Plaza España

We’re now in the northwest of the city, standing on the vast Plaza España. It’s the largest square in Spain, covering 36,900 square metres. Here, you’ll find some of Madrid’s most iconic landmarks. At the centre stands the city’s most photographed monument: a tribute to the renowned Spanish author, Miguel de Cervantes. Commissioned by King Alfonso XIII in 1915, it marked 300 years since the publication of Cervantes’ masterpiece, Don Quixote. Take a good look — at the front, you’ll see the figures of Don Quixote and his loyal squire Sancho Panza. They’re depicted riding on horseback before their creator, Cervantes, who is seated behind them, book in hand. The contrast between the bronze figures of the fictional characters and the stone statue of the author plays with the idea of reality and imagination. On either side of the column, you’ll find scenes from other works by Cervantes — The Little Gypsy Girl on the right and Rinconete and Cortadillo on the left. At the back of the monument sits a female figure, the personification of Spanish literature. Water flows at her feet from the coats of arms of Latin American countries, and above her, five statues representing the five continents hold up a globe. Behind the monument, you’ll see the red-brick Edificio España, standing tall since 1953. To its left stands the Torre Madrid, which was the tallest building in the city when it was built in the 1950s. At a height of 142 metres, it was even the tallest concrete building in the world for some time – a record that put it on the map, since reinforced concrete was a novelty back then. As you leave the square, look to your right at the corner of Calle de Ferraz — you’ll see the Casa Gallardo, a stunning example of early 20th-century Art Nouveau architecture.