Sistine Chapel of Tile Art Reopens

Los Gabrieles on Calle Echegaray has finally reopened after more than 20 years, and it was worth every minute of the wait. In this episode, I dig into the history of one of Madrid's most spectacular bars and the remarkable renaissance of commercial ceramic tile art in the city during the 1920s.Places mentioned in this episode:Los Gabrieles, Calle Echegaray 17, Barrio de las Letras — no reservations for the downstairs bar, arrive before 1.30pmVilla Rosa, Plaza de Santa Ana — flamenco bar with beautiful tiled facadeAntigua Casa Talavera, Calle Isabel la Católica — fourth-generation tile shop, over 100 years oldFarmacia Juance, Calle San Andrés, Malasaña — an extraordinary surviving tile shopfrontMuseo de Historia de Madrid, Calle Fuencarral, MalasañaMatadero Madrid, Paseo de la Chopera — former slaughterhouse, now an arts centre with surviving tile workChamberi Ghost Station — preserved 1920s metro station with original tile advertisementsTalavera de la Reina — a great day trip from Madrid if you want to go deeper into the history of the craftSupport the show:Leave a review and subscribe wherever you get your podcastsPick up a copy of Quiet Madrid, the e-book guide to the city's quieter corners — available at The Making of MadridGet an audio walking tour on VoiceMap — including a new Malasaña backstreets tour featuring several of the tile locations mentioned in this episode