Museum of San Isidro

The Museum of San Isidro, also known as the Museum of Origins, is located in the heart of Madrid, specifically in Plaza de San Andrés. This museum, which occupies the house where it is said that San Isidro, the patron saint of Madrid, lived and worked, offers a fascinating journey through the history of the city from its prehistoric origins to the 16th century. Inaugurated in 2000, the museum is one of the most important cultural institutions in the Spanish capital, both for the historical value of the buildings that house it and for the richness of the collections on display. The main building of the museum is the Casa de San Isidro, an architectural complex that includes a 17th-century chapel, the famous “Well of Miracles,” and a 16th-century Renaissance courtyard. Legend has it that San Isidro, through his prayers, managed to save his son who had fallen into the well, an episode that adds an aura of mystery and spirituality to the place. The chapel, decorated with frescoes by Zacarías González Velázquez, depicts the life and miracles of the saint and contains a polychrome sculpture of San Isidro dating back to the 18th century. The museum’s exhibition path is divided into three main areas: “Before Madrid,” “Mayrit/Madrid,” and “San Isidro.” The “Before Madrid” section explores the prehistoric origins of the region, with artifacts dating from the Lower Paleolithic to the beginning of agriculture. Here, visitors can admire fossils of ancient elephants, mammoths, and stone tools that offer a detailed view of the lives of the early inhabitants of the Manzanares basin. The “Mayrit/Madrid” section focuses on the foundation of the city during the Muslim period, with pottery, ceramics, and remains of the ancient alcázar. This part of the collection illustrates the transformation of Mayrit into Madrid after the Christian conquest of 1085, highlighting the city’s transition under the rule of the Kingdom of Castile and the arrival of the court of Philip II. Visitors can explore models and reconstructions of the medieval city, showing the urban development and defensive structures that characterized Madrid during the Middle Ages. Finally, the section dedicated to “San Isidro” celebrates the life and miracles of the patron saint of Madrid. This part of the museum is particularly fascinating for its ties to local traditions and popular devotion. In addition to the miraculous well, the museum preserves numerous objects and documents that testify to the cult of San Isidro over the centuries, making it a reference point for the religious and cultural history of the city. An interesting anecdote concerns the origin of the chapel of San Isidro. According to tradition, the chapel was built in the exact place where the saint would have lived and performed his miracles. However, historical documents reveal that the chapel was only built in the 17th century, integrating previous architectural elements, such as a staircase leading to a small cave, probably used as a place of prayer or refuge.