European City Travelogue 3: Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Porto - European City Travelogue 3

Author Yoo Shi-min · Publisher Saenggakui Gil · Publication Date 2026-07-09 · ISBN 9788965138310

Book Introduction

1. The Most Human Cities Encountered at the Western Edge of Europe

『European City Travelogue 3』 takes readers to four cities on the Iberian Peninsula, at the western edge of the Eurasian continent. These are cities that once played a leading role in the Age of Exploration, changing the course of world history, but later experienced decline and stagnation, chaos and recovery, enduring civil war, dictatorship, revolution, and reconstruction. Rather than rapidly consuming these cities, author Yoo Shi-min slowly walks through their streets and squares, museums and markets, cathedrals and alleys, restaurants and riverbanks, observing what the cities remember, what people love, and how they live today.

“The Portuguese Kingdom, which habitually engaged in wars of conquest, returned to being a peripheral European nation after a brief golden age during the Age of Exploration. After achieving a republican revolution, it endured Salazar's long-term dictatorship. People who have lived through such a history might think this: ‘We fought our neighbors with all our might and conquered others, but the victory was short-lived, and nothing remains. ... Wouldn't it be better to make neighbors friends we can lean on rather than enemies? ... People with such thoughts do not rush their steps even on crowded streets. When they meet friends or business partners, they sit over a cup of tea, listen intently, and talk for a long time. They greet strangers not with wary or suspicious expressions, but with relaxed and welcoming smiles. I felt such a spirit from the people of Lisbon and Porto.”

“Though not small in scale, everything in the cathedral was humble. The stained-glass windows admitted minimal natural light, the pulpit was small, and the hall had nothing but long wooden benches. I could feel the hearts of the fishermen who left their families to brave the tumultuous sea, the anxiety that must have swelled with each departure, and the relief they felt upon returning with a full catch.”

“Indeed, Fado was best enjoyed with a drink in hand. The uphill alley, the exterior suggesting it was once a chapel, the subtly leaking light, the unadorned stage, the dramatic gestures of the singers – everything was exotic. ‘Yes, this is the charm of European travel.’”

The four cities the author explores are human. The glory and downfall, pride and wounds, sadness and humor, scarcity and hospitality, memory and oblivion created by the cities' histories are laid bare on their streets, squares, and dining tables. These cities encompass almost every emotion humans experience in life. Thus, it is not the famous landmarks but the expressions of the people, the evening squares, the noises of the alleys, a glass of wine, and the silence within old cathedrals that linger longer in the author's mind. 『European City Travelogue 3』 guides us to another face of Europe, captured through author Yoo Shi-min's gaze – the most human cities.

2. To me, it felt like time had stopped.

The human cities discovered by author Yoo Shi-min do not make people rush. They make you pause, walk slowly, and imagine the lives of others there. They make us a little kinder and a little more human.

“Tall palm trees lining the Greek-style columns, children playing, elderly people leisurely drinking coffee, lovers seemingly just falling in love, a deep blue sky, clear air, sunlight breaking over all of it, the sound of songs flowing from a flamenco performance, everything that is Barcelona was there. As the sun set and Gaudi's streetlights illuminated, the square became even more peaceful. It felt as if the night could last forever.”

“Carmo was special. Most importantly, the ruins testifying to the power of the great earthquake remained. I went to Carmo to see ruins, not archaeological artifacts. If it had been restored to an outwardly intact building like the Cathedral or São Jorge Castle, I would not have gone. Carmo Convent acquired new value thanks to the cessation of restoration work.”

“The people of Lisbon were relaxed and friendly. Even we, as travelers, were influenced by that atmosphere. For me, who has lived life always rushing, it felt like time had stopped.”

