Surroundings

Puerta del Sol

The Puerta del Sol is one of Madrid's most famous spaces and the place the Madrileños meet. Two of the city's most characteristic symbols can be found here. The statue of the bear and strawberry tree, in bronze, was placed here in 1967. This image also appears on the city's shield. Another bronze statue is also worth mentioning, that of King Carlos III on horseback.

It has al [...]

Fuente de la Cibeles

The Fuente de Cibeles was part of the construction of Madrid's Salón del Prado. The idea behind the work was to give the people of Madrid a place to relax in, with a promenade full of gardens and fountains. The place chosen was that occupied by the fields in San Jerónimo and Atocha, in its time known as the Prado Viejo. This space would have, among other things, three magnificent foun [...]

Palacio Real

This was the official residence of Spanish Monarchs between the times of Carlos III and Alfonso XIII; later it would serve the same function for the Presidents of the 2nd Republic. Since the 1940s, its custody and upkeep has been the responsibility of the State. As well as being open to visitors, it is kept for ceremonies and public acts involving King Juan Carlos I as Head of State. Of all the [...]

Plaza Mayor

Madrid's Plaza Mayor is located in the very centre of the city, in the area that has become known as Austrian Madrid, very near la Puerta del Sol and la Plaza de la Villa. It was built between 1617 and 1619 on what had been la Plaza del Arrabal. Ever since the 17th Century, when festivals, bull-fights or solemn receptions were held there, it has been the incomporable stage for all kinds of publ [...]

Puerta de Alcalá

La Puerta de Alcalá, one of Madrid's greatest symbols, owes its name to the route that led to the town of Alcalá de Henares. The original gateway was built to welcome Margarita de Austria, wife of Felipe III. Years later, Carlos III wanted to enlarge it and a new construction, the one we see today, was built. It is comprised of five round and two lintel arches. In the highest part of [...]

Catedral de la Almudena

The cathedral of Santa María La Real de La Almudena is a spectacular mix of various architectural styles. The exterior is neo-Classical, while the interior is neo-Gothic and the Crypt neo-Romanic.

It has the honour of being the first Spanish cathedral to be consecrated by a Pope, and the first that Pope John Paul II consecrated outside Rome. The act took place on June 15th 1983, on [...]

The Temple of Debod

The Temple of Debod may well be the kind of building you would never expect to come across in Madrid. This Egyptian temple, oriented from East to West and surrounded by water, as in its original siting, was a gift from Egypt to Spain for the help given by our Government in saving the Nubian temples.

Dedicated to the worship of the Egyptian Gods Amun and Isis, it is 2,200 years old and wa [...]

Casa de la Villa

In Plaza de la Villa, a small, beautiful square in the most genuine part of Madrid one sees the site of Madrid City Council: La Casa de la Villa. Its construction, which lasted 52 years, began in 1644 following Juan Gómez de Mora's design.

Palacio de Cristal

To celebrate the Phillipine Islands Exhibition and, as a way to promote the diversity of the Islands' flora, some kind of greenhouse was needed in order to store the plants easily. So, in 1887, the Parque del Buen Retiro, the Palacio de Cristal and the lake were all built.

Its walls, as the name suggests, are of glass and supported by Ionic iron columns. An outstanding feature of the ext [...]

Plaza de Oriente

The name Plaza de Oriente comes from the site of this beautiful square in Madrid, given that it is located to the East of the Royal Palace. It was built under the mandate of King José Bonaparte, and, in order to enlarge the size and surrounding area, a number of buildings were demolished.

Calle Bailén separates the Palace from Plaza de Oriente. Currently, however, after remodel [...]

Biblioteca Nacional

It was founded by Felipe V in 1712, under the name of Royal Library, although 4 years would pass until the decree that referred to its creation was announced. The National Library was born with two main purposes in mind: to give the population access to knowledge and to house private libraries.

The National Library building, declared Historic-Artistic Monument in 1983, was begun in 1866. [...]

Metrópolis Building

During the first third of the 20th Century, Madrid wished to become a city that was open to the world and to modernisation. One of the results of this desire was intense building and infrastructure work.

The building's incomparable location on the corner of Calles Alcalá and Gran Vía, right in the financial and commercial heart of Madrid, and its size and beauty, mean [...]

Plaza Monumental de Las Ventas

Las Ventas bull-ring, with a capacity of 25,000, is the largest in Spain and one of the most important in the world. Neo-mudéjar in style and brick-faced, it is decorated with ceramic tiles with the shields of all Spain's provinces being among the decorative elements.

Although the first bull-fight in Las Ventas took place on 17th June 1931, it was not officially inaugurated until 21 [...]

Banco de España

This is one of Madrid's finest eclectic buildings. The foundation stone was laid by Alfonso XII in 1882, and the building completed in 1891. Work followed Eduardo Adaro and Severiano Sainz de la Lastra's project. Its magnificent architecture, together with its privileged location make it one of the most beautiful buildings in Madrid.

