Madrid's architectural landmarks - new and old

The Puerta de Alcala, inaugurated in 1778

Tuesday, November 5, 2019        Madrid

This morning is our last AIA tour of the trip – the sights of the city of Madrid. We met at 9 AM for a bus tour of the city with our guide Gloria. We drove around for an hour, starting with the Salamanca district, which is the home of our hotel.  Salamanca has the reputation of being Madrid’s most exclusive, affluent and elegant neighborhood. It was developed as an expansion to the city in the second half of the 19th century under the patronage of the Marquis de Salamanca. We drove along the Paseo de la Castellana to see the modern tall buildings, including the first high rise tower over 150 meters (40 stories), the Picasso tower, the Cuatro Torres, the twin Puerta de Europa leaning towers with the Calatrava Golden Needle in between and the Columbus (Colon) Square. 

The Puerta Europa twin buildings and  the Calatrava Golden Needle at the top of the Paseo de la Castellana

The Picasso Tower, Madrid's first tall building over 150 meters (40 stories)

We drove past the Puerta de Alcala, the Cibeles Palace and the Banco de Espana.  Next, we drove along the Gran Via, the "Broadway" of Madrid and saw the iconic Metropolis building, and the Telefonica Building (when opened in 1929, it was the tallest building in Europe, at 89 meters). Our bus journey was a quick 90 minute tour de force of the main architectural sites of Madrid - from the modern to the Belles Artes and many things in between.

The Puerta de Alcala was commissioned by King Carlos III

The Cibeles Palace was the former post office, opened in 1919

The Cibeles Palace now serves as the City Hall, with exhibitions for viewing

The Fountain of Cybele, an Anatolian goddess is found in the roundabout in front of the Cibeles Palace

A view of the Banco de Espana from the bus

Looking toward the Cibeles Palace (City Hall) from the length of the Banco de Espana

A view of the decorative buildings lining the Gran Via

The Telefonica Building, tallest in Europe from its completion in 1929 until the 1940's

Another view of the Telefonica Building along the Gran Via

The Puerta de Toledo

Las Meninas in front of the Casa de America - a Latin American cultural center

Rental bikes along the Retiro Park