Misericordia

In the heart of old Madrid, a two‑faced parish of San Sebastián watches over both the bustling market district and the elegant Plaza del Ángel. Its architecture is a charming mishmash of baroque saints, cracked ironwork, and flower‑filled courtyards, giving the church a humorous, almost caricatured personality. Through Galdós’s keen eye, the building becomes a living character, reflecting the city’s contradictions between poverty and prosperity.

Inside, a ragtag brigade of the poor—elderly veterans, stubborn widows, blind men and fierce children—guards the northern entrance, turning the act of entering worship into a miniature battlefield of survival. Their disciplined patrols, hidden tunnels, and daily rituals reveal a community bound by hardship yet rich in solidarity and wit. As a cold March morning forces the soldiers to hunker down, the story invites listeners to explore the vivid tapestry of Madrid’s streets, its people, and the subtle humor that underlies their everyday struggles.