Yzabelle Bostyn
FANCY escaping the heat? Madrid is offering tourists free indoor cultural events in air conditioned venues.
Madrid city council is offering tourists and locals alike the opportunity to take refuge from extreme summer temperatures by offering free cultural events in air conditioned libraries, cinemas and museums.
Known as ‘Refugiate en la cultura’ (Take Shelter in Culture), the programme includes free flamenco performances, comedy shows and discounted cinema tickets during July and August.
The events are held in famous venues such as the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, the Royal Collections Gallery, several libraries and cinemas.
They also include some big names such as flamenco dancer El Yiyo and guitarist Rafel Andujar.
According to Madrid’s councillor for culture, tourism and sport, Marta Rivera de la Cruz: “We’re obviously aware that summer can be a complicated time – and that there are more and more tourists in Madrid in July and August, which used to be months when we got very few foreign visitors.”
“We knew we needed to come up with some alternatives so that these people weren’t out on the streets at the hottest times of the day. So we thought, why not make use of places that are really well air conditioned and that also offer some extraordinary culture? And that meant museums, cultural centres, libraries and cinemas.”
The programme is also a response to the climate crisis, with record temperatures battering the globe.
“I think Refugiate en la cultura is proof of the fact that the authorities have to provide ways to help people shelter and escape from these very hot times of the day, which people are more and more aware of,” said Rivera de la Cruz.
She also highlighted that the activities do not generate any additional carbon footprint because the spaces used are already air conditioned.
It is now hoped the initiative will become an annual event, alongside the cultural programme, Veranos de la villa.
This summer fixture has been going for some 40 years in Madrid, providing plays, concerts and other cultural events.
