One of the most magical events of the year is set to take place this Saturday in the Madrid town of Soto del Real, just over 47 km from the capital: it’s called “Noche en Vela,” a nighttime artisan market with a unique atmosphere created by candlelight.
The event, organized by the Soto del Real Association of Artists and Artisans (ACARTE), will once again fill the town’s Plaza de la Villa —where City Hall is located—with some thirty stalls featuring handmade items by local artisans between 8:30 p.m. and midnight.
Among them is, for example, the Corazón Animal Association, with a booth featuring crafts made by its members. The proceeds, they explain, “will go toward covering the food and veterinary care of our fostered, rescued, and stray animals.”
The remaining stalls feature a wide variety of offerings: scrapbooking, miniatures, decorated roof tiles, paper jewelry, jewelry (made of macramé and wood), natural cosmetics, crochet, illustration, large resin pieces, candles, and notebooks.
Isabel, secretary of ACARTE, adds that the Soto del Real City Council will also participate in the event with a musical performance.
How do you get to Soto del Real from Madrid?
By car, the trip takes just over 40 minutes. Take the M-607, then exit 35 toward the M-609 in the direction of Colmenar Viejo/B.M. San Pedro/Soto del Real.
If you’d like to go by public transportation, you can get there on the Line 725 intercity bus, which departs from the Plaza de Castilla transit hub.