Our two-person tour led by Context Travel’s guide, Carlos, was the highlight of our visit to Madrid. The story of the Spanish Civil War is complex and Carlos’ knowledge of events before, during and after was both broad and deep. And we even walked away with some excellent restaurant recommendations! But let’s back up. Spain, or more broadly, the Iberian Peninsula, has history. For visitors who want to move beyond tapas bars and historic cathedrals to get under the skin of this region’s history to the present, learning about the Spanish Civil War connects many dots that include the combatants in WWII, a war that ironically, Spain sat out (more or less). In our case, we preceded our visit reading, skimming actually, everything from Wikipedia entries to a couple library books. Nevertheless, the Civil War was an enigma. Then we joined guide Carlos on a street corner to begin our tour. Over the next ~4 hours we began with a march toward Parque du Oeste. Dog walkers and people idling in the park on a nice spring afternoon belied the trauma and violence that occurred in this region. Carlos brought us to bunkers, remnants from bloody conflicts. Then on to the Ark of Victoria, a Francoist celebratory monument. And then to the evocative Monumento A Los Caidos Del Cuartel De La Montana adjacent to the reconstructed Temple of DeBod, a gift from Egypt. But, wait, this was not merely a tour of monuments. All along the way, Carlos, whose English was excellent having spent 3 years in the US, sustained a continuous patter of what was happening in these fateful days beginning in July 1936. A story he supported with a portfolio of historic then and now pictures. At one point, Carlos turned us to face a lively city intersection crowded with the ubiquitous street cafes and small shops. Then he displayed from his portfolio of photographs this precise location in 1936/37 with bombed out shops, holes in the streets and human casualties. It was a story effectively told by Carlos. A quick hop on the Metro and we arrived at Reina Sofia Museum dedicated to Spanish Art, but also a repository for poster and news imagery published during the Civil War. And, of course, the cornerstone of the museum’s collection is Picasso’s Guernica which, following several hours of Spanish Civil War immersion, represented itself not only as great art but as a powerful reflection on a complex and very uncivil civil war. In sum, the tour was thoughtful, well-constructed and effectively concluded with the dramatic imagery of Picasso’s Guernica. And Carlos’ enthusiastic narration and amiable responsiveness to our constant interruptions and interrogations accentuated the value of this trek around Madrid. It was time and money well-spent.

Sean was an excellent guide. Best I have ever had on a five star guided tour. Highly recommend

Marta was a wonderful guide. As a lifetime resident of Madrid she was knowledgeable about not only the Spanish civil war but Madrid and its political evolution. Seeing Guernica in person - and understanding context - was a highlight. Great tour