NOTICIAS DE MADRID

THE ESSENTIAL ART WALK To showcase one of the main tourist attractions in the city of Madrid, the Paseo del Arte (Art Walk), the Tourism Department of Madrid Destino (Madrid City Council) and the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía museums have developed an application that familiarises users with this cultural icon in Spain’s capital city and encourages them to visit it.  The “Essential Art Walk App” is a free tool that features a selection of eight representative works from the collections of each of the three museums, and you can also use it to purchase the Art Walk Pass. The descriptions of the 24 works can be read or listened to in audio-guide format, in nine different languages. The application can be downloaded from Madrid’s official tourism website, esMADRID.com, from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and from the museums’ websites. A promotional bilingual Spanish/English guide has also been published, providing descriptions of the works and relevant information on each of the museums. More info   Christmas Madrid is synonymous with Christmas. The city undergoes a transformation to celebrate this very special holiday, offering visitors and residents alike the best cultural, gastronomic and leisure activities and fun for the whole family. Lights created by top designers that illuminate the capital’s main streets, the Christmas market in Plaza Mayor, nativity scene displays, Naviluz, the Christmas bus, exquisite typical sweets, the traditional ringing-in of the New Year in Puerta del Sol and the eagerly-anticipated Three Kings Parade are just a small selection of the activities that Madrid has in store. On top of all that, a special cultural programme will supplement Madrid’s regular programme of events. More info Gospel Festival at Fernán Gómez Once again this year Fernán Gómez will play host to one of its key events, the Gospel Festival, now in its 22nd edition. The event gathers together the genre’s best voices and will see them perform a selection of everything from traditional gospel to more contemporary sounds. This year’s edition will be held from 9 to 18 December at Sala Guirau and will feature the notable presence of lyric soprano and jazz performer Barbara Hendricks, in addition to the London Community Gospel Chorale, the Black Heritage Choir and the South Carolina Gospel Chorale. More info     International Christmas Fair of Cultures at Matadero Madrid Making the different ways Christmas is celebrated around the world known is the aim of the International Fair of Cultures, whose second edition will be held from 15 to 23 December at Matadero Madrid. A programme featuring over 250 activities has been designed for the fair in collaboration with embassies from 75 countries and various international institutions. Music, games, shopping, gastronomy, theatre, storytelling, film, crafts workshops, traditional dances and martial arts are some of the main attractions of this cultural event, which will kick off with a concert by the Municipal Symphonic Band and the artists Rayden and Alana. More info       San Silvestre Vallecana The last major sporting event of the year and a tradition for fans of running, the San Silvestre Vallecana will be held on 31 December. The race dates back over half a century and its past editions have firmly established it as the athletic event with the largest number of participants in Spain. The race currently features two different competitions, one for professionals and another open to the general public, and it offers a chance to enjoy sport on the last day of the year with a circuit that passes through some of the city’s most distinctive sites. More info           Islamic Madrid Discover the traces of Muslim culture in Madrid with a new publication issued by the Tourism Department of the municipal company Madrid Destino. It tells you where Madrid’s Arab city wall was located, what examples of Mudéjar and Neomudéjar architecture can be found in the capital and what Arab works of art are housed in museums around Madrid such as Lázaro Galdiano, the Archaeological Museum and San Isidro. It also gives an overview of the places of workshop found in Madrid and of Muslim gastronomy and way of life. More info esMADRIDmagazine The festive season is nearly upon us, which means that the city of Madrid is getting ready to host another “Christmas at the Price”, the show with which Teatro Circo Price bids farewell to 2016 and welcomes in the New Year. Wonderful creatures, acrobats, trapeze artists and clowns will be taking audiences on an entertaining journey that will thrill adults and children alike. Tickets for shows, scheduled from 2 December until 8 January, are up for grabs now, with some great discounts of between 20% and 40% on advance ticket sales. More info ___________________________________________ __________________________________________ _______________________________________ ______________________________________