Madrid CapitalNorte MetropolitanoEste MetropolitanoSur MetropolitanoOeste MetropolitanoSierra NorteNordeste ComunidadSudeste ComunidadSudoeste ComunidadSierra SurSierra CentralZona NorteZona SurZona OesteCorredor del HenaresSierra de MadridMadrid CapitalNorte MetropolitanoEste MetropolitanoSur MetropolitanoOeste MetropolitanoSierra NorteNordeste ComunidadSudeste ComunidadSudoeste ComunidadSierra SurSierra CentralZona NorteZona SurZona OesteCorredor del HenaresSierra de Madrid
ES|EN

La Voz de Madrid

Madrid Commemorates May 2nd with Historical Reenactments and Drone Show

Puerta del Sol will host reenactments of the 1808 uprising, followed by a free evening spectacle featuring 1,000 drones in Latina.

Generic image of a crowd in a historic square during a festive event.
IA

Generic image of a crowd in a historic square during a festive event.

The Community of Madrid is commemorating May 2nd with a series of events, including historical reenactments of the 1808 uprising in Puerta del Sol and an innovative 1,000-drone spectacle in the Latina district.

This Saturday, Puerta del Sol will be transformed to relive the uprising of the people of Madrid against Napoleon Bonaparte's French troops in 1808. Events will begin at 12:00 PM with a parade of reenactors starting from Banco de España Metro and proceeding along Alcalá Street to Puerta del Sol.
At 1:00 PM, the famous cry «¡Que se los llevan!» (They are taking them away!) will be staged in Puerta del Sol, recreating the moment when the people of Madrid opposed the departure of the last members of the Royal Family to France. In the afternoon, at 6:00 PM, the esplanade of Puente del Rey will host the reenactment of the defense of the Monteleón Artillery Park.
The theatrical performance, lasting approximately 30 minutes, will be presented by the Asociación Histórico-Cultural Voluntarios de Madrid 1808-1814. It will feature hundreds of participants, carriages, and cannons, with two narrators recounting the events as if they were happening in real-time. Puerta del Sol will become a period market where citizens will witness the arrival of a French sergeant tasked with transporting Infanta María Luisa and Infante Francisco de Paula.
The locksmith Blas de Molina will alert the public about the Royal Family's transfer, triggering the first shots and the spontaneous confrontation of hundreds of Madrileños against the French soldiers. Subsequently, a Gallic column will unexpectedly burst in, cannons will open fire, and the crowd will panic, resulting in numerous wounded and fatalities.
The day will conclude with the ‘Madrid in the Sky’ spectacle, a free show featuring 1,000 drones launching from Parque de la Cuña Verde in the Latina district starting at 10:00 PM. This event, lasting about 12 minutes, will present 10 scenes with up to 16 figures inspired by the region's history and cultural heritage.
Images projected in the sky will include the map of the Community of Madrid, the figure of Goya, and a partial recreation of the painting The 3rd of May 1808. Icons such as Puerta del Sol with Kilómetro 0, the Crystal Palace, the El Escorial Monastery, the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, and the University of Alcalá de Henares will also appear.
The show, operated by the Madrid-based company Umiles, will reach a height of 200 meters, making it visible from up to 2 kilometers away. This event is part of the celebration of Latina district's 50th anniversary and reflects the Community of Madrid's commitment to technological innovation.

Related News