What to do in Madrid in January

In Madrid the year begins with the hangover of the celebration in the Puerta del Sol. The tradition marks to be breakfast churros con chocolate the first day of the year. The first week of January in Madrid still exudes holiday spirit. As Spain is a Catholic country celebrates the Epiphany and children have to wait until January 6th to get their gifts from the Magi, but first all families will be attending to the  Epiphany’s Parade.

January is a quiet month once after the holidays, the end of the month as FITUR tourism fair in the world is organized. Let’s see what lies ahead in Madrid’s agenda this month.

Epiphany Parade 2015

January 5^th at 6:30 p.m.

The Parade like every year will start in the district of Nuevos Ministerios, particularly at the corner of San Juan de la Cruz. It will continue until the Plaza de Colón, through the Glorieta de Emilio Castelar and Plaza Gregorio Marañon. Then, it will take the Paseo de Recoletos until reaching the  Cybele’s Fountain where the Magi will pronounce their usual speech. Although the theme of the Epiphany Parade 2015 is uncertain, probably will be around sustainability, ecology and nature conservation.

FITUR: International Tourism Trade Fair

January 28^th to February 1^st

FITUR is the largest tourism fair in the world. It takes place as every year in IFEMA Madrid. The enormous and internationally acclaimed convention center in the Spanish capital puts its best face for this year’s most important trade fair. Wednesday and Thursday the fair will be reserved for tourism professionals, but Friday and Saturday it will be open to the general public. FITUR also host the largest forum of business and promotion of tourism worldwide, where new projects and businesses boost. Are you looking for your next vacation destination? You definitely will find it here and provably with a big fair discount.

Gastrofestival 2015

January 31^st to February 15^th

The Gastrofestival is the largest food festival in Madrid. This is a quote that any food lover should miss, especially if you like Spanish cuisine. This festival coincides with the International Food Fair Madrid Fusion. This annual event offers a wide range of activities and dining experiences throughout the city. More than 400 city’s establishments participate in this experience: restaurants, gastrobares, cocktail, cooking schools, gourmet shops. They all will design special menus and make special offers, as well as wine and culinary tours, as part of the Gastrofestival agenda.

Art Exhibitions in January

There are several art exhibitions in January on the most important museums in Madrid. The first to mention is “Sorolla & America” (open until January 11) in the Mapfre Foundation. This exhibition brings together a sample of the work of the Valencian painter acquired by American collectors and exposed in important institutions like Meadows Museum in Dallas, the San Diego Museum of Art and the Mapfre Foundation.

The second exhibition we recommend visiting in January is “The Portrait in the Royal Collections: Juan Antonio López Flanders”. This exhibition of royal portraits by the best Court’s painters like Velazquez, Ribera, Sorolla, Goya, Dali and Rubens, is shown in the Royal Palace of Madrid until April 19^th 2015.