The place where the most important work of our literature was printed can now be visited. Right in the heart of the Literary Quarter, at 87 Atocha Street, Madrid’s old printing house has opened its doors so that locals and visitors alike can learn how books were produced during the Golden Age.
Starting this Tuesday, April 7, the Cervantes Society is organizing guided tours that explain the step-by-step artisanal process and the dissemination of literary works. The tours last approximately one hour and take place on Tuesdays and Sundays through June, at a cost of 5.10 euros per person.
An Encounter with the Golden Age
The first edition of The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha was printed in 1605, and stepping into the space is like immersing oneself in a 16th-century setting. Through this recreation, they aim to foster a connection with the writer and other great literary figures of his time, such as Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, and Francisco de Quevedo, who also visited the facility.
The Cervantes Society was founded to preserve the cultural heritage of Miguel de Cervantes, and through this tour, visitors can learn various anecdotes about the printing of Don Quixote and other aspects of the author’s life and work.
The building was declared a national monument of historical and artistic significance in 1981, and in addition to housing the printing press, it features spaces dedicated to contemporary creation. “Our mission is to preserve, study, and disseminate Cervantes’ legacy, while fostering contemporary talent, ”they explain on their website.
Women at the helm of the printing press
In its commitment to bringing women back into history, the Cervantes Society highlights the work of the women who managed the printing press. Although the press was owned by Pedro Madrigal of Salamanca during the 16th and 17th centuries, after his death it passed into the hands of his wife, María Rodríguez Rivalde.
She, along with her niece María de Quiñones, was responsible for maintaining literary production, and later Catalina Gómez took over . All of them were forgotten for a long time, and one of the missions of the Cervantes Society is to give them a voice.
How to get tickets
Tickets are now on sale through the Sociedad Cervantina website, with availability on Tuesdays ( at 6:30 p.m.) and Sundays ( first tour at 10:30 a.m. and second at 12:00 p.m.).
As an exception, on Thursday, April 23, coinciding with World Book Day, there will also be two tours at 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.