Plaza de España

What to expect

Plaza de España sits at the western end of Gran Vía and is dominated by the Cervantes monument, built around the early twentieth-century centenaries of Don Quixote and of Cervantes's death. A seated Cervantes looks down over statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and Dulcinea and Aldonza Lorenzo were added later. Two skyscrapers rise behind: the Edificio España, built in 1953, and the Torre de Madrid, finished in 1957.

After about two and a half years of renovation the square reopened to pedestrians in November 2021, with landscaped gardens and olive trees in homage to Don Quixote's La Mancha. A rectangular pond in front of the monument frames the classic photo with the two towers behind. It is an open-air stop with benches, and a short one: ten to twenty minutes is typical. The metro station is on the eastern corner.

Don't miss

• The Cervantes monument
• Don Quixote and Sancho Panza statues
• Edificio España and Torre de Madrid
• The pond reflecting the towers
• Olive trees and gardens

Tips for your visit

• Photograph the monument and the towers from the far side of the pond.
• Walk the Gran Vía eastwards from here towards Puerta del Sol and Cibeles.
• Go on to the Temple of Debod and the Royal Palace, both within easy walking distance.
• Sit on a bench in the shade of the olives and watch the city pass by.