There is more to see in Madrid than the tourist attractions in the catalogues. For travellers to Madrid who want to look behind the scenes and visit lesser-known sights, here are the five best suggestions.

 

1 There are two art treasures inside the furniture shop that are not for sale. The ceiling is covered with frescoes painted by Daniel Zuloaga in the 19th century. Zuloaga is the artist who painted several famous buildings in Madrid, including the Velázquez Palace in Buen Retiro Park and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Next to it is an original ticket booth from the former Montano Concert Hall, which once stood on this site.
The shop is called Rustika and is located at Calle San Bernardino 3.

2. in the basement of the Cervantes Institute there is a spectacular steel chamber designed in 1944 to protect the bank vaults that were located in this building. The basement is now called the Caja de Letras and is entered through a 50cm thick, round door. Around 1800 caskets are kept here, in which secret legacies have been stored since 2007. These may not be opened before the date specified by the respective artist. Francisco Ayala was the first Spanish author to lock a letter in there, which may not be opened until 2057. The vault can be visited and is located at Calle Alcalá 49.

3rd bamboo house. From a distance, it looks like a windowless cube made of bamboo. On closer inspection, you notice the hinged window and door shutters. The oriental-looking building is located in the Ensanche de Vallecas district, Los Clarinetes 13, where there are 88 unique residential buildings designed for low-income people under the age of 35 who would otherwise live with their parents. The entire complex is built from natural materials. The building only takes up about half the space, the rest is made up of gardens and play areas.

4 There is a beautiful park in Barajas where there are hardly any people to be seen. 14 hectares of green space were designed in 1784 by the resident Duke and Duchess of Osuna. Exquisite sculptures and temple-like structures stand among small gardens of different nationalities (English, French and Italian). There is also a labyrinth, an artificial river, a lake and an island. This is undoubtedly one of the best places to spend a hot day in Madrid. The park is located in Capricho de la Alameda de Osuna.

5. at Calle Marqués de Riscal 7, you will find a forgotten arena where magnificent pelota competitions were once held. Pelota is a traditional Basque sport that was more popular than football in Spain in the 19th century. Behind the façade you can see the remains of the Beti-Jai court, the only example of its kind in Madrid. The then extravagant court was opened in 1894. The name Beti-Jai is a Basque expression for uninterrupted partying. The arena could accommodate up to 4000 people. All different forms of sport could be practised in the 67 metre long court. After the court was closed in 1919, it was converted into a police station, a workshop and a practice area for musicians.

        

Madrid Capricho, Pavilion Madrid Capricho, Column