Page 326 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

324  M ADRID

ENTERTAINMENT IN
MADRID

As a major European capital, Madrid takes Even traditional art forms, such as flamenco,
its arts and entertainment very seriously, bullfighting and Madrid’s version of the
hosting the finest and most diverse operetta, zarzuela, are characterized by
dance, music and theatre productions flamboyance and spectacle. Football is also
from around the world. Vibrant art, music a major draw, and Real Madrid is a hugely
and film festivals are held around the celebrated team. Between fiestas, flamenco,
year, supple mented by a pulsating nigh- football and much more, the revelry never
tlife, raucous street parties and lively cafés. stops in Madrid.

September to June. May’s Fiesta These venues are perfect places
de San Isidro, Madrid’s patron to relax and people­watch.
saint festival, and the Festival Especially popular areas for
de Otoño a Primavera, a music, terraceo (doing the rounds of
theatre and dance festival held various terraces) are Plaza de
from October to June, attract Santa Ana, Paja, Chueca and
many big Spanish and inter­ Dos de Mayo. The glamorous
national names. Tickets can be crowd often spend evenings
bought from Entradas.com or strolling down avenues,
Ticketea.com. such as Paseo de Recoletos and
In July and August, Madrid Rosales, stop ping now and then
hosts Veranos de la Villa to nip into a terrace bar or café.
(book through tourist offices), Madrid has retained many
a special programme that of its old grand cafés. El Espejo,
includes art exhibitions, jazz, a city landmark, is an excellent
Madrid’s Teatro Real (see p326) opera, flamenco, cinema and meeting place with its Art
drama at various venues. Nouveau ambience. Café del
Entertainment Guides Tickets for a number of Círculo de Bellas Artes, housed
Madrid’s entertainment guides events can be bought at FNAC in a cul tural foundation, is an
are mostly in Spanish. Guía del and El Corte Inglés stores and institution in itself. It is ideal for
Ocio, a handy weekly guide websites. Many other reliable coffee or lunch after spending
to what’s on in the city, comes internet sites also sell tickets. a day pur suing cultural interests.
out every Thursday and can Check the websites of venues Of the literary cafés, the famous
be bought from kiosks. Three too, since many of them offer Café Gijón (see p295) should
daily newspapers have enter­ online booking services. not be missed. For delicious
tain ment supplements on tea and cakes, visit Mamá
Friday: El Mundo, ABC and El País. Cafés, Bars and Terraces Framboise and Pomme Sucre
The English­language near Alonso Martínez.
monthly, InMadrid (www. Madrid’s social life revolves In the evening, it is almost
inmadrid.com), publishes around an endless array of cafés, essential to head to a taberna,
cultural listings and reviews bars and summer terraces. where you can order a ración,
of the latest bars and clubs.
It is available in bookshops,
record stores and Barajas
Airport information office.
Information on forthcoming
events can also be obtained
from one of the tourist infor­
mation offices in the city, where
English will be spoken. The
tourist board also publishes Es
Madrid, a free, bilingual brochure.

Seasons and Tickets
There is always something
going on in Madrid’s theatres
and stadiums, but the cultural
season is at its peak from Elegant Café Gijón, one of Madrid’s foremost literary salons

324-327_EW_Spain.indd 324 26/09/17 11:54 am