MADRID DESTINO "VERANOS DE LA VILLA"

Veranos de la Villa Madrid's most eagerly awaited summer festival continues to spread across the city. In this year's event, due to last until 3 September, the cultural programme will be shared by 60 different stages compared to 36 last year. All of Madrid's 21 districts will be hosting activities, 80% of which are free of charge. You can expect concerts featuring popular, classical, jazz and electronic music; flamenco, dance and zarzuela; sports and traditional games; circus, magic and puppets; film, theatre, poetry, gatherings and other community-based activities never held in Madrid before, making up a programme with a total of 90 arts events and performances. Underwater electronic music, concerts to enjoy from your sleeping bag, a meteor shower accompanied by the official festival band, a tribute to flamenco legend Camarón and the première of a local community film are just a few of the surprises and novelties in store in this summer appointment with culture. More info   Art in Madrid The new guide Art in Madrid sets out to take a look at the capital's enormous cultural heritage. The publication, edited by Madrid Destino, explores everything there is to be discovered in the vast museum that is the city, highlighting unique places, like the Art Walk; the national museums, house museums and royal estates; plus a range of other exhibition venues and cultural spaces. More than 30 pages reveal curiosities and include a map with 11 of the capital's museums and a cultural calendar showing the most prominent arts events. Available in Spanish and English. More info 4th Centenary of Plaza Mayor in July During July, Madrid locals and visitors alike can continue to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city's Plaza Mayor with some interesting new cultural and leisure activities. The Retrátate Madrid! exhibition (from 5 July), promoted by PHotoEspaña; a concert of film music (8 July) by the Municipal Symphony Band; a special music and arts event led by Veranos de la Villa (12 July); the TEDxMadridSalon event (14 July); and "Liceu a la Fresca" (21 July), a live broadcast of Il Trovatore from the Liceu Opera House in Barcelona. More info     August Fiestas Madrid in August is one big street party. During this month the capital will be holding three of its most famous festivals in neighbouring districts: San Cayetano (2-8 August) in the Rastro/Embajadores area; San Lorenzo (9-11 August) in Lavapiés; and La Paloma (12-15 August) the biggest and most important of all, based in La Latina. "Chulapos" (locals in traditional dress), "chotis" (the traditional dance of Madrid), streets decorated with Manila shawls and lanterns, typical flavours and a programme of events that range from children's competitions, live music by orchestras and pop groups, through to tapas routes and processions. It's all about partying, Madrid style. More info       Mad Cool Festival From 6 to 8 July, the Caja Mágica will be hosting the second Mad Cool Festival. The city's unique multidisciplinary venue is the perfect space to holding this cultural event that made its name by bringing together different kinds of artistic expression in a sustainable and responsible way, thanks to the participation of more than 60 national and international artists on five different stages. Acts confirmed include Foo Fighters, Green Day, Kings of Leon, Belle & Sebastian, The Lumineers, Ryan Adams, Wilco and M.I.A., who will be joined by the winning ten bands from Mad Cool Talent. More info           Sonia Delaunay-Terk in the Thyssen From 4 July and up until October, the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum will be hosting the first monographic exhibition in Madrid and Spain by artist Sonia Delaunay–Terk. This French painter and designer, originally from Ukraine, was a leading name in abstract art and one of the founders of simultanism together with her husband Robert Delaunay. The exhibition features some of her paintings, fashion designs and textiles, as well as her innovative work with poets and set designers, with special emphasis on the period during which the artist lived with her family in Madrid. More info esMADRIDmagazine With a very refreshing cover, the July and August issue of esMADRIDmagazine comes packed with activities so you can get the most out of Madrid's cultural and leisure diary. Highlights this year include Veranos de la Villa and the great festivals set to flood the capital with music: Mad Cool, Noches del Botánico, Rio Babel, Universal Music Festival and the Price concerts. The magazine also features activities and events commemorating the 4th centenary of Plaza Mayor; performances of Madama Butterfly and Macbeth in the Teatro Real; exhibitions in Madrid's leading museums and cultural venues; plus a sneak preview of the major events due to take place in September. More info