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Plaza de España (Madrid)
Encyclopedia
Plaza de España is a large square, and popular tourist destination, located in central Madrid
, Spain
, at the western end of the Gran Vía
. It features a monument to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
, and is bordered by two of Madrid's most prominent skyscrapers. Also, the Palacio Real
(Royal Palace) is a short walk south from the plaza.
, designed by architects Rafael Martínez Zapatero and Pedro Muguruza and sculptor Lorenzo Coullaut Valera
. Most of the monument was built between 1925 and 1930. It was finished between 1956 and 1957 by Federico Coullaut-Valera Mendigutia
, the son of the original sculptor. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Monumento_a_Cervantes_%28Madrid%29_02.jpg
The tower portion of the monument includes a stone sculpture of Cervantes, which overlooks bronze sculptures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza
. Next to the tower, there are two stone representations of Don Quixote's "true love", one as the simple peasant woman Aldonza Lorenzo, and one as the beautiful, imaginary Dulcinea del Toboso.
("Madrid Tower"), built in 1957 and the 117 m (384 ft) tall Edificio España
("Spain Building"), built in 1953. http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?c815
station located on the eastern corner of the plaza, serviced by the #3
and #10
lines, with a connection to the #2
line.
hill.
It was one of the locations used by the French firing squads to execute prisoners taken during the May 2nd uprising
.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, at the western end of the Gran Vía
Gran Vía
Gran Vía is an ornate and upscale shopping street located in central Madrid. It leads from Calle de Alcalá, close to Plaza de Cibeles, to Plaza de España....
. It features a monument to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered the first modern novel, is a classic of Western literature, and is regarded amongst the best works of fiction ever written...
, and is bordered by two of Madrid's most prominent skyscrapers. Also, the Palacio Real
Royal Palace of Madrid
The Palacio Real de Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain in the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid...
(Royal Palace) is a short walk south from the plaza.
Cervantes Monument
In the center of the plaza is a monument to Spanish novelist, poet and playwright Miguel de Cervantes SaavedraMiguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, considered the first modern novel, is a classic of Western literature, and is regarded amongst the best works of fiction ever written...
, designed by architects Rafael Martínez Zapatero and Pedro Muguruza and sculptor Lorenzo Coullaut Valera
Lorenzo Coullaut Valera
Lorenzo Coullaut Valera was a Spanish sculptor. Born in Marchena, he grew up in Nantes where his family had moved. He studied at the Livet Lyceum and returned to Spain in 1893...
. Most of the monument was built between 1925 and 1930. It was finished between 1956 and 1957 by Federico Coullaut-Valera Mendigutia
Federico Coullaut-Valera Mendigutia
Federico Coullaut-Valera Mendigutia was a Spanish sculptor. The son of sculptor Lorenzo Coullaut-Valera, he was born in Madrid.He continued the work begun by his father in the Plaza de España. Coullaut-Valera Mendigutia finished the monument in this square between 1956 and 1957.A statue of...
, the son of the original sculptor. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Monumento_a_Cervantes_%28Madrid%29_02.jpg
The tower portion of the monument includes a stone sculpture of Cervantes, which overlooks bronze sculptures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza
Sancho Panza
Sancho Panza is a fictional character in the novel Don Quixote written by Spanish author Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in 1605. Sancho acts as squire to Don Quixote, and provides comments throughout the novel, known as sanchismos, that are a combination of broad humour, ironic Spanish proverbs,...
. Next to the tower, there are two stone representations of Don Quixote's "true love", one as the simple peasant woman Aldonza Lorenzo, and one as the beautiful, imaginary Dulcinea del Toboso.
Surrounding buildings
Adjacent to the plaza are two of the tallest buildings in Madrid, the 142 m (466 ft) Torre de MadridTorre de Madrid
The Torre de Madrid is one of the tallest buildings in Madrid. It measures 142 metres in height, has 36 floors and was constructed between 1954 and 1957...
("Madrid Tower"), built in 1957 and the 117 m (384 ft) tall Edificio España
Edificio España
The Edificio España is one of the tallest buildings in Madrid, Spain. With its 25 storeys and 117 meters of height, it is the eighth-highest building of the Spanish capital, including the skyscrapers of the Cuatro Torres Business Area. It is also one of the better examples of twentieth century...
("Spain Building"), built in 1953. http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?c815
Metro station
Plaza de España is also the name of a MetroMadrid Metro
The Madrid Metro is a metro system serving the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. The system is the sixth longest metro in the world though Madrid is approximately the fiftieth most populous metropolitan area in the world...
station located on the eastern corner of the plaza, serviced by the #3
Line 3 (Madrid Metro)
Line 3 of the Madrid Metro was opened in August 1936 between Sol and Embajadores, a few days before the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. In 1941 it was extended from Sol to Argüelles, in 1949 from Embajadores to Delicias, in 1951 from Delicias to Legazpi, in 1963 from Argüelles to Moncloa, and...
and #10
Line 10 (Madrid Metro)
Line 10 of the Madrid Metro is in fact the product of two lines, the former line 8 from Fuencarral to Nuevos Ministerios and the former Suburbano from Alonso Martínez to Aluche, this section being named line 10 in the 1980s. In the 1990s, Madrid planned for these two lines to become one, but...
lines, with a connection to the #2
Line 2 (Madrid Metro)
Line 2 of the Madrid Metro was opened on 11 June 1924 between Sol and Ventas. It was later extended fron Sol to Quevedo on 27 December 1925 and from Quevedo to Cuatro Caminos on 1 September 1929. In 1932, a branch from Goya to Diego de León was added. This branch was transferred to Line 4 in 1958...
line.
History
In 1808, the area was part of the Principe PíoPríncipe Pío
La montaña del Príncipe Pío is the name of a hill in the western part of Madrid, Spain.It is named after the prince Pius of Savoy, who owned property there.Later, barracks were constructed there....
hill.
It was one of the locations used by the French firing squads to execute prisoners taken during the May 2nd uprising
Dos de Mayo Uprising
On the second of May , 1808, the people of Madrid rebelled against the occupation of the city by French troops, provoking a brutal repression by the French Imperial forces and triggering the Peninsular War.-Background:...
.