Manzanares River’s Story: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Madrid
ID: GYG453890-813854
Category:
Country: Spain
Duration:
01:00 hours
Description
Wander through Madrid Rio Park, mapping the city's origins along the river on this self-guided audio tour. Experience the magic of GPS playback on this river side stroll.
Winding through the southern part of the city like a green ribbon, Manzanares Rio Park is one of the newest public spaces in the capital, but also where the ancient history of Madrid begins. It’s a side of the city that few visitors get to see, as I discovered when I first moved here and started researching Manzanares River’s history. On this walking tour, I’ll share my findings including tales of meat markets, woolly mammoths and washerwomen!
If you’d like to escape for a while from the hustle and bustle of Madrid’s city centre, this is the tour for you!
Starting next to the Antiguo Depósito de Agua (water tower), you’ll stroll through Matadero Madrid, an old slaughterhouse and market now converted into a cultural centre. From there, you’ll promenade along the river and through Madrid Rio Park to Toledo Bridge. While you walk, I’ll share the area’s 300,000-year-long history. I’ll show you the city’s lesser-known sites including the Obelisco de la Castellana (Castellana Obelisk or Obelisk of the Arganzuela as it's also known) and the Arganzuela Footbridge.
On this tour, you can look forward to hearing about:
• The prehistoric wildlife that roamed the riverbanks
• How Madrid’s first settlers used the fertile river to survive
• King Felipe II’s plans to link up Madrid to the Atlantic Ocean by building a 20-kilometre-long canal
• Obelisco de la Castellana, a monument for a deposed Queen that’s moved multiple times
• The statues of San Isidro (Madrid’s patron saint who performed over 400 miracles) and his wife, Santa Maria
• How the riverbank turned from an unloved eyesore to a green space teeming with wildlife
If you’re new to the city, a seasoned explorer, or a local looking to explore a part of Madrid you might not have seen before, this tour is for you. This hour-long walk will introduce you to the river’s fascinating links to the history of Spain’s capital.
Highlights
- Take in the area’s 300,000-year-long history
- Hear from producer Clare Starkie, previously a museum curator and now a teacher
- Do it all in an hour or linger at stops along the way
- Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it
- Use the virtual tour option at home
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The tour uses a mobile app. You will need to download the app and then use the voucher code provided to download the tour
It is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace
You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It is best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point
When the download is complete, you will see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point
The tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next Please note that you'll need to use your own mobile device and headphones for this tour. The tour is only available in English
The starting point is at the Matadero centre, Plaza de Legazpi, 8, 28045 Madrid.
The best way to get there is to go to Legazpi Metro station on Line 3 (the yellow one) or Line 6 (the grey one).
Head out of the station at the Rio exit and you'll be on the opposite side of a roundabout to the Matadero's main entrance. Cross over the Paseo de las Delicias and then the Paseo de la Chopera roads to your right, heading for a big water tower with MATADERO written on in big letters, this is your starting point.
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
Cancellation is not possible. If you cancel it anyway or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity and the money you paid will not be refunded.
