Jewish Madrid | World Jewish Travel

Lavapies is one of the most multiracial places of Madrid, where you can find a cultural variety of spectacles like Theatre, Classical and local cinema, monologues, paintings expositions into some cute bar or cellars. The neighborhood emerged during the Middle Ages outside the city's walls. It's been debated, but many say Lavapiés was once a Jewish quarter, with its hilly, maze-like cobblestone streets. Remains of a Jewish cemetery have been found in the area, and it's possible that a synagogue once existed.

Sites

Beth Yaacov Synagogue

The Beth Yaakov Synagogue is a synagogue in Madrid, Spain. Jews began to return to Spain in the nineteenth century, long after the execution and movement of Catholicism throughout the entirety of Spain and established a synagogue in Madrid in 1917. After the Republican government was defeated by Franco’s forces in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), Catholicism was proclaimed the official State religion and the synagogues were closed. A number of Jewish families arrived from Morocco, and soon established informal house synagogues. The present synagogue was built in 1968, after passage of the "Religious Freedom Law" of 1967. Image Attribution: 24 Mars 2006, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Sites

Prado Museum

The Museo del Prado opened to the public on 19 November 1819 as a Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture. In 2019, we celebrated our Bicentenary, a commemoration that will reveal the path covered since 1819 until today. On this special occasion, we wanted to reflect on the future and the forthcoming challenges for this and the other great Museums of ancient painting: the need to attract social groups that traditionally are not attracted by the collections, to encourage gender and minority research studies or the challenges caused by overcrowding. Furthermore, for the following years the finalization of the Prado Campus is expected, adding the last building, the Hall of Realms, the old Buen Retiro Palace, an incorporation that will imply a rethinking of the current display of the collections. The activity plan for the bicentenary reinforces the usual programme of the Museo del Prado, insisting on the above mentioned aspects. The building that today houses the Museo Nacional del Prado was designed by architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785. It was constructed to house the Natural History Cabinet, by orders of King Charles III. However, the building's final purpose - as the new Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures - was the decision of the monarch's grandson, King Ferdinand VII, encouraged by his wife Queen Maria Isabel de Braganza.The Royal Museum, soon quickly renamed the National Museum of Paintings and Sculptures and subsequently the Museo Nacional del Prado, opened to the public for the first time in November 1819. For centuries, artists have drawn on Biblical themes and stories to depict their religious devotion, several of which depict Jewish life, and Judaism in general. The Prado Museum is full of artwork depicting Jewish life and Spain's Sephardic past. One such masterpiece is the Las Meninas which shows the truth behind Diego Velazquez's purported Jewish heritage.

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TOURS OF Madrid

Tours

Nora Kaplan Sephardic Tour

Come and experience the history of Jews in Spain: explore museums and world heritage sites, walk through the old cobbled lanes of Jewish neighborhoods, take in the splendid architecture and eat delicious food, drink Spanish wine while learning about the Golden Age of the Jews of Sepharad on this unique family run, multi-day Jewish Heritage Tour to Spain.

Tours

Devour Madrid Food Tour

Devour Madrid allows you to discover Madrid on a personal, small group food tour! This walking tour is a culinary experience enjoyed by both visitors and locals and is a fun outing for the entire family. You will discover the ingredients and people behind the authentic Spanish dishes and will learn about the history and culture of Madrid as you visit the best food shops, bakeries, markets, and tapas bars. There are several food tours to choose from including an evening tapas tours, flamenco and tapas tours, wine and tapas tours, tapas and history tour, and Prado Museum and Botin lunch tours. If you're a foodie looking to eat your way through the city while learning about the Madrid culture and history, this tour is for you.

