Plaza de Santa AnaThe adjective "castizo" describes something that is quintessentially "madrileño" and, as far as neighborhoods in Madrid go, few are more castizos than the Barrio de las Letras. Climbing the hill opposite to the Prado museum, this district of narrow streets, brick houses and elaborate ironwork balconies was named after Spain’s men of letters from the 17th century like Miguel de Cervantes, Pedro Calderón de la Barca or Lope de Vega. You can see plaques remembering their names and quotes of their master pieces under your feet.
In recent years, this warren of time-worn workshops and taverns has been invaded by a gold-crested wave of interior designers who are not only opening showrooms, but also styling sushi bars, upscale pizzerias and boutique hotels. Some people think that this makes the neighborhood loses its character but others might think that it's a chance of making Madrid look more "European". What do you think?
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