In this building you can find the printing workshops of Juan de la Cuesta, where the first edition of Quijote was printed. The building was previously known as antiguo Hospitalillo del Carmen and was later given the name of Editora del Quijote or Imprenta del Quijote. It is located on la Calle Atocha, near the Literary Quarter.
The hospital was established in 1852 in the old school for orphaned children, for infirm and incurable men and placed under the patronage of Our Lady of Carmen, running until 1949. After many years of neglect, it was emptied inside, keeping the façade intact, and now houses the Cervantes Society. This institution was founded in 1953, an initiative of the illustrious Cervantes expert Luis Astrana Marín, author of the monumental biography Vida ejemplar y heroica de Miguel de Cervantes, along with important figures from the worlds of culture, art and literature of the time.
Today, this emblematic building, declared a National Monument in 1981, has become a dynamic non-profit, multidisciplinary cultural space that seeks to bring the public closer to the life and work of Miguel de Cervantes, delving into the study of the classics of Spanish arts and supporting and fostering any artistic and cultural manifestation, highlighting contemporary creation and innovation.
Inside this space, the Cervantes Theatre offers an interesting programme.
This building also has several multi-purpose spaces which can be hired to host any kind of cultural event.
VISIT TO THE PRINT SHOP WHERE DON QUIXOTE WAS PRINTED
The Sociedad Cervantina has restored and recovered the most important print shop of the Golden Century and has an exact replica of the printing press with which the first edition of Don Quixote was printed in1605.
The print room is set out in such a way that visitors are invited to find out about the work of the artisans who worked here. It also allows for printing following the procedure of the period, as well as discovering the peculiarities of the first edition of Don Quixote in a lively guided visit for people of all ages.
In addition to the immortal work by Cervantes, more than a dozen works by Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina or Calderón de la Barca, among other major authors of Spanish literature were printed at this print shop.
For further information, prices and bookings for private groups visits, send an e-mail to imprenta@sociedadcervantina.es .
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