Free climate refuge and plant nursery: Círculo de Bellas Artes opens its doors for the most extreme summer

Madrid is preparing for another scorching summer, and with it returns one of the city's most original and necessary spaces: the Refugio Climático del Círculo de Bellas Artes. Its majestic Salón de Baile is transformed once more into a cultural oasis where it is possible to read, work, relax or simply escape the burning asphalt without having to spend a euro.

This refuge, which will open its doors free of charge from 10 July (opening hours still to be confirmed), not only offers power sockets, wifi and drinking fountains: it also includes a curious and practical plant nursery. Yes, Madrid city dwellers will be able to leave their plants in the care of the CBA while they go on holiday. That way, neither your ficus nor your pothos will suffer the consequences of your summer getaway. But this is not the only corner of Madrid investing in climate and plant wellbeing. The Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo (CA2M) in Móstoles is launching La Fresquera this year, a second refuge that will operate from 1 July to 15 September, offering shade, vegetation and areas for doing absolutely nothing. It will also have its own plant nursery under the Iniciativa Regadera, available from 25 June with prior registration.

In a city where the thermometer can exceed 40 C, these spaces become small urban utopias: cool, quiet places with ecological awareness... and where plants also have someone to care for them.