Hidden Madrid

Book excerpt: Hidden Madrid is an offbeat guide to the capital for those with a little free time on their hands and an interest in discovering Madrid's oddities. Where in town can you buy homemade pastries from cloistered nuns? How did King Felipe II plan to turn Madrid into a seaport? What deep, dark secret did Dr. Velasco hide in what is now the Anthropological Museum? What did a sudden sandy gust of wind and a king have to do with the coining of the word tapa? Where in Madrid would you find a statue dedicated to the Fallen Ángel (Lucifer)? What happened when a run-away fighting bull rampaged through the Gran Vía? Why are people from Madrid called gatos (cats)? What tips should you follow when attending your first bullfight? Where can you still find vestiges of the Franco era dictatorship? You'll find the answers to these and many other questions in Hidden Madrid all presented in a readable and entertaining fashion. Over 150 photographs and detailed maps pin-point all the sights and curiosities that you can visit on your own.