Master & Commander – Alvaro de Bazán
Visit the Plaza de la Villa just off the Calle Mayor in Madrid and you will see a statue of
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History
Research Claims Christopher Columbus Was a Spanish Jew
New DNA research has revealed that Christopher Columbus was in fact most likely to have been a Sephardic Jew from
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Most Influential Spaniards In History – By Province
The Spanish daily newspaper La Razon has published the “most influential Spaniards of all time” – listed by each of Spain´s 49
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Madrid´s Iconic Tio Pepe Symbol History
Peter Besas, author of Hidden Madrid tells the story of one of the most iconic symbols of the capital. Since
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Madrid´s Last Remaining Corner Madonna
A casual observer may not notice them wondering the streets of many the towns and historical quarters of some of
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Madrid’s Fallen Angels – A History
Madrid resident and author of the best seller Hidden Madrid, Peter Besas explains Madrid´s fallen angels. If you walk to
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Dos De Mayo – A History Of Madrid And Spain
Dos De Mayo – A history of Madrid and Spain. Today sees the commemoration of the uprising of the Madrid
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The Curious Origins Of The Word “Siesta”
No word so encompases the imagination about Spain & the Spanish than”siesta”. In fact in any word association about the
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Guide To The Castles Of Madrid
Madrid lies at the heart of the historical Kingdom of Castile, which under the Spanish Constitution of 1978 was became
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Madrid´s Three Kings Parade Heralds Epiphany
All is set for tomorow´s traditional Three Kings Parade ( Cabalgata de Reyes) with the arrival of Melchior, Gaspar and
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The Feast Day Of The Immaculate Conception
Tomorow, 8th December, Spain celebrates the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. The day is a celebration of the immaculate
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Madrid Prepares For Almudena´s Feast Day
As on every November 9th, the city of Madrid celebrates it´s patron, the Virgen of the Almudena. This year, coincides
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Pedro Zerolo: Portrait Of A Political Radical
As Madrid Pride week festivities approach, John Boyce looks back at the life of iconic gay activist Pedro Zerolo, and
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Ignoble End For Madrid Navigator´s Elcano Expedition
A Spanish ship attempting to recreate the historic first sea voyage around the world more than 500 years ago has
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Napoleonic Reenactment Marks Madrid “Dos de Mayo” Celebrations
Madrid´s Napoleonic War Reeactement Society has been practising today to take centre stage in Madrid´s Dos de Mayo Celebrations next
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Spanish Fascist Founder Primo de Rivera Exhumed From Valley Of Fallen
The body of Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of the Spanish fascist Falange movement that supported the Francoist regime,
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Last Days Of Tartessus Exhibition
The Madrid regional Archaeological and Paleontological Museum in Alcalá de Henares has opened a major exhibition on the lost Iberian
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War Of Words Between Real Madrid & Barcelona Over Franco Era Favouristim
Some things don’t change. The historic rivalry between Spanish footballing joints FC Barcelona and Real Madrid extends far beyond the
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“Sensational” Ancient Mayan Ball Game Scoreboard Discovery
A Spanish archaeological team have unearthed a Mayan stone marker scorboard from an ancient ball game that was played thousands
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Plaque Unveiled To Juan Bautista Aznar – The Man Who Couldnt Save Alfonso XIII
The Madrid City Council have unveiled a plaque to commemorate Juan Bautista Aznar-Cabañas who was Spain´s last Prime Minister under the
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Nephew Says Franco Era Nobel Chilean Poet Pablo Neruda Was Poisoned
An international panel of forensic experts including those from Spain, have said that the Chilean poet and Nobel Prize winner
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St Valentine´s Last Resting Place – In Madrid
As lovers celebrate Saint Valentine´s Day, few will be gathering at his last resting place – which lies in Madrid
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Shared Memories – Jews & Spaniards In The Holocaust
It is a paradox. Adolf Hitler´s ally, General Franco, sent Fascist volunteers to fight with his armies on the Eastern
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All the King´s men – A Glimpse Into Europe´s Oldest Royal Guard
The Madrid Metropolitan has been granted a rare insight into the the Spanish Royal Guard with an interview with their
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Why Madrid? How Madrid Became Capital Of Spain
Why and how Madrid became the capital of Spain dates back to the reign of King Filipe II, 1556 –
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Why Are Madrileños Called Gatos
What’s in a name and where does it come from? Ask a Madrileño if he is a ‘gato’ and you
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Madrid Empties For December “Super Puente” Week
Despite the plunging temperatures, Madrileños have been taking advantage of no school and two bank holidays to escape to pueblos
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Spanish Scientists Reveal First-Ever Mass Produced Children’s Toy Is 5,000-Year Slate Bird
