) and in São Paulo (Portuguese). Six years ago, I obtained the license as an official local guide in Madrid.
But what about me? I have six nieces and nephews who I spoil as much as I can; I love hats, handbags and shoes. I never say no to a glass of wine or two... my football team is Real Madrid (of course) and I live in a small apartment in the center that is probably smaller than the closets of most of your houses. I’m nothing without my coffee in the morning, I like technology when it helps to make my life easier (the iPad was created just for me, thanks Steve Jobs!). But above all, I LOVE MY JOB!!!
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