The four cities author Yoo Shi-min features in 『European City Travelogue 3』 offer more to enjoy than just things to see. They reveal themselves only when you walk slowly, sit for a long time, and peek into the alleys.
The scent of food from street vendors, songs by the river, the aroma of wine, intensely colored murals, unfamiliar paintings encountered in museums on a rainy day, time spent immersing in art, enjoying small performances, savoring the city's food, wandering in the city's sunshine and alleys – small sights and activities, the joy of everyday life are abundantly spread throughout the city. It is a travel destination that can offer a gift of time when you need a complete rest and leisure, leaving behind the demands of daily life. It is exotic yet comfortable, unfamiliar yet warm, humble yet joyful, and makes us realize the slow charm that slows our pace and makes us focus on the here and now.

In the fast-paced flow of time,
it makes us think of precious things we've overlooked,
and instead of trying to see more,
we wish to linger longer.

3. City History, Artistic Comfort, Joys of Life, European City Travelogue

Many books tell you where to go. However, Yoo Shi-min's 『European City Travelogue』 is a book that asks and helps you understand why a city came to be the way it is now. As you follow the stories imbued in the streets and squares, alleys and architecture, and food that the author recounts, the city begins to be read not merely as a space but as a way of life. At that point, we begin to pose questions to the city, and the city, in turn, speaks to us. The questions we ask the city and the words the city speaks to us might, perhaps, be the very words we wanted to say to ourselves, buried deep within our hearts.

“It is difficult to definitively say what kind of city Madrid is. … But it was clear what this city desired and where it was trying to go. It named its international airport after a politician who defended democracy without bowing to violence. It did not forget the artist who awakened human reason in a brutal era. It cherishes a leader who, though he failed, tried to follow the right path. It transformed the squares, where the glory of an empire had faded, into a living space for meeting, talking, making love, eating, drinking, and laughing together until late at night.”

“Goya was not only a great artist but also a wonderful person. When he refused to paint King Joseph's portrait, he was a proud nationalist; when he painted ‘The Clothed Maja’ alongside ‘The Naked Maja,’ he was an artist who cleverly broke taboos; and when he painted bizarre images on the plastered walls of his country house, he was a philosopher who shed worldly attachments. I entered the Prado knowing only Goya the court painter, but I left the Prado carrying Goya the artist and Goya the philosopher in my heart. ‘Well done, the Prado is Goya!’”

“I decided to drink tea at a café in the Gràcia alley, stroll through the backstreets of Eixample, spend idle time at a bar in a secluded corner of the Gothic Quarter, enjoy a performance at the opera house, and fully savor the different tapas and pintxos at local restaurants.”

Author Yoo Shi-min's 『European City Travelogue 3』 weaves the history embedded in streets and squares, the fragrance of art beloved by the city, and the unfamiliar merriment contained in every alley with the author's uniquely understated gaze. The narratives held by the cities knock on our thoughts, and the distinct colors and scents of each city resonate in our hearts. Thus, 『European City Travelogue』 becomes an experience that transcends mere travel from place to place, expanding our vision for understanding the world and our senses for experiencing life.

Rich narratives and humanistic insights, delightful attractions,
and the voice the city speaks to me,

Madrid, a city that filled the void of history with art
Barcelona, a city where it's fun to get lost
Lisbon, a city that reinvented itself against destiny
Porto, a city that makes you stop in your tracks

For you, exhausted by competition and speed,
a place where it's okay to get lost,
filled with the joys of life and human warmth,
let's embark on a journey with author Yoo Shi-min
to the four cities of the Iberian Peninsula, now.


