Habsburg Madrid
The Capital of the Spanish Empire in the 16th and 17th Centuries: A City of Glory and Chaos.
A historical walk through the Madrid of the 16th and 17th centuries, when the city became the capital of a new empire and the epicentre of a dramatic historical period. Under the reigns of Charles I and Philip II, the Habsburg Empire took shape, while the 17th century marked the beginning of Spain’s decline as a world power. This period was also defined by religious fanaticism and the Inquisition, as well as the extraordinary flourishing of the arts during Spain’s Golden Age.
The route takes us through iconic landmarks such as Plaza Mayor, the Convent of the Descalzas Reales and Puerta del Sol, where the legacy of a policy with global reach can still be felt today. Madrid was then emerging as a new centre of power, but it also revealed its harshest side: alongside Baroque splendour, royal art collections and the foundation of convents, the capital was marked by a shortage of housing, chaotic urban development, crime, prostitution and the everyday misery of the lower classes.
A journey through the light and shadows of one of the most decisive periods in Madrid’s history.
COMPACT TOUR
· Duration: approx. 2 hours
· Minimum group price (1-6 pax.): €140 (Monday to Friday) or €150 (weekends, public holidays, and every day from 8:00 pm). VAT included.
· Recommended itinerary: Plaza de la Villa, Plaza Mayor, Convento de las Descalzas Reales (exterior visit), Puerta del Sol, Plaza Santa Ana/Barrio de las Letras
EXTENDED TOUR
· Duration: approx. 4 hours
· Minimum price per group (1-6 pax.): €200 (Monday to Friday) or €220 (weekends, public holidays, and daily from 8:00 pm). VAT included.
Recommended itinerary: Plaza de la Villa, Convento de las Carboneras (exterior visit), Plaza Mayor, Convento de las Descalzas Reales (exterior visit), Puerta del Sol, Plaza Santa Ana/Barrio de las Letras, Convento de las Trinitarias (exterior visit )
