Madrid Destino Newsletter. May 2017

San Isidro The city of Madrid celebrates its most traditional festivities in honour of its patron saint San Isidro. From 12 to 15 May, locals and visitors alike can enjoy a wide range of cultural and leisure activities, with lots going on across the capital's neighbourhoods and districts. Festival highlights include a varied musical programme with zarzuela in the street; the festival of Madrid dances; performances by the municipal symphonic band; and concerts featuring various music genres on different stages across the city. In addition the city will enjoy the colourful Giants and Big Heads parade, which has been enlivening the capital's streets for 50 years; fireworks displays set to music; the Feria de la Cacharrería, a traditional ceramics market; plus games, workshops and activities for kids. And, of course, the customary religious ceremonies; typical food and drink for the time of year; and one of the most eagerly awaited events, the romería, or pilgrimage, to Pradera de San Isidro Park. More info   Flamenco Madrid 2017 From 17 May to 11 June, Fernán Gómez Centro Cultural de la Villa is transformed into the epicentre of flamenco in the capital as it hosts the third Flamenco Madrid festival. An event showcasing new work and featuring a broad programme that includes dancing, singing, exhibitions, lectures and round table discussions. Top artists like Antonio Canales, Carmen Cortés and Diego Carrasco will be joining talented newcomers including Belén López, La Lupi and Alfonso Losa, crafting a unique line-up that pays tribute to this Intangible Cultural Heritage art form. More info DocumentaMadrid Now in its fourteenth edition, the International Documentary Film Festival has four brand new competition sections, bringing the total to six: International Feature Film and International Short Film; National Feature Film and National Short Film; and Fugas Feature Film and Fugas Short Film (for more innovative and daring work). With more than 1,700 films registered from 112 countries, participation in DocumentaMadrid has hit record levels this year, with films from France, Argentina, Jordan, Japan, Syria and Mozambique, plus more than 350 documentaries by Spanish film-makers. The festival programme, which runs from 4 to 14 May at Cineteca in Matadero, also includes a range of parallel activities and events, round table discussions and workshops. More info     Book Fair Books will once again be taking centre stage at El Retiro Park from 26 May to 11 June. The Madrid Book Fair is now in its 76th year, with Portugal as guest country, and the event is expected to attract booksellers, publishers, distributors and people who love a good read. This literary ramble through one of the capital's most iconic natural settings welcomes 365 stalls with the very latest in published works, traditional book signing sessions, plus an activity-packed parallel cultural and leisure programme. More info       Mutua Madrid Open In May, sport in Madrid means tennis. From 5 to 14 May, the capital hosts the Mutua Madrid Open 2017, a competition that's part of the ATP Masters 1000 men's circuit and the WTA Premier Mandatory women's circuit, featuring a series of top players. The spectacular nature of this tournament is complemented by its fantastic venue, Caja Mágica, a state-of-the-art tennis complex designed by Dominique Perrault and standing on the banks of the Manzanares River. The complex has three courts fitted with moving roofs for open-air or covered matches. More info           Mercadillo del Gato  In May, fans of street markets and shopping can enjoy a new edition of the Mercadillo del Gato. More than 60 exhibitors offer visitors the chance to pick up unique pieces and exclusive fashion, crafts, decorative items, accessories, children's fashion, cosmetics, costume jewellery and collectors' items. This pop-up market also boasts an area given over to food and drink and is due to be held in two locations: Gran Vía, 13 (4 to 7 May) and The Westin Palace (25 to 28 May). Entry is free. More info esMADRIDmagazine Madrid's Plaza Mayor graces the cover of the latest issue of the city of Madrid's free monthly publication, containing the main cultural and leisure events scheduled for May. As you might expect, the San Isidro festivities programme takes pride of place in this month's esMADRIDmagazine, which also features details about the Flamenco Madrid Festival, the Mutua Madrid Open and special activities taking place to mark the 4th Centenary of Plaza Mayor. The pages of this edition also cover the main exhibitions currently on across the capital's museums and cultural centres, as well as new theatre productions like La cantante calva at Teatro Español. More info   ________________________________________