Day 1 (arrival)

I wish I had known BEFORE I did the research and completed the two gallery walks outlined below that there is actually a website which maps out the contemporary art galleries in Madrid. It did not come up in a google search, and either the art group in InterNations Madrid did not know about it, or they decided it should remain a well-kept secret. Anyway, for next time (for example the gallery weekend in September, which unfortunately coincides with the Berlin Art Week), here it is, and the Facebook group is here.

My relatively short art walk on day 1 started in La Casa Encendida, Ronda Valencia 2, and continued to C/ Doctor Fourquet with six galleries in the numbers as follows: 5 – Joaquín García, 8 – Sin Fin, 9 – Juan Risso, 12 – Bacelos, 17 – Espacio Minimo, and 35 – Alegria. However, be aware that they have very limited, and very erratic opening hours. Heaven forbid that they attract visitors by coordinating their opening hours like galleries in the rest of the world logically do. Also, the numbering seems to be a complete mess. The walk ended in CaixaForum – a must visit, especially for the architecture.

Note to self: Many tapas restaurants in C/del Leon.

(Click photos to expand and for slideshow)

Day 2

This is (more or less) the map of my gallery walk on day 2. There were more galleries to visit along the way, for example Gallery Antonio Suner, but for some reason, google maps cannot cope with more than ten destinations in one map.

Day 3

Impressions from a long walk:

And later visited a new international fair for contemporary art: Urvanity. Not the biggest fair I have ever visited.

Day 4:

ARCO International Fair for Contemporary Art

On the way there:

Impressions from the fair which, with close to 200 galleries in two large halls, must be one of the biggest contemporary art fairs in the world:

(Note to self: Next time, set aside more than three hours, and do not plan on going to the opera in the evening).

Followed by a snack on Plaza del Oriente before going to the opera.

Day 5

First, a visit to JustMad Emerging Art Fair:

Followed by Drawing Room:

The Berlin-based gallery Collectiva had a stand there (the last two photos above).

Some more walking:

And finally, a visit to the botanical gardens:

On my final day in Madrid I walked south to the river. Through the whole city, both sides of the river are now a recreational area with walking and biking paths, playgrounds etc.