Skip to main content

Distributed for Reaktion Books

Madrid

Midnight City

Spain’s top city for tourism, Madrid attracts more than six million visitors a year. In this book, Helen Crisp and Jules Stewart not only place visitor attractions in their historical perspective, relating the story of a city and its people through the centuries, but they also offer carefully curated listings that give a nod to well-known attractions and sites, as well as hidden gems. Spain’s political and art capital, with its “Golden Triangle” of museums and myriad art galleries, Madrid is also a city of dazzling nightlife, with a profusion of cafés and bars. Offering in-depth insight into the history of Madrid along with a view—from fiestas to football—into life in the city today, this is the story of a vibrant, energetic metropolis, one that remains an enigma to many outsiders.

272 pages | 75 color plates, 30 halftones | 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 | © 2021

Cityscopes

History: General History

Travel and Tourism:


Reaktion Books image

View all books from Reaktion Books

Reviews

“I realize that it is the many layers of Madrid that I encountered on that initial visit that make the city so remarkable—layers that this excellent book luxuriates in, as it plots the twists and turns of history that have shaped the city. . . . A splendid guide, delivered in charming and frequently amusing prose that displays a deep affection for the city and its inhabitants.”

La Revista, the British-Spanish Society magazine

“There is no better guide to Madrid. A treasure trove of fascinating anecdotes and details, not to be missed.”

Jason Webster, author of "Violencia: A New History of Spain"

“This is now my favorite guidebook to a city I love. It is impressively knowledgeable and well-researched. A joy to read! Crisp and Stewart have beautifully captured the essence of the city.”

Ainhoa Paredes, journalist and London correspondent for Spanish TV channel Telecinco

Table of Contents

Prologue

HISTORY
1 Magerit Becomes Madrid
2 The Golden Age Of Empire And Literature
3 City Of Enlightenment
4 Bourbon Farewell And Return
5 Madrid Comes Of Age
6 City Under Siege
7 We Go Movida Along
8 Madrid Gets A Facelift

THE CITY TODAY
‘Squares’
Fiestas and Processions
Café Society
Football Madness
Theatre
Markets
Picture this
Look up
Man of La Mancha
Specialist Shops


LISTINGS

References
Chronology
Suggested Reading and Viewing
Index

Be the first to know

Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!

Sign up here for updates about the Press