Forget Lego, Barbie or even teddy bears, the world’s first-ever kids’ toy craze was actually carved slate owls covered with
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Discovery Sheds Light On Origins Of Basque Language
Archaeologists have discovered a bronze hand dating back 2,100 years and sporting the oldest known inscription in the Basque language
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All Saint´s Day Brings Madrid´s City Of The Dead To Life
Today 1st November and Spain marks All Saints Day with remembrances of loved ones of those who have passed. In Madrid,
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Spain´s Fascist Founder To Be Exhumed From Valley Of The Fallen
Just days after the Spanish Senate passed the Democratic Memory Law, to finally “settle Spanish democracy’s debt to its past”,
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Four Monarchs Of Spain Attend Elizabeth Funeral
All four Spanish monarchs, the present King Felipe and Queen Leticia as well as the King Emeritus Juan Carlos and
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El Camino de Santiago – A Personal Pilgrimage
This year is special year for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago for it is a Jacobean Year – celebrated
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Archaeologists “Exceptional Find” Reveals Secrets Of Human Origins
A newly unearthed Neanderthal skull has revealed how our ancient cousins could have been around for thousands of years longer
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Felipe & The Sword Of The Liberator
The recent eye raising incident of King Felipe not standing during a part of the inauguration ceremony when the sword
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Spain Remembers Miguel Ángel Blanco
Spain has marked the 25th anniversary of the kidnapping and murder of Partido Popular local councillor Miguel Ángel Blanco. Both
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The Valley Of The Fallen Tolls Franco´s Final Demise
Spain has taken another step in dealing with its troubled relationship with the regime of General Franco. The Spanish Congress
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Visit Highlights Spain´s Long Jewish History
The visit last week to Madrid of the American Jewish Committee, which included being received by both King Felipe VI
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Furore Over Valley Of The Fallen Military Homage
The long shadow of General Franco´s Valley of The Fallen shows no sign of abetting some 3 years after his
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King Felipe Publishes Net Wealth In Effort To Reform Royal House
In an unprecedented move, the Spanish royal house has published the net wealth of the king, Felipe VI. According to
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Juana “The Mad” Finally Takes Her Royal Plinth
One of the most important figures in Spanish history, Queen Juana I of Castile has finally been recognised by having
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Magallanes & Elcano – Around The World To Madrid
To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world by Fernando de Magallanes and Juan Sebastian Elcano,
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Ghosts Of The Past As Spain Rejects Mexican “Colonial Exploitation” Jab
The ghosts of the past have returned to haunt Spanish – Latin American relations, after Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez
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Pikes At The Ready! The Tercios Muster Again On The Streets Of Old Madrid
The feared Spanish Tercios of old are back displaying their prowess with a drill of arms in the Plaza de
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Unwelcome Blast From The Past As Civil War Bomb Found
Madrid´s Bomb Disposal Unit, TEDAX have uncovered and made safe a Civil War bomb that was discovered by accident in Calle
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When Humanity Died – Seeing Auschwitz Exhibition
A new exhibition showing the horror of the Auschwitz extermination camp has opened at the Sefarad-Israel Cultural Centre in Madrid. The
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45th Anniversary Of Atocha Massacre Marked In Silence
Today, Monday 24th January, marks the 45th anniversary of the assassination of the left wing lawyers gunned down in their
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Charles Clifford Exhibition – Madrid´s First Photographer
To mark the 170th anniversary of the founding of the Isabel II Canal, the Fundación Canal Mateo Inurria, is putting
Read more Madrid´s Feast Day – The Legend Of The Virgin Of Almudena
This year, as in every year for over a millennia, Madrid celebrates the feast day of her patroness the Virgin
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“Indigenismo” and Black Legends Pall Over Hispanidad Day
The recent visit of Madrid´s regional premier, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, to the United States raised more than a few eyebrows
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Our Man In Madrid´s Understated English Humour Raises Galician Eyebrows
The English sense of humour has been quite the talk of Galicia after a recent tweet from Her Majesty´s Ambassador
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Street Name Civil War As Franco´s Toughest General Wont Go Quietly
The continuing saga of the legacy of the Spanish Civil War continues in the battle over Madrid´s many streets with
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Spanish Government Turns The Screws On Franco’s Legacy
The Spanish government of Pedro Sanchez, used the 85th anniversary of the 1936 coup this week, to announce its historical
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The Secrets Buried In Madrid´s “Guiri” British Cemetery
Just a few hundred metres away from the bustling noise of Calle General Ricardos, in the Carabanchel district of Madrid,
