The Plaza de Cibeles is one of the most picturesque squares in Madrid.
The Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid is a majestic square located in central Madrid. The square is lined with several elegant buildings and forms a kind of a town square. The Cibeles Fountain occupies a central position in the square. It is also known as the Fuente de la Cibeles. The Cibeles fountain was built in five years between 1777 and 1782 and was the work of Ventura Rodriguez.
The Structures at the Plaza de Cibeles
The Cibeles fountain came to be known after Goddess Ceres or Cibeles as she was popularly called. The fountain projects the goddess on a lion driven chariot. The Plaza de Cibeles serves as a perfect city center as the people of the city assemble near it for different celebrations. This includes the post victory celebrations for every Real Madrid win.
The Plaza de Cibeles is also home to the headquarters of the national bank of Spain or the Banco de Espana. The bank was built over a period of
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nine years from 1882-1891. It still retains the charm of the contemporary style of architecture. The structure was given a new dimension following the expansion plans that were undertaken in 1936. A second phase of expansion was effected in 1975. There is a chamber located 30m beneath the floor of the bank which serves as a sort of a security vault that is used for storing gold.
Palacio de Comunicaciones
The Plaza de Cibeles also houses the Palacio de Comunicaciones. This Communications Palace was built by Antonio Palacios. It serves as the postal headquarters of the city. The structure of the building resembles that of a cathedral. It was constructed over a span of twelve years. The building also houses the Postal and Telegraphic Museum. The artifacts in the Museum trace the history of the system of postal communication since its inception to the means of modern communication.
Plaza de Cibeles is one of the oft-visited tourist spots in the city which draws millions of people each year from all over the globe.
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