Conde Duque turns into a time machine this summer, tracing three decades of Spanish childhood through the objects everyone from the 1970s to the 1990s grew up with. Yo fui a EGB gathers hundreds of everyday items — notebooks, toys, TV sets — into rooms built to feel instantly, achingly familiar.
What it is
The exhibition takes its name from the Educación General Básica, the schooling system in place in Spain from the 1970s through the 1990s, and builds a walk-through recreation of that era rather than a conventional display-case format. Visitors move through staged rooms — a classroom, a corner video rental shop, a living room glowing with Saturday-morning cartoons — filled with objects instead of labels: Cuadernos Rubio exercise books, school supplies, tape decks, Chispas cologne, and packaged foods that stocked home pantries at the time. Familiar characters reappear throughout, from the strict third-grade teacher archetype to the neighbourhood video store clerk and children's TV puppet Espinete, each anchoring a different corner of the route. The show grew out of Yo fui a EGB, a nostalgia project that began as a Facebook page in 2010 and expanded into one of Spain's most-read blogs, several books, stage tours, and now a series of touring exhibitions. Sound and even scent are used alongside physical objects, aiming for a sensory trigger rather than a purely visual one.
Why it's worth attending
Few Madrid exhibitions build an entire route around lived sensory memory rather than curated artefacts, which is what sets this one apart from a standard retrospective. It's designed to work across generations at once: those who grew up during the EGB years get a direct hit of recognition, while younger visitors get a hands-on sense of what their parents' or grandparents' childhood actually looked, sounded, and smelled like. The scope spans three full decades, so the material speaks to a wide age range in a single visit.
Practical info
The walk-through takes about 90 minutes, and access is first-come, first-served until the room reaches capacity — no advance reservation needed for individual visitors. Folding chairs and wheelchairs are available for anyone who needs them, and the room begins clearing 15 minutes before closing each day.
FAQ
How much does it cost to visit Yo fui a EGB?
Entry is completely free, with access on a first-come, first-served basis until the room reaches its capacity limit; no ticket or advance booking is required for individual visitors.
How long does the Yo fui a EGB exhibition take to see?
A full walk-through takes around 90 minutes, covering staged rooms that recreate a classroom, a video rental shop, and a 1970s–90s living room.
Is Yo fui a EGB suitable for children?
Yes — it's built as an intergenerational experience, pairing objects familiar to parents and grandparents with a hands-on setting that younger visitors can explore freely.
Can groups visit Yo fui a EGB?
Groups are capped at 15 people and must email cdinfoexposiciones@madrid.es in advance for confirmation; visits are limited to 30-minute intervals between groups and a maximum 60-minute duration.
What happens if I arrive close to closing time?
The room begins clearing 15 minutes before the posted closing time, so arriving right at closing may mean a shortened visit.
