Barrio de las letras (i.e. Words neighbourhood) or Huertas, as it’s known by locals, goes from the south of Sol and comprises the area delimited by Carrera de San Jerónimo to the North, Atocha street to the South, Carretas to the West, and Paseo del Prado to the East.
This central neighbourhood owes its name to the fact of having been the place where a wide variety of writers have gathered. Its streets (that still conserve the old urban planning) are witness of the passage of writers such as Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo or Góngora, who lived around that area. Cervantes lived in the number 18 of Huertas street, one of the liveliest streets of the city.
The whole surrounding area is well known for its festive environment with bars and nightclubs all along Calle Huertas, Plaza Santa Ana, Cruz and so on. In addition to the great nightlife, Huertas has a wide variety of quiet cafes, colourful terraces and great national gastronomy, as well as cultural options like art galleries, antique shops, classic libraries or music shops.