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The Way Of St James’s – A Spanish Pilgrimage
The Camino de Santiago, better known in English, as The Way Of St James or St James Way ( Santiago
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Farewell To Arms As The Last Of The International “Brigadistas” Dies
The last surviving volunteer of the International Brigades, which enlisted foreign nationals to fight for the Second Republic against the
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Ceuta & Melilla Stand Off – Spain´s North African Legacy
Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has vowed to “restore order” as thousands of Moroccans arrived in Ceuta – provoking an
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Spanish Civil Guard Celebrates 177th Anniversary
María Gámez Gámez, the first ever female Director General of Spain’s Civil Guard, presided over a ceremony in Madrid last
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Supreme Court Gives Franco Era Street Names A Reprieve
Four years after the Madrid City Council of Manuela Carmena, approved the changing of some 52 street names which had
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Recovery Of Looted 16th Century Cannons Sheds Light On 2nd Spanish Armada
A 16th-century cannon that is believed to have been aboard one of the ships sent by King Philip II of
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Prado Displays Screen Depiction Of Tenochtitlán Life After The Conquistadores
The Prado Muesum is hosting a temporary exhibition of the Biombo de la Conquista de México, one of the most
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Queen Letizia Leads 90th Anniversary Of Women´s Suffrage Commemoration
Queen Letizia attended a commemorative event last week, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the granting of the vote for women
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Fascist Civil War Victory Dagger Given To Franco Sold For €35,000
A ceremonial dagger given by Mussolini’s foreign minister to General Franco to commemorate his victory in the Spanish Civil War
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Excursions From Madrid – Segovia
In our series of pieces looking at excursions and day trips that can be enjoyed within a short distance of
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King Felipe Offers Prince Philip Condolences To British Ambassador
The King of Spain, Felipe VI and his wife, Queen Letizia, yesterday, 13th April, had an audience with the British
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Happy Tuesday The 13th – Spain´s Bad Luck Day!
Today is Tuesday the 13th, and in Spain that carries the same ominous warnings as Friday the 13th does in
Read more Civil War Exhumations Set For Valley Of The Fallen
The Spanish cabinet has approved a long held pledge to exhume the remains of victims of the Civil War with
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Alcala University Experts Painstaking Restoration Of Grass Made Roman Sandal
Experts from the University of Alcalá de Henares have painstakingly restored a Roman sandal that was made from grass and
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Symbolic End To ETA Terrorism In Madrid Steamroller Ceremony
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez on Thursday presided over a ceremony to destroy over 1,400 guns, rifles and other
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Remains Of Spain´s First Elected Female Mayor Executed During Civil War Discovered
The remains of Spain´s first elected woman local mayor, who was murdered by Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War
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14th Century Royal Cookbook Reveals Spanish “Pre-Mediteranean” Diet Of Kings
A 14th-century royal cookbook has been given a 21st century facelift and which reveals how the then Spanish nobility feasted
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Last Statue Of General Franco Removed In Spain
Spain has finally removed the last remaining statue of the late dictator General Franco. The last remaining homage to the
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Felipe VI Attends 40th Anniversary Of Coup Attempt
King Felipe VI attended an event today at the Spanish Congress of Deputies to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the
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Biggest Ever Ivory Roman Fan Discovered At Burial Site
A Roman fan made of ivory that belonged to a noblewoman in the 3rd Century AD has been found in
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Rafael In The Palace Exhibition
To mark the 5th centenary of his death, Madrid’s Royal Palace plays host to a remarkable temporary exhibition to pay
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Delicioso Author María José Sevilla Talks About Food & Spain
Abi Lindsay Clark talks to María José Sevilla, whose book Delicioso gives a fascinating account of the history of food
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Bank Of Spain´s Iconic Clock Stops For First Time In 130 Years From Filomena Freeze
The historical clock at the iconic Bank of Spain building in Madrid has stopped for the first time in 130
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Los Reyes Magos – Your Guide To The Three Kings
The evening of the 5th of January marks the arrival of the Three Kings or Wise Men ( los reyes
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Spanish Researchers Discover How A Man Was Murdered 5,000 Years Ago
Researchers have discovered how a man was killed in a prehistoric cave in Spain over 5,000 years ago after applying
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Spanish State Takes Possession Of Franco´s Summer Palace
The Franco family lost their appeal and this week saw the Spanish government formally take posession of the estate at a ceremony in the main house.
