Clara Campoamor: The Fight for Women's Suffrage
Few names loom larger in Spain's struggle for women's rights than Clara Campoamor. Born in Madrid, this lawyer and politician campaigned tirelessly for women's suffrage, and in 1933 she saw Spanish women cast their votes for the very first time. Her fierce speeches in parliament turned a legal argument into a lasting victory.
María de Maeztu: Educator and Feminist
Another remarkable Madrid native, María de Maeztu, devoted her life to education and to opening doors for women in Spanish society. She founded the Residencia de Señoritas, the female counterpart to the celebrated Residencia de Estudiantes, giving women access to higher education at a time when few institutions would.
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See the free tours →Margarita Salas: Pioneer of Molecular Biology
In the world of science, the biochemist Margarita Salas, a disciple of Severo Ochoa, left an indelible legacy through her work in molecular biology. Her research placed her among the most important Spanish scientists of the twentieth century.
Maruja Mallo: A Voice of Surrealism
In the arts, Maruja Mallo, a contemporary and friend of Salvador Dalí and Federico García Lorca, was a surrealist painter whose work defied the conventions of her day. She helped clear a path for women artists in Spain and well beyond its borders.
Manuela Malasaña: Heroine of the Second of May
Young and fearless, Manuela Malasaña became a symbol of Madrid's resistance against Napoleon's forces in 1808. Her courage and sacrifice have kept her among the most remembered figures in the city's history, and the lively neighborhood that carries her name keeps that memory alive.
Carmen Amaya: The Queen of Flamenco
Carmen Amaya, a flamenco dancer and singer, revolutionized the art form with a style all her own and an energy that was impossible to match on stage. Born in Barcelona but embraced by Madrid, she carried flamenco to audiences around the world, breaking barriers and transforming this traditional Spanish art.
Inspiring Women of Today
Madrid remains fertile ground for talented, enterprising women across every field, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. Figures such as the filmmaker Isabel Coixet, and Margarita Salas until her death in 2019, have gone on inspiring new generations of women in Madrid and across Spain.
A City Written by Its Women
The women of Madrid have shaped, and continue to shape, the history, culture and society of their city. Madrid is not only its architecture and its monuments; it is also the story of its brave, creative and revolutionary women. The best way to feel their presence is to walk the same streets they once did, and a free tour on foot is a fine place to begin.
