La Mardrilena

La Madrilena is the boardinghouse where most of the action takes place. The story begins with Camilo Canegato arriving at the boardinghouse after his father passes away. Mrs. Milagros runs the boardinghouse and acts like a mother hen to her tenants.

Camilo's Studio

Camilo has a studio in town where he works during the day, restoring paintings and painting portraits. It is a sort of refuge for him, away from Mrs. Milagros' prying eyes.

David's Glasses

David wears thick round glasses that obscure his face. Mrs. Milagros admits that she doesn't really know what he looks like because of those glasses. They represent his weakness, which he projects onto Camilo and expounds on with great detail as he recounts physically inferior men who have caused huge problems in history.

Golden Tress

Camilo includes a tress of golden hair in one of his letters from Rosa. He...