On the outskirts of Madrid, where the oak and holm oak forest that gives it its name muffles the noise of the city, stands the Palacio de El Pardo —a medieval hunting ground, royal residence, setting for weddings, concordats and deathbeds, and for nearly four decades the place from which Francisco Franco governed Spain—. Today it is administered by Patrimonio Nacional and is open to visitors, although it remains a venue for state receptions.
Madrid’s Historical Heritage
Palaces, churches, fountains, convents, and forgotten corners. Madrid’s historical and cultural heritage is immense, and it is not always well preserved. We document it, we champion it, and, from time to time, unfortunately, we mourn it
The Medieval Jewish Quarter of Madrid: Where Was It?
Where was the medieval Jewish quarter of Madrid, and where exactly was it located? More than eight centuries after the first documented Jewish presence in Madrid, it remains an open question whether a separate and distinct Jewish quarter ever existed in the medieval city, since successive forced relocations and the scarcity of documentary sources make any historical reconstruction extremely difficult.
This article brings together all the known documents that shed light on the location of Jewish dwellings in medieval Madrid, and examines the urban patterns that the Jewish community may have followed in settling the city during the Middle Ages.
The History of the Almudena Cathedral
On 4 April 1883, King Alfonso XII presided over the ceremony in which the foundation stone was laid for a church that would eventually become the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena. However, this event was not the beginning of the cathedral’s history, but rather one stage in a process that had been taking shape over several centuries.
That April morning in 1883, no one could have imagined the many obstacles that would hinder its construction over the years, including lack of funding and political upheaval. More than a century would pass from that foundation stone before the Almudena Cathedral became a reality, turning into a symbol of the city and of the history of Spain — a testament to perseverance and faith that endures to this day.
The houses of the Lujanes: News about their first occupants
The houses and tower of the Lujanes, located in the ancient Plaza de San Salvador—today known as Plaza de la Villa—are the main hallmark of Madrid’s civil architecture from the medieval era, as this complex constitutes the only 15th-century palace-house preserved in Madrid.