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The Hacienda Paperie

Where Don Quixote Was Born in Print

A commemorative plaque on a historic brick wall at Calle de Atocha 87, Madrid, marking the site where Don Quixote was first printed. The engraved words honor Miguel de Cervantes and the novel that changed literature forever.

Standing before the plaque at Calle de Atocha 87, I felt the weight of history settle over me. This was where Don Quixote came to life, where Cervantes’ words were first set in ink and paper, igniting a literary revolution. The worn stones beneath my feet—perhaps the same ones he once tread—whispered echoes of the past. To be here, in the very place where the most important novel in Hispanic literature was born, was nothing short of an honor.

The Birthplace of Don Quixote’s First Edition

Here stood the printing house where, in 1604, the first edition of The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha, written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, was produced and published in May 1605.

A bronze relief sculpture mounted on a beige wall depicts Miguel de Cervantes at the top, overlooking a scene from Don Quixote. Below, Don Quixote strides forward in armor, with Sancho Panza following behind. In the background, windmills appear as looming figures. The sculpture includes an inscription commemorating the first edition of Don Quixote, marking the location where Don Quixote was born in print.
This relief clings to the wall, its patina whispering history. Cervantes watches from above as Don Quixote marches forward, armor glinting like fading dreams, with loyal Sancho trailing behind. Beneath, an inscription marks where Don Quixote was born in print, where ink first gave breath to madness and glory.

Photos taken on Friday, March 22, 2025, during a stroll along Calle de Atocha, Madrid.

Calle de Atocha, 87, 28012 Madrid.

Be sure to stop by Cuchillería Viñas, just a few blocks away on Calle Atocha.

A bit more about Juan de la Cuesta, the printer who was based here and printed Don Quixote.