Medieval Madrid: An Audio Guide to the City Muslim Past

Overview

Madrid’s Islamic heritage comes alive in its oldest neighbourhoods’ winding streets. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll see medieval walls, hidden towers, and forgotten sites that tell the story of Mayrit – Madrid’s original Arabic name. Starting at the Monument to Felipe IV in Plaza de Oriente, you’ll peel back layers of history to reveal the fascinating Muslim foundations of Europe’s only capital city to be founded by an Islamic ruler. As you make your way to the charming Plaza de los Carros where the tour ends, you’ll wander through the charming cobblestone streets of the former Morería (Muslim quarter). You’ll explore how Christians, Muslims, and Jews coexisted through centuries of shifting power dynamics, leaving their mark on everything from architecture and art to language and cuisine.