Atocha opened in 1851 with the railway linking Madrid and Aranjuez, becoming the capital’s first railway station. The historic building took its familiar form in 1892, with a monumental iron-and-glass train hall.

Brick gives the façade its warmth; the great glazed roof brings light into an industrial structure built for movement. More than a century later, that combination remains central to Atocha’s identity.

There is a different rhythm to the time before departure. Ten minutes for a coffee. A final conversation. A moment watching strangers set off on journeys of their own.

For Macarena de Alba, these pauses are part of travelling: noticing light, materials and ordinary gestures. A bag beside a cup can hold a whole morning’s story. Sometimes the place between destinations deserves our attention too.