Guided Walking Tour of the Spanish Civil War in Madrid

Activity description :

1. 2 hours
2. Up to 10 people
3. English, Spanish

Between 1936 and 1939, Madrid was one of the few European capitals to endure nearly three years of siege and bombardment. This guided walking tour takes you in the footsteps of a conflict whose scars the city still bears, without any plaques or monuments to mark them.

Your Tour: Madrid and the Spanish Civil War

Guided Tour - 2 hours - Outdoor

Accompanied by a guide who specializes in this period, you’ll walk through the historic center, piecing together the daily lives of Madrileños under the bombs of the Condor Legion. The accounts of Hemingway, photographer Gerda Taro, and anonymous residents who endured hunger and fear bring to life a history that has long been silenced.

Places visited:

• Calle Mayor and Plaza de la Villa, in the heart of Habsburg Madrid.
• The San Miguel Market and its surroundings, marked by ration lines.
• Puerta del Sol and the Real Casa de Postas, the nerve center of power during the conflict.
• The Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Luis.
• Plaza del Callao, Gran Vía, and the Capitol Movie Theater—a thoroughfare nicknamed “the Avenue of Shells” during the war.
• Plaza de España and the Temple of Debod, the site of one of the first battles for Madrid.

Highlights of the tour:

• An expert guide on the period, able to situate each street within the narrative of the conflict.
• A group limited to 10 people, allowing for free discussion throughout the tour.
• An itinerary that reveals a history absent from the city’s museums and commemorative plaques.

This tour is designed for history enthusiasts as well as curious travelers who want to understand Madrid in a way that goes beyond its monuments. It also makes a great gift idea for a loved one who’s passionate about contemporary history.

Included

• The services of an expert guide on the Spanish Civil War.
• A bottle of water.