The repossession had been a goal of the Socialist PSOE led coalition government as part of their drive to erase the legacy of Franco’s dictatorship.
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The Dark Side Of Madrid – The Human Zoo Of Retiro Park
Madrid Resident Barry Haslam-Walker FRICS explores the extraordinary story of Madrid´s Human Zoo. WHY did Madrid host a Human Zoo
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Lavapiés – Life on the Edge in Madrid
Adrian Pole takes a fresh look at one of Madrid´s most individual neighbourhoods. The most surprising thing about Pedro Teixeira’s
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Fingerprints Reveal Identity Of Prehistoric Spanish Cave Painters
An international team of researchers have managed to deploy modern fingerprint techniques to determine for the first time the genders
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Madrid´s Medieval “Christian” Wall Uncovered
The Mayor of Madrid José Luis Martínez-Almeida together with the Madrid Councillor for tourism Andrea Levy enveilled the newly restored
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A Guide And History Of El Rastro – Madrid´s Iconic Flea Market
The Rastro: A Flea Market for All Tastes – Peter Besas explains everything you need to know about Madrid´s famous
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History Of Spain – Alvaran de Bazan
Visit the Plaza de la Villa just off the Calle Mayor in Madrid and you will see a statue of
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The Battle Of Manila Bay – 122 Years On
May 1, 2018 passed without much fanfare in Spain. Yet to those who remembered, this date marked the 120th anniversary
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The Turrón that Almost Didn’t Arrive in Madrid
Peter Besas, Author of Hidden Madrid explains how one Madrid Chistmas past things nearly didn´t go quite as they should…..
Read more Franco Exhumation Set For Thursday 24th October
The minority government led by caretaker prime minister, Pedro Sanchez has announced that the remains of the former Caudillo of
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Central Madrid Brought To A Sheeping Halt
Central Madrid’s congestion took on an animal flavour on Sunday as it´s streets and avenues were taken over by thousands
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Centenary Of First Direct Flight From England To Spain
This week marked the centenary of the first non-stop flight from England to Spain with the pioneering pilot that carried
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Discover Hidden Madrid – The Secrets Of The Spanish Capital
Hidden Madrid The author Peter Besas whose widely acclaimed “Hidden Madrid ” series of books talks to the Madrid Metropolitan
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Madrid Treasure Hunt
Madrid Treasure Hunt Madrid´s original teambuilding company Madrid Adventures http://www.madridadventures.com Brings you this edition´s Madrid Treasure Hunt Win this magnificent hamper
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La Fiesta de San Antonio 2019
A FIVE-DAY FEAST FOR THE EYES – REVIVING THE FOLKLORE FROM MADRID “The faithful seek him everywhere whilst the fair-sex
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Easter Procession Guide In Madrid
Easter in Madrid – It may not have the crowds of Sevilla and Malaga but the solemn religious processions are
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The Ghost Station of Chamberi
Why and where in the underground network of Madrid’s metro system can you experience a spine-tingling shiver as your train
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King Felipe Rides the Madrid Metro
King Felipe has emulated his great-grandfather by taking a ride on the Madrid metro as part of the service’s centenary
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Restoration Chapuzo
This is a what was left after a Spanish priest asked a local school teacher to restore a priceless 16th-Century
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Madrid Mardi Gras
<p style=”text-indent:0px;“/><span class=”dropcap dropcap2” style=”text-align: right; padding:0px;“>L</span>La Alegre Cofriadía del Entierro conferred a silver sardine on the Mayor in her
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