Madrid's medieval city wall, and how to find it

[mount_oregano]

In this week's commentary for my translation of the medieval novel Amadis of Gaul, I write about how to see a portion of Madrid's medieval city wall in the basement of a restaurant, and how it got there.

You can read all about it and see a photo here: http://amadisofgaul.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-walls-are-fire.html
(Or in a LiveJournal syndication: http://syndicated.livejournal.com/amadisofgaul/17695.html)

And if you go around the corner to Escalinata Street (Staircase Street, because there is one), you can spot more of the medieval city wall. Here's a photo:

An apartment building was constructed right over the wall, and it incorporates one of the half-barrel guard towers. Look at the lower window, and notice how thick it is. The walls were a meter wide. The ventilation pipes in the window make me think this room might be a kitchen.

It's the only remaining guard tower from the medieval wall, and it's not listed in any tourist guide, but now you know where to go to admire it, if you think it's admirable.

— Sue Burke