Rizal arrived in Madrid in 1882.
For more information read below
José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, arrived in Madrid on August 3, 1882, at the age of 21. His journey to Spain was funded by his older brother Paciano, who hoped that Rizal would earn a degree in medicine and improve their family’s standing in the Philippines. Rizal himself was excited to study in Europe, where he believed he could learn about different cultures and languages.
A quote from Rizal himself captures his eagerness to begin his new life in Madrid: “The moment I received the news that I might go to Spain, I was very happy and at the same time sad. Happy because I hoped to see my dear ones, and sad because I would leave my native land.”
Here are some interesting facts about Rizal’s time in Madrid:
- Rizal enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid, where he initially studied ophthalmology but later switched to studying literature and the humanities.
- Despite the language barrier, Rizal quickly made friends in Madrid. He joined a group of Filipino expatriates who met regularly to discuss politics and social issues.
- Rizal also became active in the Propaganda Movement, an organization of Filipinos in Europe who sought political reforms for the Philippines under Spanish colonial rule.
- In 1884, Rizal published his first novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), which exposed the corruption and injustices in Philippine society. The book was a critical success and helped to galvanize the nationalist movement back in the Philippines.
- Rizal had a number of romantic relationships while in Madrid, but he also struggled with homesickness and depression. In a letter to a friend, he wrote, “Here, I cannot find a good friend who can share my joys and pains.”
- Rizal completed his studies in Madrid in 1885, earning a degree in philosophy and letters. He returned briefly to the Philippines before moving to Hong Kong, where he continued his advocacy for Philippine independence and wrote his second novel, El Filibusterismo.
To summarize: Rizal arrived in Madrid in 1882, where he studied at the Universidad Central and became involved in the Propaganda Movement. During this time, he published his first novel, Noli Me Tangere, and formed both romantic relationships and enduring friendships. Despite some struggles with homesickness and depression, he completed his studies and continued his advocacy for the Philippines.
See related video
The “Virtual Walking Tour of Rizal’s Madrid” takes viewers on a tour of the Filipino hero’s academic and intellectual life while studying in Madrid. From Rizal’s experiences as a medical student at Facultad de Medicina de San Carlos, to his involvement with La Solidaridad, the newspaper he helped create to serve as a voice for Filipinos, the tour highlights how Rizal’s exposure to liberal ideas in Madrid led him to cultivate his intellectual, literary, artistic, and scientific pursuits. Rizal’s heroism was later recognized with the erection of a monument in his honor at the Avenida de Filipinas in Madrid, and his ideologies remain a foundation for nation-building in the Philippines.
See more answer options
Our walking tour shall begin with the place of his residence from to May 1883, when he first arrived in Madrid.
Rizal first arrived in Madrid in 1882 to study medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid. He arrived in Barcelona on , and boarded in the Fonda de España. On September 2, 1882, he left Barcelona for Madrid to pursue his medical studies in the Universidad Central de Madrid. He also took courses in Philosophy and Letters and took French, German, and English lessons from private tutors.
Rizal’s birth anniversary marked in Chinese ancestor’s hometown According to the document “ Rizal’s Madrid ” produced by the Philippine Embassy in Spain, Rizal first arrived in Madrid in 1882 to study medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid.
· – Rizal arrived at Barcelona, Spain and boarded in the Fonda de España. September 2, 1882 – He left Barcelona for Madrid to persue his medical studies in the Universidad Central de Madrid, he also took courses in Philosophy and Letters and took French German and English lessons from private tutors.
More intriguing questions on the topic
3 May 1882
Rizal left Philippines for the first time Spain. He boarded the Salvadora using a passport of Jose Mercado, which was procured for him by his uncle Antonio Rivera, father of Leonor Rivera.
Rizal recollected his past impressions when he left his hometown Calamba. This day he attended a fiesta in Madrid.