MADRID: FIESTAS DE SAN ISIDRO-- MAYO 2015

SAN ISIDRO 2015

Concerts, fireworks and a host of other cultural and entertainment activities are scheduled for the San Isidro 2015 festivities, which will be celebrated in Madrid’s streets and iconic venues from 14 to 17 May. The traditional Giants and Big-Heads parade in Plaza de la Villa, the procession to the Pradera de San Isidro, Nights of Fire and Music in El Retiro Park and the Pottery Fair in Plaza de las Comendadoras are just some of the events planned to honour Madrid’s patron saint. There will also be concerts, including one given by the Municipal Symphonic Band and another by La Orquesta Mondragón, among many others. Audiences can also enjoy the 37th edition of the Rock Villa de Madrid Awards, Planeta Madrid and the Titirimundi puppet shows.

There will, of course, be no shortage of typical San Isidro fare, and the traditional bullfighting festival will also take place during the festivities at Las Ventas Bullring. Participants this time round include some of the finest toreros, namely El Juli, Miguel Ángel Perea, Miguel Avellán, Juan José Padilla and Morante de la Puebla.

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Mutua Madrid Open

The world’s leading male and female tennis players are in Madrid until 10 May. The latest edition of the Mutua Madrid Open will once again be held in a unique venue, Caja Mágica, the capital’s most distinctive sports facility. Widely viewed as one of the top clay-court tournaments, it combines the best tennis around with an activity-packed leisure and entertainment programme for all spectators.

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Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style

The world of James Bond lands in Madrid on 8 May, in an exhibition that can be seen at Fernán Gómez. Centro Cultural de la Villa until 30 August. The show Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style gathers together over 500 items and recreations from the 23 films starring cinema’s most famous secret agent. On display are documents, models, prototypes, scripts, original photos, film scenes and costumes and accessories worn by the man himself and his many Bond girls.

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Book Fair

The Book Fair is one of Madrid’s longest-running and most important cultural events. Once again it will be held in El Retiro Park, which will transform into a meeting place for booksellers, publishers, distributors, authors and avid readers. Attendees will get the chance to participate in book signings and activities associated with reading, and will receive special discounts. The fair is on from 29 May to 14 June. 

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Zinc Shower at Matadero Madrid

On 8 and 9 May, Matadero Madrid Cultural Centre is to host the third edition of Zinc Shower, the international creative and collaborative economy meeting-show. The event showcases innovative and creative business projects and brings entrepreneurs, professionals, students, investors, companies, institutions and sponsors together under the same roof. This year visitors can enjoy a varied programme of talks, round tables, workshops and networking events which will address issues such as technology and tools that can be used in entrepreneurial endeavours.

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Basketball Final Four

The best team in European basketball will be decided in the city of Madrid, with the Spanish capital hosting the Final Four semi-finals (15 May) and final (17 May) at the Barclaycard Center. Four teams – Real Madrid, Fenerbahçe, CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos – will battle it out to see who gets to take home the title. In addition to the games themselves, followers of the sport and the general public can enjoy a special Fan Zone in Plaza de Oriente, which will have basketball courts hosting everything from slam dunk and three-point shot contests to ball skills competitions, charity events and basketball classes.

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esMADRIDmagazine

The city of Madrid’s free monthly magazine celebrates its 100th edition with a carefully chosen selection of cultural and entertainment options to enjoy in the capital during May. This month esMADRIDmagazine is putting the spotlight on the San Isidro festivities, the Mutua Madrid Open, and the reopening of the Faro de Moncloa observation deck. Other events to grace its pages include Nocturna, the Madrid International Fantastic Film Festival; the Botánica Insólita spring garden festival at Matadero Madrid; the Casa Decor design fair; and shows like Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna, and Pingüinas and Mujeres y criados, performed respectively at Naves del Español and Teatro Español.

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