Sala Canal Isabel II Madrid

Madrid's unique art space

Andrea from Madrid

About Me I am a teacher and examiner who made a home in Madrid many years ago. I love live music, art, books, travel, food and dancing and am well served for all my interests in Madrid. I live on a special plane where I exist as an eternal tourist (check out Alain de Botton’s book The Art of Travel) who maintains a sense of wonder in a familiar place. I love showing people round my favourite...
"Sala Canal Isabel II in Madrid used to be a water tower: now it's an uber-cool gallery used for media exhibitions. I love it, and not just because..."

Sala Canal Isabel II by Rios Rosas metro in Madrid is a great example of an imaginatively re-purposed space. This beautiful tower was originally built to deal with the poor water pressure in this neighbourhood. Made redundant by improvements in engineering and plumbing, it was eventually transformed into an uber-cool gallery space in 1986, destined specifically for contemporary photography and audio-visual exhibitions, although occasionally other arts are featured.

For example, on show currently is a highly popular exhibition of gowns from the studio of Spanish couture designer Lorenzo Caprile.  The walls have been painted black, and spotlights on the opulent gowns make a dramatic display. Opened mid-October 2024, you can catch it up to March 30 2025. For the first time, you can reserve tickets online, which I recommend. It’s very easy — just search for “exposición Caprile Lorenzo” and reserve your free tickets for up to 5 people.

It really is a truly unique gallery where you can see a beautifully curated exhibition in under an hour — perfect for days when you fancy a small dose of culture!

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Art & culture

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Madrid Spotter Andrea

About Me I am a teacher and examiner who made a home in Madrid many years ago. I love live music, art, books, travel, food and dancing and am well served for all my interests in Madrid. I live on a special plane where I exist as an eternal tourist (check out Alain de Botton’s book The Art of Travel) who maintains a sense of wonder in a familiar place. I love showing people round my favourite spots in Madrid but am never happier than when I am discovering new gems. Why Madrid Madrid seduced me when I first visited, with its untamed and unapologetic Spanishness. We came ...

About this spot

Calle de Santa Engracia, 125

free

915451000

Oct 21, 2025

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