One of the must-see stops on our Madrid city tours is the stunning Almudena Cathedral. Whether you've already joined one of our tours or you're planning a visit, let’s dive into the fascinating story behind its name! Every 9th of November, Madrid comes alive to honor its patroness, the Almudena Virgin. In the spirit of the celebration, we’d love to share the legend with you. Have you heard the tale yet?
Let’s rewind to medieval times — specifically, the 9th century. Christians, fearing an attack from the Arabs, decided to hide the statue of their beloved Virgin Mary within the city walls, along with two burning candles (yep, real candles!). The Virgin was tucked away safely, forgotten for a solid two centuries.
Fast forward to 1083, when King Alfonso VI, aka Alfonso "The Brave", conquered the city of Madrid for the Christians. Rumors of a hidden virgin had reached the king’s ears, so he sought out the family who knew the secret location. Enter María, the unfortunate lady in charge of the secret — only problem was, she had forgotten it! Oops.
As you can imagine, kings don’t take "I don’t know" for an answer. Alfonso VI, frustrated, issued an ultimatum: find the Virgin in two weeks, or he’d tear down the entire wall brick by brick, even if it meant exposing the city to enemies. Drastic, right?
Weeks passed, and despite praying day and night, María couldn’t recall the spot. But on November 9th, during a procession led by the king, bam! — a miracle! María suddenly shouted as stones fell from the wall, revealing the hidden statue of the Virgin Mary, still surrounded by the burning candles. Now that’s some serious candle power!
Wondering about the name Almudena? There’s no definitive origin, but the most widely accepted theory is that it comes from the Arabic word Al-Mudaina, a variation of Al-Madina, meaning "city". So, Almudena Virgin = the City's Virgin. Makes sense, right?
Some fun facts to impress your tour buddies:
Legend has it that the original statue was brought from the Holy Land by James the Apostle (or one of his disciples) way back in 38 B.C.
The current sculpture displayed in the Cathedral was made in the late 15th or early 16th century — the original was lost.
The earliest depiction of the Almudena Virgin was commissioned by King Alfonso VI and is based on his wife, Queen Constanza, who was French (hence the fleur de lis she’s often seen wearing).
Spoiler alert: The legend isn’t backed by archeology, and those city walls? Built by the Arabs in the 9th century.
This story has been told in Toledo since the 11th century, but it lives on in Madrid to this day. So, when you’re strolling through the center of Madrid on your Madrid walking tour, remember the tale of the city's most miraculous find!
Comentarios