It houses the largest mural in Spain, sculptures, contemporary pieces and many more works of urban art by artists from around the world. It is not a museum, but a district of Madrid that has launched its own Art Route.
Carabanchel has long been consolidating itself as one of the great creative poles of the capital and has now created two routes so that visitors can get to know all its art. They are committed to their neighborhood, to the talent of local creators and other international artists who have left their mark on it.
Open-air gallery
The Carabanchel Art Route has two itineraries that start at the Marqués de Vadillo traffic circle. The first one is articulated around Antonio Leyva Street, where urban sculptures and works integrated into the squares and walls are displayed.
Sculptures such as “The Tree of Life“, located in the Lázaro Carreter cultural center, and the abstract “Hermes“, which was exhibited in the Plaza de Cibeles, stand out. Also on display is the mural “El milagro de Carabanchel“, by Spanish painter Santiago Ydánez, which immerses the viewer in a wintry and melancholic forest.
A 1,100 m² mural
The second route revolves around General Ricardos Street and is made up of murals, graffiti and large-scale art. A total of 21 works can be seen, combining very different styles: comics, portraits, landscapes, posters and images integrated into urban architecture.
Among them is “La musa de vistalegre“, recognized as the largest mural in Spain. It is located in the Palacio Vistalegre Arena and covers more than 1,000 square meters, by the urban artist Sfhir.
In addition, in this same Palace you can find the mural “Maggie“, a work by Cristóbal Ochoa that plays with black and white colors, integrating them perfectly into the facade and generating optical illusions.
Art in District 11
Carabanchel has more than 80 spaces dedicated to sculpture, ceramics, design and textile arts, thus fostering the cultural fabric of the neighborhood. Its Art Route is the product of local creativity and talent.
The initiative was presented last December and is part of the “Distrito 11” project, which highlights all the cultural activities in Carabanchel. The complete agenda can be consulted on its website.
For Almudena Maíllo, the delegate of Tourism, “the Carabanchel Art Route is an invitation to tourists and locals to look at Madrid with different eyes, to be surprised by a district proud of its culture,” she said at the opening ceremony.