We'll set off from Plaza de los Guardias de Corps, right in the heart of Madrid's Barrio de Maravillas, a central but not at all touristy spot that's perfect to explore at the end of the activity. We'll head down to the ancient Muslim city to discover what lies beneath its surface. We'll continue on our way, but not before talking about the religious fervor for collecting relics of saints and their supposed magical and healing effect.
We'll pass through Plaza Mayor and feel shivers down our spines as we hear firsthand accounts from travelers who passed through Madrid three centuries ago and witnessed one of its Auto-da-Fés. We'll visit a convent inhabited by cloistered nuns who support themselves by making delicious sweets and pastries.
We'll stroll through the Royal Gardens of Buen Retiro to visit the tombs of some presidents who were assassinated and now rest in beautiful tombs adorned with Neoclassical sculptural groups (closed in the afternoons). Next, we'll enter one of the most beautiful and also most luxurious churches in the city. Under its dome lie the remains of a king who decided to forgo the glory of being buried alongside other Spanish kings and emperors, and we'll explain why. The tomb is decorated with a sculptural group of restrained expressiveness, typical of the Neoclassical period, which was designed by one of the favorite architects of the court of King Carlos III.
We'll walk through the Tribunal neighborhood, the scene of fierce battles between its brave inhabitants and Napoleon's troops, admiring one of Madrid's few examples of Gaudí-style architecture. We'll wrap up the tour by crossing Calle de San Bernardo, where just two hundred and fifty years ago, prisoners sentenced to be burned at the stake took their final steps before being executed. Today, the residents live oblivious to such a gruesome past in highly sought-after apartments.
We will end the activity at the same starting point. As an optional activity, we can visit a wine bar where we'll uncork a bottle of quality red or white wine, accompanied by tapas and typical Spanish appetizers (price not included; ask for rates).