‘Underground’ Madrid

This post is not about the most modern and alternative clubs in the city. With underground, we’re literally referring to passages, structures and facilities that go through Madrid, several metres below the ground.

Chamberí station

First opened in 1919, the Chamberí Metro station was closed down on 1966. Since then, it has suffered all kinds of incidents (just as vandalism) until in 2008 it was reopened to the public as a museum of Madrid’s metro.

El Parque del Capricho’s bunker

In these gardens that date back to 1787 you can find a 2,000 square metre bunker. This shelter built for the Spanish Civil War is opened to the public for guided visits on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Madrid’s Royal Palace passages

In the 18th Century, Philip IV ordered the construction of a series of secret passages and underground tunnels that connected his residence with some of the key places of Madrid, such as the Spanish Theatre, the Plaza de la Paja or the Monasterio de la Encarnación.

Pasadizo de Azaña

Ateneo de Madrid was a place where politicians and writers got together, talked and designed what the Spain of the future should look like. The War Minister Azaña had to alternate between his activities in the Ateneo (where his ministerial office was) and his daily tasks in Congress. To avoid possible attacks that where common in Spain in those years, Azaña decided to design a tunnel that covered the 100metres of space.

Pasadizo del Banco de España

National banks have always created all sorts of fantasies for citizens. The Spanish Bank is no less. Inside its facilities they have an armoured safety vault (popularly known as the chamber of gold) that holds one third of the Spanish gold reserves. Any attempt of assault would end up with the complete flooding of the room. This is one of the main reasons why nobody has ever tried to steal from it in its 8 decades of history.