Gran Vía is one of Madrid's most legendary streets, and walking along it from top to bottom is a good introduction to the city. Here you'll find main cinemas, theatres, large commercial centres and the most popular stores in the capital.
We recommend taking the metro, getting off at the station Banco de España (L2), and starting with the famous Fuente Cibeles (Cibeles Fountain). This walk will take you to Plaza de España (45 minutes).
- Cibeles Fountain: Its central location and the Madrid tradition of meeting here to celebrate the victories of Real Madrid have made La Cibeles one of the most recognized symbols of the city. Around it you'll find four large buildings: Palacio de Buenavista (Army Headquarters), Palacio de Linares (Casa de América), Palacio de Comunicaciones (formerly the main post office and today the City Council of Madrid) and Banco de España. As a security measure, it is said that the alarms in the gold vault of the Banco de España are connected to the fountain. If they are triggered by an attempted robbery, urban legend has it that all the rooms of the vault will be flooded with water from La Cibeles.
- From here take Calle Alcalá until you come to the Metrópolis Building, where Gran Vía begins. This building stands out for its slate cupola, crowned by an angel about to take flight.
- Just before this, on the left, you'll see Círculo de Bellas Artes. Inside is a nice cafe where you can seat and have a coffee or draft beer with spectacular views of Calle Alcalá and the Metrópolis Building. In summer they have very pleasant outdoor seating. Sometimes, if you ask, they'll let you visit the terrace roof for 2?, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the entire city.
- If you continue walking on Gran Vía, on the left, before the intersection with Red de San Luis, is the false facade of the Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia, a curtain facade with a triumphal arch that protects the church from traffic.
- On the right hand side are the famous gay neighbourhood Chueca and a little further on, its most famous commercial street, Fuencarral.
- If you continue on Gran Vía, just after Fuencarral you'll see the Telefónica Building on the right. Standing 89 metres tall, this tower, small by today's standards, was the first skyscraper built in Spain.
- Further on you'll come to Plaza Callao. Branching off from it on the left are two of the most well known commercial streets in the city: Preciados and El Carmen. On them you can find the department stores El Corte Inglés and FNAC (CDs, books, electronics...).
- Returning to Callao, in front of you is the Capitol Building, a structure stylistically related to German Expressionism and the skyscrapers of New York. On it can be seen the famous Schweppes poster that has featured amusing scenes from Spanish cinema (Torrente).
- Continuing on Gran Vía, you'll come to the so-called Broadway Madrileño: a series of cinemas and theatres which in recent years have been the venue for musicals.
