Madrid in the Spanish Civil War

Between 1936 and 1939, a terrible war divided Spain. The legitimate Republican government was betrayed and attacked by a group of fascist officers in the Armed Forces, and the fight for control of the capital resulted in a war lasting almost 3 years.  In this walk, we explore how Madrid defended itself until Franco won the war in 1939 with international support from fascist regimes, ushering in his 36-year dictatorship.

This specialist tour is led by Dr. Almudena Cros, a researcher on the subject whose family was directly involved in the war. Dr. Cros has been working for over a decade as a consultant, interviewer, and interpreter in numerous projects, books, and documentaries related to the Spanish Civil War and has lectured on the subject. Her first-hand knowledge and ample experience interviewing war veterans and survivors bring to life the realities of the conflict and its aftermath in an unparalleled manner.

During the first half of the tour, we discuss the chronology of the war and the recovery of historical memory. The tour continues through central Madrid as we explore what the streets and avenues looked like between 1936 and 1939 with the help of visual materials from that period. Dr. Cros will share with you her family’s wartime history in Spain (including her native Madrid), illustrated by their photographs and documents of the time. 

The role of the International Brigades (the volunteers who came to help the Republic from all over the world) and their contribution to the defense of Madrid is part of this unique learning experience. As an activist and as president of the Association of Friends of the International Brigades in Spain, Dr. Cros personally met veterans of the International Brigades and is involved in organizing and attending commemorative trips, events, and ceremonies related to the International Brigades, as well as helping relatives of the volunteers trace the steps of their family members during the Spanish Civil War.

Please note that this is not the standard neutral or commercial tour. This tour is dedicated to the memory of the Spanish Republic and the International Brigades.

A donation from the proceeds of this itinerary will be made to the Friends of the International Brigades Association (Asociación de Amigos de las Brigadas Internacionales / AABI), to support the work that this non-profit association does to preserve the legacy of the International Brigades.

TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours.

Maximum group size: 10 people.

PRICES

Group tour prices: 

Please note that we can only run a group tour when we have a minimum of 2 people booking the tour.  Price per person decreases according to the number of people booking:

2 people: €80 per adult
3 people: €70 per adult
4 people: €60 per adult
5 people: €55 per adult
6 to 10 people: €50 per adult

Guaranteed Private Tour:

If you would like a guaranteed private tour, a supplement of €70 will be added to the total price. The cost for a private tour for 1 person will be the same price as for 2 people, and it will be €160 plus €70 = €230.

Solo travellers: If you are on your own but want to book a group tour and nobody else signs up, we will run a private tour for €160.

Family Special offer (guaranteed private tour):

For family units of up to 6 including 1 or more children under 18 years of age: €250 flat fee per family. (Please note this walk is not recommended for children under 14.)

AVAILABLE DAYS AND STARTING TIMES:

Monday through Saturday: 9:00 or 14:30.

Summertime: starting at 8:00 due to the heat.

* This tour does not run on Sundays.

To ensure availability, booking is required. As a very small company, we can rarely accommodate last-minute bookings, particularly during the high season. Contact us through the link below, noting that filling in the contact form does not guarantee a booking.  We kindly ask you to wait for confirmation from us. 


* We also offer the possibility of half-day trips to the battlefields of Jarama or Brunete, led by historian Carlos Dominguez.  Carlos is a retired high school teacher and member of the Association of Friends of the International Brigades.  These battlefield tours offer the opportunity to explore trenches, memorials, and other remains from the war.  We usually leave Madrid before 9:30 and return by 14:00-14:30.

Cost of these half-day excursions, which include private transportation:

150 euros per person if only 1 participant (no minimum required)
170 euros total for 2 participants
190 euros total for a group of 3 participants

The full proceeds from these battlefield tours go directly to AABI. 

Please contact us to enquire about your morning excursion to Jarama or Brunete by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our Spanish Civil War tours are endorsed by the Friends and Family of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the United States (FFALB), the Associazione Italiana di Combattenti Volontari Antifascisti di Spagna in Italy (AICVAS), and the Orwell Society in the United Kingdom, of which Dr. Almudena Cros is a member.
Dr. Cros is also a member of the prestigious International Brigades Memorial Trust and other associations related to the International Brigades, while she currently serves as the President of the Spanish organization AABI (Asociación de Amigos de las Brigadas Internacionales).