25 Mar THE UNIQUE PRIVATE WALK OF MUSLIM MAYRIT
DISCOVER A NEW MADRID: PRIVATE GUIDED VISIT THROUGH MUSLIM MAYRIT ( By Carlos Pelegrín; March, 2025)
- Madrid, a City with Muslim Origins
Would you like to dive into the history of Madrid on an exclusive private tour that explores its fascinating roots? Madrid Museum Tours has designed an unique private walk through the ancient Islamic city of Mayrit—the mysterious foundation of what is now the capital of Spain.
This immersive private guided visit lasts four hours and unveils the origins of Madrid in an unforgettable and culturally rich experience. But what exactly is Mayrit? Come along and find out! You’ll uncover the surprising Muslim beginnings of the city we now call Madrid.
- Start at the Museum of the Origins of Madrid
Our private route begins at the Museum of the Origins of Madrid, located in the historic house where San Isidro, Madrid’s patron saint, once lived. This museum serves as the perfect introduction to the city’s past, guiding visitors through the timeline from prehistoric times to the modern day.
We’ll explore the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Metal Ages, as well as the influence of the Carpetani tribe, Romans, and Visigoths.
But our focus will be the Muslim foundation of Mayrit, as we examine what their homes looked like, their most important tools, and the architectural marvel of the Arab wall—an essential clue in our mysterious journey through the streets of Madrid.
Within the museum, we’ll also learn about Christian Madrid, encountering historical figures like San Isidro, Santa María de la Cabeza, and La Latina. We’ll visit the legendary Well of the Miracle, where it is said that San Isidro saved his son from drowning. And we won’t miss the original 16th-century Renaissance courtyard, a hidden gem in the heart of the museum.
- Exploring the Islamic Suburb
From the museum, our journey continues through the narrow lanes of the old Islamic suburb. We’ll discover the locations of the ancient gates that provided access to the 13th-century city. At square Puerta de Moros, you’ll notice unique markers set by the city council that outline the former qanat water channels—an advanced form of hydraulic engineering inherited from the Middle East.
This irrigation system, called qanat in Middle East and “Mayrit,” in the iberian peninsula, eventually gave the city its name—Moslem Mayrit transforming over time into Madrid. These ancient water networks were vital to the early city’s survival and are a little-known piece of its cultural heritage.
As we make our way downhill to la Paja square, we’ll come across a breathtaking Renaissance palace: the Palacio de los Vargas. This architectural treasure reveals another chapter of Madrid’s story. Here we learn about Francisco de Vargas y Medina, who hoped to enhance his family’s legacy by housing the relics of San Isidro. However, after years of dispute, the remains were moved to the parish of San Andrés in 1544 by papal decree. The Capilla del Obispo, or Bishop’s Chapel, was then built as a family mausoleum by Francisco’s son, Gutierre de Vargas y Carvajal, the bishop of Plasencia. Today, this area still holds strong spiritual and historical resonance.
Next to the chapel, in the former Palacio de los Vargas, you’ll find the modern Santa Bárbara Secondary School—a perfect example of how the ancient blends seamlessly with the present in Christian Madrid.
- Uncovering the Christian Wall and Beyond
Not far from there, we’ll encounter a segment of the Christian wall: Puerta Cerrada—a historic city gate that was often closed due to its dangerous surroundings. (Be sure to ask your guide why!) Our walk continues through de los Carros square, named after the carts used in medieval transport, and then to the Iglesia de San Pedro el Viejo. Originally a Muslim mosque, this church is steeped in leyendas madrileñas—from witchcraft tales to demonic possessions. Its most striking feature is its Mudejar tower, dated by some historians to the 13th century and by others to the 14th.
From here, we stroll along calle de Alfonso VI, named for the Christian king who recaptured Madrid. We’ll continue down the quaint calle del Toro, and wander through Cava Baja and Cava Alta—charming streets that follow the former city wall’s path. These lanes lead us through the lively La Latina neighborhood, a place once nourished by a lagoon located in what is today Plaza Mayor and the old souk.
Along the way, we’ll reveal stories filled with historical discovery, quirky traditions, and unexpected legends. And, of course, we’ve prepared a delightful surprise for our guests—a hidden trompe-l’œil that will surely amaze!
- From the Arab Wall to the Royal Palace of Madrid
As our exclusive private tour continues, we enter the heart of both Muslim Madrid and Christian Madrid, exploring forgotten walls, haunting legends, and the royal rise of the city now known as the capital of Spain.
- Unveiling the Christian Wall and Forgotten Inquisitions
We begin near Calle Mayor, entering a symbolic portal to the past. At a restaurant on Plaza de la Cruz Verde, we uncover hidden remains of the Arab wall, along with tales of the Inquisition and the secretive brotherhood of Madrid’s masons—rare glimpses into the underground side of the history of Madrid.
