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Local customs, Madrid

Local customs tips and photos posted by real travelers and Madrid locals.
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• 16 Reviews

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Local customs: Ambassadors' Parade
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  • andal13
  • Updated By andal13 on July 15, 2003
  • Madrid Page by andal13
  • Ambassadors' Parade - Madrid
    Ambassadors' Parade
    by andal13
    I was walking down Calle Mayor on a Thursday morning, when suddenly appeared some old-fashioned knights and carriages... I asked a policeman what was that, and he told me it was the Ambassadors' Parade: that day, Ambassadors go to Royal Palace and greet the King.

    Iba caminando por la Calle Mayor una mañana de jueves, cuando súbitamente aparecieron varios jinetes vestidos a la antigua usanza, y carruajes... Le pregunté a un policía de qué se trataba, y me dijo que era el Desfile de los Embajadores: ese día los Embajadores van al Palacio Real y presentan sus repetos al Rey.

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    Local customs: Bullfight!
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  • VictoriaM.
  • By VictoriaM. on December 17, 2002
  • Madrid Page by VictoriaM.
  • bullfight - Madrid
    bullfight
    by VictoriaM.
    Bullfighting

    Each bullfight comprises six bulls and three matadors, each of whom fights two bulls. The bulls are specially bred fighting
    bulls, usually from the same bloodline and are not less than four years old with a weight somewhere between 500 and
    800 kilos. They must never have faced a man on foot before they enter the bullring. The reason being that if this is the
    case, they may charge the man, instead of the cape. The selection of bulls is determined by drawing lots on the morning
    of the corrida. The toreros perform in order of seniority with the senior matador going first and fourth, the
    second-ranked matador second and fifth and the least experienced fighting third and sixth. If a matador is gored and
    unable to continue, the senior matador must take his place and complete the fight. Each bullfight is divided into three
    stages of thirds and lasts for around 20 minutes. A corrida starts with a parade of all the contestants and bailiffs
    dressed in 17th century costume, who salute the president of the fight. The president is an important official who
    controls the fight and can award trophies to a matador who performs well. A trumpet is blown to announce the first fight
    when the matador and his team enter the ring, and to signal the end of each stage. The bailiffs receive the key to the
    gate which is thrown to them by the president of the bullfight, through which the bulls enter the ring. The president
    then waves a white handkerchief to signal the entrance of the first bull into the ring.

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    Local customs: The traditional MADRID
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  • ROCKARIA
  • By ROCKARIA on February 27, 2005
  • Madrid Page by ROCKARIA
  • Still in traditional clothes - Madrid
    Still in traditional
    clothes
    by ROCKARIA
    One can easily meet old townsfolk in their traditional clothes which is very rare nowadays to see in a modern city in Europe

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    Local customs: A normal spanish home... Get...
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  • monica78
  • By monica78 on September 7, 2002
  • Madrid Page by monica78
  • Local customs - Madrid
    by monica78
    A normal spanish home... Get new friends, and maybe they will invite you home for a typical spanish dinner.... Here is my friends in Spain; Patricia, Jose, 'Bull' and Irene...

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    Local customs: local custom is to watch Real Madrid here
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  • pedmar
  • By pedmar on November 9, 2006
  • Madrid Page by pedmar
  • side paseo castellana Santiago Bernabeu Stadium - Madrid
    side paseo castellana Santiago
    Bernabeu Stadium
    by pedmar, 4 more photos
    the football team of the world!!! soccer or calcio in some parts. FIFA club of the 20th century and already ahead in European Cups in this century 2!!!

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    Local customs: At Easter, if you're in the...
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  • sjvessey
  • By sjvessey on August 25, 2002
  • Madrid Page by sjvessey
  • Local customs - Madrid
    by sjvessey
    At Easter, if you're in the village of Avila, located about an hour's drive west of Madrid, you may get quite a surprise if you stumble across their Easter celebrations. Held over three days (Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday), it consists of a procession around the old town, starting at the main cathedral. The floats depict various Biblical scenes appropriate to each of the three days, and the townsfolk get dressed up in rather unusual (but traditionally Christian) costumes (see photo).

    Avila is in the mountains, so at this time of year, it'll be freezing cold, and possibly even snowing, so take some warm clothes.

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    Local customs: Not really 'Off the Beaten...
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  • MarkLA
  • By MarkLA on August 26, 2002
  • Madrid Page by MarkLA
  • Local customs - Madrid
    by MarkLA
    Not really 'Off the Beaten Path' but a tip none the less. Try to visit at festival time. We were lucky enough the visit during San Isidro, when, in addition to lots of music and dancing, you will see many Madrillenos in their traditional casitzo costumes. San Isidro is May 8-15.

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    Local customs: sound of a Spanish guitar olé olé y olé
    pedmar
  • By pedmar on February 28, 2009
  • Madrid Page by pedmar
  • depends on your music but for guitars alone per se, the best is flamenco places.alone on the street you can here impromtus at Parque Retiro any day.
    also more formal spanish, at La Solea, calle cava baja 34, center city
    or a bit off El Burladero, calle echegaray 19 off near calle alcala in between metro stop Sevilla or anton martin. If you like to see good guitars, and I have one, then go here
    Guitarras Manuel Rodriguez,calle Hortaleza 26,
    this is some information in english on the owners
    http://www.zavaletas-guitarras.com/files/MRodreguezIII.htmr /> and this is their own site
    http://www.guitars-m-r-sons.com/ing/home.htm
    you can hear the sound olé ::)

    for flamenco my favorites are the old reliable
    Corral de la Moreria, Moreria 7 near Palacio Real see web in english below.
    http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/ingles/flamenco.html

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    Local customs: Real Madrid RULES!!!!!!
    BEBA_Y_BEBO
  • By BEBA_Y_BEBO on September 12, 2002
  • Madrid Page by BEBA_Y_BEBO
  • At a Real Madrid's soccer match - Madrid
    At a Real Madrid's soccer
    match
    by BEBA_Y_BEBO

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    Local customs: Another one of Easter in Avila
    sjvessey
  • By sjvessey on August 25, 2002
  • Madrid Page by sjvessey
  • Local customs - Madrid
    by sjvessey
    Another one of Easter in Avila

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