This three-hour walking tour provides an introduction to the highlights of Madrid’s city center. Using the streets of Madrid, our guide will contextualize the city's landscape, architecture, cuisine, and culture within the broad chronology of Spanish history. Starting around the Royal Palace, we’ll trace the city’s fascinating roots, from its Arabic underpinnings, to Franco’s dictatorship in the 20th century. Noteworthy locations such as Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol will also be touched upon while examining the concepts of empire and uprising in Madrid. We’ll round out our discussion with some other topics, such as cuisine, and local craftsmanship,. Perhaps popping into a jamoner?a, or chocolate cafe, while immersing ourselves in the cultural life of a the city. After traveling through several centuries of life in Madrid, we’ll emerge with a solid understanding of how the city has evolved over the years, and what it means to be a Madrile?.