Diario di viaggio: Xacus goes to Madrid

 

Three days fully immersed in the art and architecture of the Spanish capital. A two-hour flight from Bergamo airport with just hand baggage containing the essentials for visiting the most charming locations in the city, but always with a certain style. And since I am going to be surrounded by art, I’m inspired to take a tour through my wardrobe: I pull out a couple of T-shirts, a polo shirt, three pairs of trousers to go with anything and two Xacus shirts in patterned poplin  featuring a mix of digital prints and sure to go well alongside the contemporary artworks in the Guggenheim in Bilbao.

A two-hour flight from Milan and here I am in what was once known by the Arabs as Magerit (land rich with water). I leave my bag at the Hotel, in Puerta America, a new building with a radical design, where every floor is the work of a different well-known international architect and interior designer: practically a gallery worth visiting in itself. The first stop not to be missed is the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace: a parade with soldiers in traditional uniforms on horseback, representing all of the majesty of the Royal Palace, with a theatrical choreography, always impeccably performed. 

 

 

 

 

Cecilia

 

I turn off in the direction of the famous indoor market of San Miguel for a snack and I bump into Cecilia, my very dear friend from university - always with her trusty camera in hand - always looking more and more stunning and stylish in her striped linen shirt with puff sleeves. It’s been five years, but she doesn’t look a day older. We hug and, amazed, we talk about what’s been going on over the last five years as we walk to Calle de Cuchilleros together. Cecilia doesn’t miss the chance to take a picture of the world’s oldest restaurant: El Sobrino del Botin, a favourite with Ernest Hemingway.

 

 

 

 

The Museo Nacional and Picasso’s Guernica

 

We decide to continue our sightseeing together. I mean, who are we to go against the fate that brought us together? We decide to take the M1 to avoid the traffic and head off to visit the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia so that we can see its collection of masterpieces in person, including Picasso’s famous Guernica from 1937. This tour is making me hungry. I ask Cecilia to come with me to the Antica Chocolateria San Ginés in Pasadizo de San Ginés 5: heaven for cocoa-addicts, where we enjoy a chocolate with churros. We say goodbye because she has a dinner date, but we arrange to meet up the next day at the city’s famous leaning towers.

 

 

 

 

La Puerta d’Europa and the Prado

 

“You don’t want to miss this chance to impress Cecilia”, I tell myself, while I pull out my irresistible Xacus shirt with floral print  by Liberty Of London. The perfect look for my planned itinerary: the famous Picasso Tower and Kio Towers – also known as Puerta de Europa - 2 gigantic glass blocks, created by architect Minoru Yamasaki and angled to lean towards one another by 14.3°. Then it’s straight to the Museo del Prado.
We meet up at Caffè Faborit. Cecilia is right on time, wearing a black and white gingham dress  and sipping on a caramel coffee with her usual innate class. She has always been the most elegant person I know. The Prado and the works of Goya, Velazquez and Rubens give us an appetite. Lunch at the