Madrid in War: Civil War, Guernica and World War II

5.0 (4 reviews) 2 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

4 reviews

5.0

Madrid in War: Civil War, Guernica and World War II — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Madrid in War: Civil War, Guernica and World War II, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

For 863 days Madrid was besieged and bombed, turned

in laboratory of modern warfare that preceded the Second War

World Cup. You will explore the real scenes of the Civil War

Spanish: Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Gran Via under the

bombs, the Mountain Barracks, the Western Park with their

trenches and the Temple of Debod next to the old line of the

front. You will see facades with shrapnel impacts and places that

changed the history of Spain and Europe forever.

We are the No1 company on TripAdvisor Madrid among more than 1,200

tourism companies, with the Best of the Best Award for 8

consecutive years — only 1% of experiences in the world

Get it. More than 20,000 reviews support more than 10 years

Madrid with travelers from all over the world.

Small groups, maximum 25 people per guide. When booking

you receive our guide to Madrid by WhatsApp. At the end, you

Guide recommends where to eat and what not to miss.

Private and Luxury Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low

At a glance

Duration: 2 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 25 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: Spanish
Operated by: Trip Tours Madrid

What is included

Included

Included: Personalized guide to Madrid by WhatsApp (when booking)
Included: Local professional guide, expert in the Spanish Civil War
Included: Restaurant recommendations and plans at completion
Included: Printed material with vintage photos and exclusive map

Not included

Not included: Tip to guide (delivered at completion to satisfaction)
Not included: Entrance fees to monuments (completely outside tour)
Not included: Food or drinks

Itinerary

Plaza Mayor

15 min

Under its monumental and touristic appearance, Plaza Mayor hides stories of fear, resistance and survival. At this point in the tour, the guide will reveal how this emblematic space was lived during the Civil War, what happened between its portals and why it was a key place to understand Madrid at war. A story that completely transforms the way you will look at this square again.
Puerta del Sol

15 min

Under the clock that sets the pace for Spain, Puerta del Sol was the scene of crucial decisions and extreme experiences during the Civil War. At this point in the tour, the guide will reconstruct how one lived here while bombs fell on the city, which buildings were key and why this place better symbolizes the resilience of the besieged Madrid than any other.
Plaza del Callao

15 min

Where there are cinemas and bright screens today, during the Civil War the world’s gaze was focused. In Callao, in front of the old Florida Hotel, journalists and correspondents narrated the siege of Madrid as bombs fell on the city. At this point in the tour you will discover how it was reported from the urban front and why this place was key to understanding the international dimension of the conflict.
Gran Via

15 min

Under its monumental facades, Gran Via was a real front line. During the Civil War, bombs, sirens and ruined buildings were part of the daily life. At this point in the tour, the guide will reconstruct how this strategic avenue survived and why Gran Vía became one of the symbols of Madrid that resisted under the pumps.
Stop 5

10 min

Where once there were classrooms and students, the war imposed a new reality. The Santa Teresa Institute represents how the Civil War altered the daily lives of thousands of Madridians, transforming learning spaces into places marked by urgency, fear and the need to resist.
Plaza de Oriente

10 min

In front of the Royal Palace, the Plaza de Oriente symbolized power in a besieged city. During the Civil War, this space was the scene of constant tension, where the symbolic value of the place was as important as its strategic position. An endpoint that helps to understand how the war was also fought on a political and symbolic level.
Palacio Del Senado

10 min

Very close to the institutional heart of Madrid, Guernica’s name recalls one of the most shocking episodes of the Civil War. At this point in the tour, the guide will explain why the bombing shocked the world, how it was used as a symbol of politics and denunciation, and what role it played in the historical memory of the conflict beyond the battlefield.
Stop 8

10 min

In the midst of conflict and polarization, the Church of the Carmelites recalls that the Civil War was also experienced in the religious sphere. This space allows us to reflect on the social fracture, persecution, fear and transformation of places destined for wartime collection
Monumento a los Caidos del Cuartel de la Montana

15 min

Here the fate of Madrid was decided in the early days of the Civil War. The Mountain Barracks was the scene of one of the most violent and decisive episodes of the beginning of the conflict, a point where history changed irreversibly and that allows us to understand how the war really began in the capital
Templo de Debod

15 min

After touring the bombed and besieged Madrid, the Temple of Debod offers a space for final reflection. Surrounded by a landscape marked by the history of the conflict, this place symbolizes the passage of time, memory and reconstruction of a city that survived the war
Stop 11

10 min

From this viewpoint you can understand why Madrid was a besieged city. Face to face with the line of combat, the guide will reconstruct how the defense was organized, what was seen from here during the war and how the closeness of the front marked the pace of life of the entire city
Parque del Oeste

10 min

Where today there are trails and gardens, during the Civil War there were trenches and fighting. The Parque del Oeste allows us to visualize the intensity of the Battle of Madrid and reflect on how the city transformed ancient battlefields into spaces of memory and coexistence

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Plaza Mayor, in front of the Statue of Philip III, in the center of the square. Look for our COMPLETELY YELLOW UMBRELLA — we’ll recognize you instantly even if the square is full. Trouble? Write us on WhatsApp and we will help you in the moment.