From the Book

Goya was not only a great artist but also a wonderful person. When he refused to paint King Joseph's portrait, he was a proud nationalist; when he painted ‘The Clothed Maja’ alongside ‘The Naked Maja,’ he was an artist who cleverly broke taboos; and when he painted bizarre images on the plastered walls of his country house, he was a philosopher who shed worldly attachments. I entered the Prado knowing only Goya the court painter, but I left the Prado carrying Goya the artist and Goya the philosopher in my heart. ‘Well done, the Prado is Goya!’
---p.69

It is difficult to definitively say what kind of city Madrid is. … But it was clear what this city desired and where it was trying to go. It named its international airport after a politician who defended democracy without bowing to violence. It did not forget the artist who awakened human reason in a brutal era. It cherishes a leader who, though he failed, tried to follow the right path. It transformed the squares, where the glory of an empire had faded, into a living space for meeting, talking, making love, eating, drinking, and laughing together until late at night.
---p.97

Though not small in scale, everything in the cathedral was humble. The stained-glass windows admitted minimal natural light, the pulpit was small, and the hall had nothing but long wooden benches. I could feel the hearts of the fishermen who left their families to brave the tumultuous sea, the anxiety that must have swelled with each departure, and the relief they felt upon returning with a full catch.
---p.126

Tall palm trees lining the Greek-style columns, children playing, elderly people leisurely drinking coffee, lovers seemingly just falling in love, a deep blue sky, clear air, sunlight breaking over all of it, the sound of songs flowing from a flamenco performance, everything that is Barcelona was there. As the sun set and Gaudi's streetlights illuminated, the square became even more peaceful. It felt as if the night could last forever.
---p.161

He was a humanist ahead of his time. He overcame crises with reason and imagination, without relying on divine power. He solved real-world problems with a scientific and rational attitude, free from outdated religious notions and class prejudices.
---p.207

Carmo was special. Most importantly, the ruins testifying to the power of the great earthquake remained. I went to Carmo to see ruins, not archaeological artifacts. If it had been restored to an outwardly intact building like the Cathedral or São Jorge Castle, I would not have gone. Carmo Convent acquired new value thanks to the cessation of restoration work.
---p.253

“Indeed, Fado was best enjoyed with a drink in hand. The uphill alley, the exterior suggesting it was once a chapel, the subtly leaking light, the unadorned stage, the dramatic gestures of the singers – everything was exotic. ‘Yes, this is the charm of European travel.’”
---p.284

Table of Contents

Foreword: Where Time Flows Slowly - 5

1. Madrid, a city that filled the void of history with art - 14

Spanish Democracy encountered at the airport - 17
National Archaeological Museum (MAN) - 24
The miracle of Spain, its beginning and end - 32
Tapas and Pintxos - 40
Royal Palace of Madrid and the History Museum - 47
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum - 54
Goya at the Prado Museum - 59
Reina Sofía Museum and Sorolla Museum - 69
Toledo, everything not in Madrid - 78
Remaining Stories - 88

2. Barcelona, where it's fun to get lost - 100

Gaudi at Parc Güell - 103
Sagrada Família - 113
September 11, 1714 - 124
Delicious Barcelona - 133
Picasso Museum - 140
Batlló and Milà's conspicuous consumption - 150
Old Town Walking Tour - 159
Montserrat Monastery - 168
Montjuïc viewpoint and Miró Museum - 176
Restaurant at the National Art Museum of Catalonia - 184
El Clásico - 188
Concert at the Palau de la Música Catalana - 195

3. Lisbon, a city that reinvented itself against destiny - 200

The Lisbon Earthquake and the Marquis of Pombal - 203
Liberty Avenue, Liberation Day, Carnation Revolution - 210
Baixa District Walking Tour - 221
Fado, the song of Alfama - 229
How to use a Fado restaurant - 237
Pessoa, Camões, Carmo, Alcântara - 243
Manuel I of Belém District - 258
Monument to the Discoveries - 264
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum - 269
Coimbra Stroll - 273
Coimbra Fado and the Medieval University - 282

4. Porto, a city that makes you stop in your tracks - 296

How to enjoy Porto in one day - 299
City Hall and Livraria Lello - 303
São Bento Station and Bolhão Market - 308
From Clerigos Chapel to Ribeira - 316
Gaia District and Morro Garden - 324
Winery Tour - 330
Aurélia de Sousa at the National Museum - 337
Palácio da Bolsa and Casa da Música - 349
The small joys of travel - 356