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| Plaza de Lavapiés |
Lavapiés is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Madrid. It was a Jewish and Moorish quarter outside the city walls until the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. The name literally means "wash feet", and seems to refer to the ritual washing of one's feet before entering the temple, possibly in the fountain in Plaza de Lavapiés.
It has long been a neglected area of the city. But now it's a multicultural, bohemian neighbourhood full of bars, ethnic restaurants, art galleries, cafés and shops. Upon entering you'll find yourself surrounded by a myriad of different ethnic groups and that's the enchantment of this neighborhood.
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| Corrala |
One building that catches the community spirit of Lavapiés is La Corrala, a tenement block, with long communal balconies built around a central courtyard. Few of these are still standing.
Eventhough the neighborhood seems a little run down and gritty, there are some interesting buildings to make your walk worthwhile. One example is the Pious Schools' Church. It was almost destroyed during the Civil War, but now holds a library and one of the best kept secrets in Madrid: a wonderful terrace on top to check out the great views.
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| Valle-Inclan Theatre |