Wandering along Calle Mayor, you’ll hear stories of forbidden loves and betrayals, and of iconic figures like Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo, and King Felipe IV. Did you know the Italian Cultural Institute here houses surviving fragments of the original Islamic wall, we follow it downhill via Calle del Factor.
- Mudejar Architecture and the Church of San Nicolás
At the Iglesia de San Nicolás, we arrive at one of the oldest churches in Madrid—a structure built over a former mosque. The highlight? Its splendid Mudejar tower, a beautiful testament to the fusion of Islamic and Christian Madrid. This site reveals how religious and cultural transitions left architectural imprints on the city enduring.
- Ramales Square and Velázquez’s Vanished Tomb
Moving on to Ramales Square, we dive into the tragic mystery of Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez, the legendary painter. After arranging the marriage of Infanta María Teresa to Louis XIV, Velázquez fell ill—some say of smallpox, others of poison—and was buried in the now-demolished Church of San Juan Bautista. His tomb? Still lost—a haunting historical discovery.
- Plaza de Oriente and the Islamic Watchtower
Descending into Oriente Square, we discover remains of the ancient city of Mayrit, including an 11th-century watchtower, hidden for centuries. Nearby, the majestic Royal Palace of Madrid rises, built on the ruins of the Islamic fortress and the Habsburg Alcázar.
From the Altos de Rebeque, you’ll see how the fortified Moslem Mayrit grew into a symbol of royal power. This leg of the tour connects the military genius of 9th-century Muslims with the imperial ambitions of the Bourbon kings.
- Almudena’s Shadow and a Dagger’s Tale
We next explore the ruins of the Church of Santa María de la Almudena, built atop Mayrit’s most important mosque. A Madrilenian legend, famously written by the Duke of Rivas, tells of a blood-soaked body found behind the church in what is now a narrow alley. Who was murdered? Our guide will reveal the answer during the tour.
- Cuesta de la Vega and the Oldest Wall in Madrid
Our private walk leads us past La Almudena Cathedral and down to Cuesta de la Vega, where the most ancient remains of the Arab wall lie preserved in Mohamed I Park. This 9th-century fortification, built with Cordoban materials, is a precious window into Islamic architecture in Madrid.
Here, we relive the soul of Mayrit, a city shaped by Muslim engineering, Christian adaptations, and Mudejar influence that still echoes in Spanish art and design today.
- City Gates and the Forgotten Puerta de la Vega
Did you know Madrid once had seven main gates? Among them was the Puerta de la Vega, the southern entrance to Islamic suburb life. Alongside secondary gates called portillos, these fortified structures protected the city from sieges and threats. Remnants can still be seen in the elevation drop near Calle Segovia.
- Historical Roots: From Prehistory to Medieval Might
Before becoming a city, the region of Madrid teemed with natural springs and underground waters. This attracted early settlers—the Carpetani, followed by Roman aristocrats who built countryside villas in what is now Carabanchel.
During the 9th century, Mohamed I—ruler of the Córdoba Caliphate—faced rebellion in Toledo. To secure the region, his son Al-Mundir founded Mayrit on a hill with easy water access, either as a Hins (fortress) or medina (small city). This eventually became the site of the Royal Palace of Madrid.
Over time, the city became a stage for royalty: Enrique IV, the Catholic Monarchs, Charles V, and Philip II, who made Madrid the court and capital in the 16th century.
- The Legend of the Gato and the Rise of Christian Madrid
According to a local legend, during the conquest by Alfonso VI, a soldier scaled the Arab wall so swiftly that onlookers called him “gato” (cat). His descendants were also nicknamed “gatos,” a term that lives on today for true-born Madrileños.
After the conquest, Muslims remained in Madrid’s Islamic suburb as Mudéjares—a term from the Arabic mudayyan, meaning “those who stay.” They lived under Christian rule with autonomy in an aljama, first documented under Alfonso XI in 1329. By the 15th century, about 250 Muslims lived here—perhaps even double that.
Despite the Catholic Monarchs’ religious decrees, many mudéjares found ways to stay, integrate, or gain political protection. Their culture influenced the city’s architecture, literature, and urban legends.
- A Cultural Legacy You Can Still Walk Today
This private guided visit of Madrid Museum Tours is more than a stroll—it’s a journey through time. Along this private route, you’ll discover the hidden layers of Madrid: from the Christian wall to the Arab wall, from the Palacio de los Vargas to Cava Alta and Cava Baja, through tales of San Isidro, Santa María de la Cabeza, and even murder in Puerta Cerrada.
Expect ancient towers, lost churches, historic gates, and a surprise visual illusion specially designed for you. It’s a mysterious journey through the streets of Madrid—where every step reveals a new secret.
No Comments