Madrid district
Sol / Gran Vía
3 places from this guide
Approximate location — the map shows an area, not the exact spot.
Viewpoint
A private, non-profit cultural centre founded in 1880, in a building by Antonio Palacios inaugurated in 1926; a young Picasso took painting classes here. Its rooftop terrace costs €6 and is open until 01:00, or 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The building and its La Pecera café are free to enter.
Attraction
Built in three stages between 1910 and 1931 to open up the old centre, Gran Vía brought Spain's first skyscrapers. Walk it from Calle de Alcalá to Plaza de España to see landmarks such as the Metrópolis, the Telefónica Building, the Casino, the Capitol building and the Callao cinemas.
Attraction
One of Madrid's best-known squares and the starting point of Spain's radial roads: a slab in front of the Casa de Correos marks Kilometre 0. The clock on that building strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, when people across Spain eat 12 grapes. The statue of the bear and the strawberry tree, the city's symbol, is a classic meeting point.