On the evidence of a recent trip, Madrid seems to have recaptured much of the creative spark that made it one of the exciting cities in Europe during La Movida, or the cultural flowering that followed the death of dictator Francisco Franco, in 1975. Despite all the recent upheavals, the Spanish capital is more richly endowed, artistically and gastronomically, than ever. A flurry of debuts and renovations has also resulted in an expanding roster of luxury hotels. The Four Seasons Hotel Madrid opened in September 2020, followed by the relaunch of the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid in April 2021 and the Rosewood Villa Magna in October 2021.