Barrio de las Letras

Overview

The Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter) is a charming district where the greatest figures of the Spanish Golden Age once lived and wrote. Their words are now literally set into the cobblestone streets as golden literary quotations.

Highlights

• Cervantes's House: A plaque marks the site where Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, died in 1616 on Calle de Cervantes.
• Lope de Vega's House: The beautifully preserved 17th-century home of playwright Lope de Vega, open as a free house-museum.
• Golden Quotations: Over 100 quotations from Cervantes, Quevedo, Góngora, and other literary giants are embedded in brass letters in the pedestrianised streets.

History

During the 16th and 17th centuries, this neighbourhood was the creative epicentre of the Spanish-speaking world. Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo, and Góngora all lived within blocks of each other—not always amicably, as Cervantes and Lope de Vega were fierce literary rivals.

Visitor Tips

• Lope de Vega Museum: Free entry but by reservation only. His study and garden are remarkably preserved.
• Huertas Street: The pedestrianised Calle de las Huertas is the main axis, embossed with literary quotations underfoot.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.