I slipped out of the hotel last night to buy a charger (one of many essentials lost in our luggage) and now realise that I was in the heart of Los Literatos, the area which was dominated in the nineteenth century by the cafés and theatres of liberal writers and intellectuals, opponents to the rigid censorship of Ferdinand VII. Opposite the old Palace Hotel, opened in 1910, was the tourist office, under wraps and awaiting renovation:-
Nearby, on the Calle del León is the discrete entrance to the Ataneo Artistico, Cientifico y Literario, the Spanish equivalent of the Royal Society and British Academy, with a Lecture Theatre and Library which I couldn’t see:-
Before returning to the hotel, I saw another grand nineteenth-century building on the Carrera de San Jerónimo, also covered in netting:-
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
My son lives in Madrid and I have grown very fond of the city. May I recommend to you the little Slowtrack Gallery, Calle Cañizares, 12, whose owner, Marta Moriarty, was of great help to me on recent filming in Spain. And as a curiosity the often overlooked and extremely idiosyncratic museum de la Historia de Madrid, Calle Fuencarral 78
Thank you. Good suggestions. Charles
I adore Madrid. Got to know it quite well by doing two exhibitions at the Juan March Foundation, which is a wonderful institution to work with. The exhibition programme is excellent and if there is something on at the moment which you fancy I strongly recommend a trip. The building is a classic bit of c1970 architecture.
Love these wrapped buildings images! Worth checking out what’s on at Foundation Mapfre.
With the latest issue of RA in mind, a visit to the beautiful studio/home of the much under-appreciated Spanish Impressionist Joaquin Sorolla would not go amiss. We were entranced by his work with which we were unfamiliar until our visit. details:
Museo Sorolla
C/ General Martínez Campos, 37
28010 – Madrid
and a very Happy, if belated, Happy Birthday, Charles!