Medieval Madrid Audio Guide to the City Muslim Past
Active
1h - 1h
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Instant confirmation
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
About this experience
Madrid’s Islamic heritage comes alive in its oldest neighbourhoods’ winding streets. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll see medieval walls, hidden towers, and forgotten sites that tell the story of Mayrit – Madrid’s original Arabic name. Starting at the Monument to Felipe IV in Plaza de Oriente, you’ll peel back layers of history to reveal the fascinating Muslim foundations of Europe’s only capital city to be founded by an Islamic ruler. As you make your way to the charming Plaza de los Carros where the tour ends, you’ll wander through the charming cobblestone streets of the former Morería (Muslim quarter). You’ll explore how Christians, Muslims, and Jews coexisted through centuries of shifting power dynamics, leaving their mark on everything from architecture and art to language and cuisine.
Available options
Medieval Madrid Audio Guide to the City Muslim Past
What's included
Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
App for Android and iOS
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Detailed itinerary
1
Begin your journey at this impressive bronze equestrian statue in Plaza de Oriente, depicting the 17th-century Spanish king. Discover how this grand royal monument stands above layers of Madrid's hidden Islamic past.
2
Explore this underground archaeological site revealing medieval foundations and fortifications from Muslim Mayrit. Learn how this tower formed part of the city's original ninth-century defensive system.
3
Marvel at Madrid's oldest surviving church, whose tower displays distinctive Mudéjar horseshoe arches borrowed from mosque architecture. Discover how Muslim artisans left their mark on this 12th-century Christian building.
4
Walk along the impressive medieval walls built of flint that once protected Muslim Mayrit from invasion. Experience the origins of Madrid's motto "My walls are made of fire" at these ninth-century fortifications.
5
Enjoy panoramic views from this elevated vantage point overlooking the Almudena Cathedral and Royal Palace. Discover how this strategic location reveals Madrid's defensive position during its Islamic period.
6
Stop 6
Pass by
Pass through this historic street in the heart of the former Morería, where Madrid's Muslim population lived after the Christian conquest. Learn how this neighbourhood preserves the memory of the city's Islamic quarter.
7
Stroll through this beautifully restored 18th-century garden featuring elements of both Roman and Andalusian design. Experience the peaceful atmosphere that reflects Madrid's layered cultural heritage.
8
Admire this medieval church whose tower showcases Mudéjar architectural elements created by Muslim craftsmen. Explore how Islamic artistic traditions continued to influence Christian Madrid for centuries.
9
Discover this museum dedicated to Madrid's history, housed in a Renaissance palace built over earlier medieval foundations. Learn about the city's evolution from Islamic Mayrit to Christian Madrid through archaeological finds and exhibits.
10
Explore traces of the underground waterway system that gave Madrid its Arabic name, meaning "source of water." Marvel at the advanced hydraulic engineering that allowed Muslim settlers to thrive in this elevated location.
11
Visit the archaeological remains of this medieval church that once stood on the site of Madrid's original mosque. Discover how Christian rulers built over Islamic sites to assert their dominance after the reconquest.
12
Pass through this small square that conceals layers of history beneath its cobblestones, including remnants of medieval churches. Learn how archaeological discoveries here have revealed Madrid's complex multicultural past.
What's not included
Smartphone and headphones
Available languages
Audio guide
EN
Written guide
EN
Important information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Meeting point
This tour starts at Monument to Felipe IV. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Important notes
VOICEMAP CODE
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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.
This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:
Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app
Create an account
Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes
Enter your code then select Download Now
PLEASE NOTE
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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.
This 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.
When the download completes, you’ll 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.
Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.
SUPPORT
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For technical support and other queries, please email support@voicemap.me
$8
per person
Price varies by option
Secure booking
Free cancellation available
Instant confirmation
