eNewsHound

Madrid is a popular tourist destination. Visitors come for the culture and art, the food and nightlife, the bullfights and the Spanish atmosphere. Still others come to view the incredible architecture that spans centuries of the city’s history and heritage. Catch a bullfight at Las Ventas (the largest bull ring in Spain), enjoy a world-class meal in one of the many fine dining restaurants, and relax in one of the five star Madrid hotels. Most importantly, make sure to appreciate the city’s stunning architecture.

One of the oldest buildings in Madrid is an authentic Egyptian temple. Built in the 4th century B.C., the Debod Temple was dedicated to the Egyptian gods Isis and Amon. In the 1960s, Spanish engineers assisted the Egyptian government in relocating many historical monuments that were endangered by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. In recognition of their work, Egypt donated the temple to Spain in 1968. The monument was relocated to Madrid in 1971.

Prime examples of Baroque architecture in Spain include the Royal Palace of Madrid as well as the Alcalá Gate and the Salón del Prado. In fact, many of the buildings and monuments of the Paseo del Prado are Baroque, though they are sometimes taken for neoclassical architecture. The integration of gardens with buildings is exemplified in two other Baroque structures: the Palace of Aranjuez and the Palace of la Granja de San Ildefonso. The latter is known as “the Spanish Versailles” due to the French infuence, but both also show evidence of the area’s occupation by the Moors.

In the 16th century, plans were begun for a new cathedral to be dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena. However, construction on the Catedral de la Almudena did not actually begin until 1879. Originally designed by architect Francisco de Cubas, the structure was began in the Gothic revival style. Construction was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War and did not resume until 1950. At that time, a neoclassical exterior was designed by Fernando Chueca Goitia, in an attempt to make the cathedral blend in with the nearby Palacio Real. The cathedral was completed in 1993 and consecrated by Pope John Paul II.

Recent architectural additions to the city include the downtown financial district, which was built after World War II, and the Madrid Barajas International Airport Terminal 4, which was completed in 2006 and one the 2006 Instructe Award for Commercial Structures. The Cuatro Torres Business Area contains the tallest skyscrapers in Spain, Torre de Cristal, Torre Caja Madrid, Torre Espacio, and Torre Sacyr Vallehermoso which were scheduled for completion this year.