Madrid in the Spanish Civil War

Madrid in the Spanish Civil War

Between 1936 and 1939, a terrible war divided Spain. The legitimate Republican government was betrayed and attacked by a group of fascist officers in the Armed Forces and the fight for control of the capital resulted in a war lasting almost 3 years. In this walk we explore how Madrid defended itself until Franco won the war in 1939 with international support from fascist regimes, ushering in his 36-year dictatorship.

This specialist tour is led by Dr. Almudena Cros, a researcher on the subject whose family was directly involved in the war. Dr. Cros has been working for over a decade as a consultant, interviewer, and interpreter in numerous projects, books, and documentaries related to the Spanish Civil War and has lectured on the subject. Her first-hand knowledge and her ample experience interviewing war veterans and survivors bring to life the realities of the conflict and its aftermath in an unparalleled manner. ...

During the first half of the tour, we discuss the chronology of the war and the recovery of historical memory as we reconstruct what the city centre looked like in the war with the help of photographs from that period. Dr. Cros will share with you her family’s wartime story in her native Madrid, illustrated by their photographs and documents of the time. The use of authentic materials recovered from battlefields and military memorabilia will give you an exceptional insight into the Spanish Civil War.

The story of the International Brigades (the volunteers who came to help the Republic from all over the world), and their contribution to the defense of Madrid is an essential element of this unique learning experience. As an activist and as president of the Association of Friends of the International Brigades, Dr. Cros has personally met the last surviving veterans from the International Brigades and is deeply involved in organizing and attending commemorative trips, events and ceremonies related to the International Brigades in Spain and other countries as well as helping relatives of the volunteers trace the steps of their family members during the Spanish Civil War.

For the last hour of this walk we will explore the battlefield remains further afield, in the University City area, as a final tribute to those who defended the Spanish Republic.

Please note that this is not the standard neutral or commercial tour, this tour is dedicated to the memory of the International Brigades.

A donation from the proceeds of this particular itinerary will be made to the Friends of the International Brigades Association (Asociación de Amigos de las Brigadas Internacionales / AABI), to support the work that this non-for-profit association does to preserve the legacy of the International Brigades. Read full description

Length: 3.5 to 4 hours. Maximum group size: 8 people.


Available days and starting times:

Monday through Saturday: 9:30 or 14:30.

Summertime: starting at 8:00 due to heat.

 *Please note that this tour does not run on Sundays.

Please note that advance booking is required. As a very small company, we can rarely accommodate last-minute bookings, particularly during the high season. It is best to book early to avoid disappointment.



* We also offer the possibility of half-day trips to the battlefields of Jarama or Brunete, led by historian Severiano Montero, author of La Batalla de Brunete. Severiano is a retired high school History teacher whose research on the subject of the Spanish Civil War in the region of Madrid has yielded a vast amount of new information. These battlefield tours offer the opportunity to explore trenches, memorials and other remains from the war.

Cost of these half-day excursions, which include transportation:
120 euros per person if only 1 participant (no minimum required)
140 euros total for 2 participants
160 euros total for a group of 3 participants

The full proceeds from these battlefield tours go directly to AABI.
Please contact us to enquire about your trip to Jarama or Brunete by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our Spanish Civil War tours are endorsed by the Friends and Family of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the United States (FFALB), the Associazione Italiana di Combattenti Volontari Antifascisti di Spagna in Italy (AICVAS) and the Orwell Society in the United Kingdom, of which Dr. Almudena Cros is a member.
Dr. Cros is also a member of the prestigious International Brigades Memorial Trust and other associations related to the International Brigades while she currently serves as the President of the Spanish organization AABI (Asociación de Amigos de las Brigadas Internacionales).