Tours

500 Years Ago in Sepharat

The Spanish culture owes a lot to its Jewish and Arabic ancestry and this tour will demonstrate the rich heritage through food and dance. You will walk through the oldest parts of Madrid and hear stories of the Sephardic Jews that lived in Madrid until their expulsion in the 15th century. While you sit in a centennial hidden area, a dancer will explain the roots of Flamenco, a dance that was born for people to express anguish after their prosecution. You will learn the basic hand and feet movements of this dance and you will clap castanets. After the dancing, you will end the tour in an old gourmet market that still has traditional Spanish foods that were around in the 15th century. You will have the opportunity to taste 3 different wines and some traditional tapas. This tour takes you through the Spanish flavors and sounds from five centuries ago and is a unique experience to learn about Spanish culture and history that you won't get anywhere else.

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Jewish Style Restaurants

Restaurants

Cafe Madrid

This trendy cocktail bar and cafe has just about everything you could want: a stylish interior, friendly bartenders, creative cocktails, delicious carrot cake, free WIFI, and a romantic atmosphere. It's also dog-friendly, so you are sure to see locals sipping on coffee and cocktails with their furry friends. Cafe Madrid is a perfect place to wind down in the evenings, in an inviting ambiance with nice background music and dim lighting. This is truly a hidden gem of Madrid that you don't want to miss.

Restaurants

La Escudilla

La Escudilla is a kosher restaurant located in the Camberi neighborhood, next to the synagogue Beth Yaacov. Since 2002, the Susana family has run the restaurant and all of their Glatt Kosher meat is supplied by their own sister butchery in Madrid. The restaurant's tasty cuisine comes from North Africa and Sephardic roots, which combine together to produce authentic and flavorful dishes. 40 guests can fit in La Escudilla's two dining rooms, making it a perfect space for large groups and banquets.

Restaurants

Falafeleria

Falafeleria has one main purpose: to serve a warm pita bread bursting with flavors and stuffed with the freshest vegetarian falafel, veggies, and hummus. Every pita is made special, and you get to choose from a variety of toppings to make your falafel unique. Choose from their fresh hummus, Sjug, Amba, tahini, vegetables, and herbs, most of which are prepared in-house. Their hummus, on the other hand, comes from their sister restaurant, La Hummuseria. Like their sister restaurant, Falafeleria uses only real ingredients, never adding preservatives or additives, inspired by the middle east for their strong, high-quality flavors. This hip restaurant recently opened in the beginning of 2018 and is located in the heart of Madrid in the Malasana neighborhood.

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CITY GUIDES

Guides

Leticia

Leticia is a Madrid tour guide who is full of enthusiasm, stemming from her constant curiosity and desire to learn more and more about the city. She never stops searching for knowledge and new experiences and has studied culture, art, archeology, and philosophy. All of the knowledge she has acquired, she wants to share with the tourists who visit her hometown and she goes about it in a way that will make you excited to learn about the unique city. Before being a tour guide, Leticia worked as a university professor where she had several publications; she currently still participates in international seminars. In her free time, she likes to explore new areas of the city and continue to learn so that she can stay up to date and share as much information as possible with her tour groups.

Guides

Emily

Emily was born in Dublin, Ireland where she graduated with honors with a degree in Spanish and Cultural Studies from the University of Cork. She had always dreamt to live in Spain and finally made the big move in 2001. For over six years now, Emily has worked in Madrid tourism as a tapas tour guide taking tourists to the best local tapas bars in town. dream come true, she is now happily living in Madrid and has worked for over 6 years in Madrid tourism as a tapas tour guide. She enjoys sharing her knowledge on the Madrid's food scene and is always willing to give recommendations for things to do in Madrid. Emily is a very enthusiastic tour guide and you will leave her tours feeling like tapas pro!

Guides

Esther Almena

Esther is a licensed Madrid tour guide who has a strong passion for the city she was born in. She became a tour guide just a few years ago because she decided it was important to show visitors the natural way of Madrid and not just the top attractions and highlights. Esther's goal is to make tourists feel like locals for the day and take them to some of the places less traveled. Don't worry, you can still get insight into the city's famous attractions, but Esther adds a personal touch that you won't get traveling in a large group or on your own. Esther attended a historically significant high school in Spain, which was founded in 1346. It was here when her passion for Madrid began as she began to discover the art and history around the school. While she tried living in other cities, she was always pulled back to Madrid. There is something about the Debod Temple sunsets, enjoying tapas with friends, local summer festivals, hiking the beautiful mountains, rooftop cocktails, and chocolate con churros that she couldn't find anywhere else. On a tour with Esther, you will explore the city like a local and get to experience what it's like to live in this incredible city.

