Malasaña neighbourhood

You’ve arrived at the charming Plaza San Ildefonso, a lively square lined with terraces and overlooked by the church bearing the same name. Right now, we’re in the heart of the Malasaña district, an area originally nicknamed “el barrio de las maravillas,” meaning “the neighbourhood of wonders”. I’m sorry to deceive you but it’s not some magical place! Instead, it’s because there used to be a Carmelite convent dedicated to Our Lady of Wonders. The name Malasaña originates from a wartime legend dating back to when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Madrid. It is said that the young daughter of a French baker, Juan Malasaña in Spanish, died heroically by defending the barracks. Deeply moved by her death, locals named a street in her honour, and eventually, the whole neighbourhood took her name. Malasaña is now known as Madrid’s most alternative district as, at the end of Franco’s dictatorship, it became the epicenter of Spain’s cultural and social awakening, a movement known as “La Movida”, fueled by Spanish youth and their desire for freedom and modernity. Movements from all across Europe poured in—the New Wave from London and the punk movement, expressed through cinema, photography, comic books, and more. It was a time of joy, rebellion, and artistic explosion. Today, Malasaña still carries the energy from that era. It’s a popular meeting point full of creativity, with vintage thrift stores, alternative bars, organic cafés, and colourful storefronts. Wander freely through its streets —and be sure to come back after dark to soak in the buzzing nightlife around Plaza Dos de Mayo!