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Traditional markets in Madrid: the Rastro market

1 septiembre, 2014

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There is no doubt about the fact that Madrid is a living modern and cosmopolitan city. However, throughout our visit to the capital of Spain we realise that these characteristics are not necessarily asociated to the image of a futuristic city. Certainly not. Madrid is a city where tradition and modernity come together and they perfectly work togethe to make the capital stand out thanks to the services and the innovation while preserving its origins. Thus we can see some buildings like Puerta de EuropaTorrespaña (better known as ’Pirulí’) or Torres de Colón blended with the architecture from another time of other buildings like the Puerta de Alcalá, the Plaza Mayor or de magnificent building in Gran Vía, amongst many others.


However, Madrid is much more than business, tourism and trade market. Madrid has life as well as any other city in the world, with people who get up early in the morning to go to work, do the shopping and spend Saturday afternoons at the Prado Museum and the Sundays at the Retiro park. We can see -and feel- this everyday life when walking through the streets, and we can take part of it if we know where to go and what to do.


One of the most ancient and multitudinous event in Madrid is a street market called ’el Rastro’, which takes place every Sunday and holidays at the Latina quarter in the city centre, at Ribera de Curtidores street and some other streets nearby. An open-air market extended all along 1 kilometre between Ronda de Toledo and Plaza Mayor and the adjacent streets in an endless chain of all kid of stands.

El Rastro was originary the perfect place to find every imaginable object, second-hand items, maybe with a little flaw or even stolen, for a very low price. Remntals, tools, pieces of a mechanism, toys, cooking utensils, books and stamps, watches, old fournitures and pictures, and an endless variety of gadgets and junks. Since its origins to these days it has been an centre of attraction for collectors and lovers of antiques. Nowadays, we can see this kind of merchandise as well as handmade and first-hand products.

The street market El Rastro in Madrid, a place which is worth the effort to visit even if it is just for walking the street amongst the stands until Plaza Mayor and then enjoy some ’pinchos’ in any of the multiple terraces and restaurants over there.

When?: Sundays and holidays, from 9 am to 3 pm aprox.

Where?: Ribera de Curtidores street (Madrid)

How to get: 

Metro: L5 La Latina; Puerta de Toledo / L1 Tirso de Molina / L3 Embajadores

Bus: 17, 33, 35, 41, 60, 148 y Circular


If you are planning your visit to the capital and you are interested on discovering one of the most historical weekly events in the city, don’t hesitate anymore. Just choose your dates and look for your perfect apartment to enjoy your visit to Madrid with all the comfort of Genteel Home
 apartments.