Madrid holds stories for Mexican visitors that almost no one tells. Did you know that the chotis "Madrid" was composed by a Mexican without ever having crossed the Atlantic? And that Cervantes requested a position in the Americas, and the Council of the Indies told him to look for something here instead?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the first clues, with sources. The rest unfolds as we walk: on our free tour, Patricia makes stops with anecdotes about words and stories linked to Mexico. If you'd rather read the Argentine version, see Madrid for Argentine visitors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to hear these stories on the street, our free tour of Madrid<\/a> leaves from Puerta del Sol. It's pay-what-you-wish: you pay nothing upfront and, at the end, you give what you think it was worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The chotis "Madrid" was composed by the Mexican Agust\u00edn Lara. It is part of his Suite espa\u00f1ola, a collection of 31 songs. According to El Debate<\/a>, he wrote it without having crossed the Atlantic, using memories of exiles from the Civil War that he heard in the Caf\u00e9 de Tacuba in Mexico, and with maps and books. Lara traveled to Spain in 1954.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While not officially the anthem of Madrid, it is widely considered one. In April 2024, a proposal was made at the City Council meeting to study whether it could become the official anthem, according to Qu\u00e9.es<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Madrid, there is a statue of Lara in the Lavapi\u00e9s neighborhood, in the Plaza Arturo Barea, at the corner of Tribulete and Mes\u00f3n de Paredes streets. It was inaugurated in 2001 and is the work of Mexican sculptor Humberto Peraza. Its plaque describes it as a tribute from Spain and Mexico. It can be reached by metro on line 3 (Lavapi\u00e9s station). Source: UnoTV<\/a>. It is not included in the tour route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to M\u00e9xico Desconocido, chocolate comes from xocol\u0101tl, tomato from tomatl, avocado from ahuacatl, and chewing gum from tzictli. These are words that are used daily in Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guacal also has Nahuatl origins. It comes from huacalli, which meant "wooden box" or "frame for carrying," according to Buenospanish. When it passed into Spanish, the sound hua was simplified to gua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the tour, Patricia tells anecdotes about words of American origin like these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Museum of the Americas is located at Avenida de los Reyes Cat\u00f3licos, 6, near the Moncloa (L3 and L6) and Islas Filipinas (L7) metro stations. It houses over 25,000 objects and covers the period from American prehistory to the present day, with an emphasis on pre-Columbian archaeology, ethnography, and colonial art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n General admission is \u20ac3. It is free on Sundays and Thursdays from 2:00 PM. Closed on Mondays. Source: esMadrid<\/a>. The museum is not included in the tour route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chocolate has a direct link to Mexico. According to Consumer<\/a>, Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s arrived in Mexico in 1519, and this text considers it the true discovery of cacao by the Spanish. Moctezuma offered him the drink in a golden cup. Later, it was sweetened with honey and then with sugar, and it became the drink of the kings and the Spanish court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Madrid, the Chocolater\u00eda de San Gin\u00e9s has been serving chocolate with churros since 1894, at Pasadizo de San Gin\u00e9s, 5. According to esMadrid<\/a>, its fame began when audiences leaving the theater would go there to drink it. It is not part of the tour route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On May 21, 1590, Miguel de Cervantes submitted a petition to the Council of the Indies, along with his service record. He requested one of the vacant positions in the Americas, such as the comptrollership of the New Kingdom of Granada or the corregidorship of La Paz. On June 6, his petition was rejected with the phrase \"Busque por ac\u00e1 en que se le haga merced\" (roughly, \"look for a post here instead\").<\/p>\n\n\n\n Years later, in 1608, Cervantes is documented in the Atocha neighborhood, and later in the streets of Magdalena, Le\u00f3n, and Huertas. Source: Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are still stories to tell. Patricia tells them along the way, and there's always one you didn't expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Book the free tour for your first day and leave the afternoon for the museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Check the dates. If you're traveling at Christmas, read our guide to Christmas in Madrid<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Share the guide with your Argentine friends: Madrid for Argentine visitors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our free walking tour of Madrid departs daily at 11:15 from Puerta del Sol, in front of ZapShop. You'll recognize us by our purple umbrellas. It lasts approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes and ends near the... Royal Palace<\/a>. There are tours in Spanish every day and in English from Monday to Friday. Before you go, check the website in case the meeting point changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It's a free tour with no upfront cost: you don't pay anything in advance and, at the end, you contribute what you think is appropriate. Check availability and book<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Nahuatl huacalli<\/em>, "wooden box or "carrying frame", according to Buenospanish.<\/p><\/div> General admission is \u20ac3, according to esMadrid. It is free on Sundays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m.<\/p> According to El Debate, the Mexican Agust\u00edn Lara, without ever having crossed the Atlantic. There is a statue of him in Lavapi\u00e9s, inaugurated in 2001.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n You don't pay anything upfront. In the end, you contribute what you deem appropriate.<\/p><\/div> No. It's a walking tour of the city center, with no entrance fees included.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Do you want to explore Madrid with us?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Madrid for Mexican visitors: Agust\u00edn Lara's "Madrid" chotis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Madrid for Mexican visitors: words that crossed the ocean<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Madrid for Mexican visitors: the Museum of the Americas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Madrid for Mexican visitors: chocolate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Madrid for Mexican visitors: Cervantes and the Indies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to prepare for your visit to Madrid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Discover it with us: central Madrid with a guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently asked questions about Madrid for Mexican visitors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Words and museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
About the free tour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n