If you like the Impressionists and aren’t familiar with Joaquin Sorolla, Spain’s best known representative of this movement, you are in for a treat! He was a most wonderful painter of light and the sea. His favourite time seemed to be that magic hour when the sun is sinking low in the West and turns everything a golden pinky hue.
Originally from Valencia, Sorolla, he was hugely successful in his own lifetime and settled with his family in this beautiful house on Calle General Martinez Campos in 1890. You can drink in the atmosphere in his formal garden, parts of which you can spot in some of his works, in his studios and living quarters. As well as his paintings, the house is filled with beautiful objects, icons and ceramics, of which he appears to have been an avid collector.
Popular with Spanish locals, I recommend visiting at lunchtime - 14:00 - 16:00, when you can enjoy a nice relaxed wander through this delightful little museum.
Find your way with 241 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
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Churrería La Andaluza is off the tourist track and serves mostly loyal locals. Buy some to go, or eat them in the adjoining café...
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Since 1615, San Antonio de los Alemanes has been the home of La Hermandad del Refugio, an association that helps those in need through meals and donations.
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Everything is so flavourful and tasty! It’s difficult not to always eat the same things I know and love so I try to get something different every time I go.
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This is one of the most diverse spaces in the city for arts and culture and it is evident that the folks here take a great deal of pride in their work.
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Sunset is the perfect time to come and visit La Dama del Manzanares. Not only will you get a natural light show in the sky, but she comes alive as well.
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As you enter, rows of food stalls line this cool, industrial space, and stepping in here is like being transported to the bustling food markets of Asia.
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Café del Art is not only a great place for a liquid pick-me-up, but they also offer delicious snacks such as traditional tostadas or carrot cake.
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The books are the star of the show here, and Bar de Libros has a beautiful collection devoted to poetry, fiction, philosophy, and the classics.
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Picking up my favourite mints and walking around the streets of Madrid with La Pajarita's classic pink and blue bag always makes my day feel extra special.
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St. Anthony of Padua is one of Madrid’s finest examples of Neoclassical art. The interior is austere, but its ceiling is where the magic lies.
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241 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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