Location: C/ Alcalá, 48.

Convento de San Ildefonso de Trinitarias Descalzas

This building, declared a National Monument in 1921, is attractive above all for the sobriety and simplicity of its facade and interior, which houses a magnificently preserved small church on a Latin cross. It was here that Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was buried in 1616 and a commemorative bust of this illustrious and famous writer can be seen on the facade.

Location: C [...]

Casón del Buen Retiro

Built in the 17th Century for the enjoyment and repose of King Felipe IV, El Casón del Buen Retiro was the palace's ballroom. Despite having been renovated a number of times, it still conserves some of the old building's features, such as Lucas Jordán's 17th Century ceiling. It was given to the Prado and houses a collection of 19th Century painting.

Location: C [...]

Fuente de Apolo

This fountain shows the Greek God Apollo looking mercurial. Wrapped in a cloak, he holds a lyre in his left hand as an allusion to music. Alongside the figure of Apollo there are allegorical images of the Four Seasons and Venus's shells. Sculpted in the 18th Century, its location next to the Prado further enhances, if possible, its great beauty.

Location: Paseo del Prado [...]

Iglesia Colegiata de San Isidro San Isidro Colegiata Church

This Baroque building, built in the 17th Century on what had been the site of the Colegio Imperial de la Compañía de Jesús, is one of the city's most dearly-loved churches. The interior houses wonderful works of art by Claudio Coello and Sebastián Herrera. San Isidro, Patron Saint of Madrid is buried here.

Location: C/ Toledo, 37 y 39.

Fuente de Neptuno

This sculpted whole, in white marble, represents Neptune, the God of the Sea, in a shell-shaped chariot, pulled by two horses with fish tails, symbols of sea-storms. In his left hand he carries a trident, while his right has a snake wrapped around it. This fountain sits majestically in a quiet, pretty green area.

Location: Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, s/n.

La Casa de Postas

In 1795 the Crown commissioned a new staging post from architect Juan Pedro Arnal, designed to add to the existing Real Casa del Correo building. The new Casa de Postas, built between 1795 and 1800 following classical plans, has an irregular five-sided form on two floors around a central patio. The neo-classical building today houses regional government offices.

Location [...]

City Walls

These are the remains of a 9th and 10th Century Muslim defence wall and of a Christian wall from the 12th and 13th Centuries. The remains can be seen at la Cuesta de La Vega, reached via Calle Bailén. They would have stood taller than at present and the Arab grounds would have housed the palace, mosque and Emir's residence.

Location: Cuesta de la Vega, s/n.

La Real Casa de Aduanas

Work on this building, the Royal Custom House, was finished in 1769. It was conceived as an Italian palace, while maintaining the functional character the institution demanded. The exterior is a well-proportioned facade with a rusticated frieze balustrade and a series of symmetrically placed pediments and windows of different sizes. It is currently the site of the Ministry of Economy and Financ [...]

Palacio del Congreso

The seat of the Spanish Lower House is a building of classical appearance, articulated around a rectangular floor, which leads on to the other buildings. The main facade is note-worthy, with six Corinthian columns in the entrance portico. The lions flanking the main stairs are made of bronze taken from enemy canons captured in the African War of 1859-1860.

Location: Carr [...]

Puente de Segovia

Felipe II ordered the construction of this bridge to join Calle Segovia with La Carretera de Extremadura. It is the oldest bridge in Madrid. Attributed to the architect Juan de Herrera, between 1582 y 1584, it is formed of nine round arches with a gate in front, built to enlarge the entrance to Court.

Location: Puente de Segovia, s/n.

Palacio del Senado

Built by Francisco de Mora to house the Halls of Court, it is located on the old Augustinian Colegio de la Encarnación. From the start of the 19th Century, and given its proximity to the palace, it gradually became one of the city's most important political buildings. It has a magnificent neo-Gothic library dating from 1883.

Location: Plaza de Aranjuez Española [...]

Puente de Toledo

This bridge, in a Baroque style, was built by Felipe II to connect the capital with Toledo. In yellow limestone, the central part is adorned with statues of San Isidro Labrador, Patron Saint of Madrid and his wife, Santa María de la Cabeza. It is currently closed to traffic, but its privileged surroundings can be enjoyed on foot.

Location: Between La Glorieta de las [...]

Puerta de Toledo

Built between 1817 and 1827 to commemorate King Fernando VII's return to Madrid after the defeat of Napoleon's troops, it is in granite, and features a large round arch in the centre and two rectangular gates with fluted columns to the side. It is the last such gate to have been built in Madrid.

Location: Glorieta de la Puerta de Toledo, s/n.

Sociedad General de Autores

This impressive building, where it is impossible to find even one single straight line, is catalogued as the finest example of Modernism in Madrid. Built as the palatial residence of the banker Longoria, it is currently home to the Sociedad General de Autores. The facade, embellished with sinuous plant motifs, provokes different opinions in everyone.

Location: C/ Fernand [...]