We’re taking you to the backstage of art and history!

Truly mesmerizing places are a combination of myth, great art, stories that have changed the world and, of course, secrets. And the best way to get close to all this is through experiences in which a specialised guide takes you into its areas closed to the public.

Get ready, then, because what we’re going to talk about next is the possibility of doing this in two unique buildings in Spain: the Toledo Cathedral, some 70 km south of Madrid, whose history dates back 1400 years, and the Royal Theatre in Madrid itself, a glorious construction from the 19th century.

The year is 587. The entire Iberian Peninsula is the Visigoth Kingdom. Its capital city is Toledo. There is no Spain or Portugal yet. An important Catholic temple is built here. Some 125 years later, the Muslims invade, and turn it into a mosque. In 1226, the same location is chosen for a cathedral. All these many layers of history and faith still vibrate today. The building is like a spiritual spaceship navigating across ages.

This is one of the most impressive Christian temples in the world, representing heavenly and earthly powers. Suffice it to say that here are the tombs of 12 Iberian monarchs from the 7th to the 15th century, including a Portuguese king.

The gigantic building is an architectural masterpiece, spreading out from the 7,200 square meter central nave. The 23 inner chapels are a veritable art gallery, and the sacristy museum is the most exciting part: it boasts paintings by Caravaggio, El Greco, Van Dick, Tiziano, Goya… All the big ones, indeed. This privileged visit allows you to appreciate them in isolation and peace.

In the Treasure Room lies the heart of the place: the breathtaking Arfe Ostensorium, a monumental object built to hold the consecrated bread of Holy Mass, modelled after the pattern of towers of Gothic cathedrals. Manufactured in the early 16th century, it’s 2,50 metres high and contains 5,600 pieces joined by 12,500 screws and 250 gilded silver statues. At the top it’s crowned by a diamond cross. Legend has it that the ostensorium was made with the first gold that arrived from America.

If the saying “God is in the details” ever rang true, it surely applies to Toledo’s cathedral. That’s because, one could say, for the believers He is the one who makes this visit a truly private and exclusive experience.

In 1818, in Spain’s capital city, Madrid, under the reign of Ferdinand the 7th, began the construction of the Royal Theatre, known as “el Real”. The king wanted an opera house that could be equated with the best in Europe. His wish certainly came true. Today, led by the hand of a member of the theatre staff, you can take a personal deep dive into its history and gain access to what the audience never sees: the backstage, the dressing rooms, the rehearsal studios, the private areas for special guests, the technical departments. In sum, all that’s behind a great show.

Modelled after the Scala in Milan and the San Carlo in Naples, the seductive 19th-century elegance of the Real, with a room that impresses with its capacity for almost 2,000 people, has welcomed from the outset the most important maestros, directors, singers and performers in opera and ballet. The Italian diva Adelina Patti sang here in 1880, in an opera by Donizetti that went down in history. In the 1910s and 1920s, Russian dancer Nijinsky and the Ballets Russes brought crowds. In 2010, the great Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo received a standing ovation for 25 minutes! And because this theatre isn’t just about opera, in 1969 there was a remarkable event: a Eurovision Song Contest with sets designed by painter Salvador Dalí, the surrealist master.

The world of spectacle, as we all know, is made up of myths. And what more could we wish for than to explore its places hidden from the public gaze, where these myths were actually crafted? What’s more, always remember: a grand opera house is also a cathedral.