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HOTELS IN Madrid

Hotels

Gran Hotel Ingles

The Gran Hotel Ingles is the oldest hotel in Madrid and first opened its doors in 1886. While the hotel has since been restored and converted into a more modern luxury hotel, it maintains many of the same classic features for the 19th-century. In 1892, the hotel became well-known and was published in newspapers around the world. The Gran Hotel Ingles was refurbished in 1964 and private bathrooms were added to each of the rooms, lowering the room count from 110 to 58. Today, the hotel stands as a glorious building in the center of Madrid where it is known for its David Rockwell textures, bronze furniture, and leathered panels. Guests enjoy being pampered in the wellness center and drinking 5-star cocktails at the classy cocktail bar. There are also plenty of private dining spaces and meeting rooms for larger groups who come to Madrid for celebrations, company meetings, and holidays. The staff at The Gran Hotel Ingles want to give you an unforgettable experience and the hotel's personal touches don't go unnoticed.

Hotels

Hotel Unico Madrid

Hotel Unico is housed in a 19th-century palace that was transformed into a luxurious boutique hotel. This hotel boasts high ceilings, large windows, and 44 elegant modernly decorated rooms, and guests often enjoy the peaceful garden-courtyard and open-air lounge. The hotel's restaurant, Ramón Freixa, was awarded 2 Michelin stars and named “Best Restaurant in Madrid” at the prestigious Madrid Fusión event. At Ramon Freixa, they have a "cuisine is art" motto and try to create a unique experience for their diners by adding lots of flavors and providing aesthetically pleasing dishes. The main staircase and marble mosaics are likely to catch your eye and the warm colors and spacious rooms will make you feel as if you are staying at a private residence of one of Madrid's wealthy aristocrats. You can work out in the hotel's fitness center, get a relaxing massage in The Wellness Suite, and even tune into the hotel's Spotify playlist for a range of local and popular music. Hotel Unico is not just a hotel, it's an experience that is sure to enhance your stay in the beautiful city of Madrid.

Hotels

URSO Hotel and Spa

In the center of Madrid between the Chamberi, Tribunal, and Chueca districts lies URSO Hotel & Spa, a palace-turned-5-star hotel that has maintained its royal character while incorporating modernity, luxury, and comfort. Some of the palace's central features such as the towers, central patio, beautiful stained-glass windows, library, marble floors, and wooden walls have been maintained over the years, giving the hotel a historic touch. The URSO Hotel & Spa wants to create a space of maximized wellbeing which is why they operate a full spa, also made available to the public. This small oasis allows you to relax in the center of Madrid with rejuvenating treatments and personalized messages. The hotel also comes with a hairdresser, 24/7 Technogym, cocktail bar, and several dining facilities. Besides the cocktail and champagne bar, there is the Conservatory which services a traditional breakfast buffet as well as hot national and international gourmet dishes. This space has huge stained-glass windows, allowing hotel guests to dine with a sky view and natural light in a well-kept garden surrounded by palms and natural beauty. URSO Hotel gives you an experience unlike any other, where you can be pampered and enjoy a relaxing business trip or holiday vacation.

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THE BEST OF Madrid

Nora Kaplan Sephardic Tour

Leticia

Gran Hotel Ingles

Cafe Madrid

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SITES TO SEE

Lavapiés Neighborhood

Beth Yaacov Synagogue

Prado Museum

TOURS OF Madrid

Nora Kaplan Sephardic Tour

Devour Madrid Food Tour

500 Years Ago in Sepharat

Jewish Style Restaurants

Cafe Madrid

La Escudilla

Falafeleria

CITY GUIDES

Leticia

Emily

Esther Almena

READ MORE BLOGS AND EBOOKS

HOTELS IN Madrid

Gran Hotel Ingles

Hotel Unico Madrid

URSO Hotel and Spa

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