My dear Madrid ,my second home! It is a must when coming to Spain which lucky has been every year for many years now. I like to tell you more about the monuments of Madrid even if also on other posts I never get tired of telling you about them. Therefore, here is my take on the Plaza de Cibeles of Madrid !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
Ok so this is the Madrid of my younger days, of bringing my girlfriend, and later wife my dear Martine, and parents Elio and Gladys, and my sons. Madrid is and will be a hole on the sky to look down on the city every day! On sunny days, cold days, rainy days, snow days , Madrid is awesome ,full of memories and great times. These are the main symbols of Madrid in my opinion, but maybe I am biased as they were and are my home. I lived not far from them and past them every day back then, and at every occasion passing by Madrid now.
The plaza de Cibeles square is located at the intersection of Calle de Alcalá (see posts) with the Paseo de Recoletos (see post) and the Paseo del Prado (see post). This square, one of the most symbolic in the city, marks the boundary of the Centro, Retiro, and Salamanca districts. In the center of the square stands the famous Fuente de Cibeles fountain (see post), sculpted in 1782. Each of the four corners of the square is graced by emblematic buildings, constructed between the late 18C and early 20C.
You see here and read my posts, the Buenavista Palace, occupied by the Army Headquarters and dating from 1777, is the oldest of them all. It is facing the Linares Palace, now the Casa de América. For its part, the Cibeles Palace, home to Madrid City Hall since 2007, and the Bank of Spain . In addition to its artistic and historical significance, the plaza de Cibeles boasts important scenic value. The initial section of calle de Alcalá (my street living there), which widens considerably after its junction with Gran Vía, ends at the western edge of the square. The Metropolis Building and the headquarters of the Círculo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Circle) and the Cervantes Institute are some of the buildings that can be seen from the square, thanks to the slope of the land. After reaching the Plaza de Cibeles the Calle de Alcalá uphill to the east. This topography provides a panoramic view of the Puerta de Alcalá (Alcalá Gate), located in the nearby Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square).
The plaza de Cibeles square takes its name from the fountain of the same name, dedicated to the Phrygian goddess Cybele, associated with the Greek goddess Rhea, wife of the Titan Cronus. The area was initially called “Plaza de Madrid,” but in 1900, the City Council renamed it “Plaza de Castelar,” a name that was eventually replaced after the end of the Spanish Civil War 1939. by its current one. The site now occupied by the square was part of a longitudinal tree-lined avenue that, during the Renaissance, separated the urban center of Madrid from various monastic and palatial complexes. It consisted of three main sections, known as the Prado de los Recoletos Agustinos (today Paseo de Recoletos), the Prado de los Jerónimos (today Paseo del Prado), and the Prado de Atocha (now vanished). In the 18C, during the reign of Carlos (Charles) III, a new redevelopment was undertaken. The project, named Salón del Prado, was carried out consisting of creating a large ornamental area of gardens and fountains to the east of Madrid, flanked on either side by various buildings dedicated to scientific and cultural dissemination. In 1895, the decision was made to move this sculptural group to the intersection of the aforementioned promenade with Calle de Alcalá , its current location.
The Madrid tourist office on the Fuente de Cibeles: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/fuente-de-la-cibeles
The Spain National Tourist office on the plaza de Cibeles of Madrid : https://www.spain.info/en/places-of-interest/plaza-cibeles/
This area is a must in Madrid and a wonderful emblematic square, a sight to be seen and one of the most photographs places in the city. It is a wonderful area of Madrid, the Retiro park is just around the corner too. Again, hope it helps enjoy this post on the Plaza de Cibeles of Madrid !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
