Cibeles Square, Madrid

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World known Cibeles Square is not only famous for Real Madrid Fans who roam around it after every victory but also for all tourists visiting Madrid.

This is situated at the end of Gran Via. The Cibeles Monument represents the God of fertility and it is surrounded by other picturesque buildings such as the post office which looks like more of a palace then a Government building.

If you are lucky and the red lights are on you might be able to take a picture without cars in the background with the Cibeles right behind you.... Good luck ;)

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So... I raved about this building to my friends. I told them how beautiful it is; how it looks more like a palace than a PO; how intricate its detail is and how it's the centerpiece of the plaza de Cibeles.

Well, as my luck goes.... it had scaffolding over it when we arrived in Madrid. AAAUAUUUGGH!

Okay, the good news is that when we returned almost two weeks later, most of it was gone.

But geeeeezzzzz............!

In Portugal we use to say that "one image speaks more than 1000 words". Having that in mind, and more than 1000 pictures to post, I decided to change my behaviour, posting the pictures as soon as they are ready, and adding the comments later.
Don't get mad on me - I'm glad to share my pictures with you, and the comments will be added soon.

This fountain has unbelievable beauty and it is the Madrid's most important symbol It located next to Palacio de Comunicaciones. This fountain named after Cibele roman goddess of nature. There you can see goddess in chariot pulled by two lions. Madrids custom is whenever football team Real Madridwins a cup, their funs flock around the fountain to celebrate.

The most photographed building in Madrid at Palaza de Cibeles is Communications Palace. This beautiful building look like cathedral and it was built between 1905 and 1917 as headquarters of the post office. It was host for Postal and Telegraphic Museum and since 2007 it become Madrid official City Hall.

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The Cibeles Fountain is the feature of the Plaza de Cibeles. Created by Francisco Gutierrez, it was built by Ventura Rodriguez between 1777 and 1782 and named after the roman goddess of nature – Ceres or Cibele. The white marble sculpture of the goddess in the chariot is driven by lions (Atalanta and Hipomenes) instead of horses. In the evening the fountain is lit up making it one of the most beautiful plaza’s in Madrid.

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The Plaza is where Real Madrid fans celebrate their teams big wins, (Athletico Madrid fans head to the nearby Neptune fountain for their big celebrations) also a site for political demos. This was once known as The Plaza of Madrid

The centre of the plaza is a traffic roundabout formed around the impressive fountain and statue of Cybele, or Ceres (The Great Mother, or Mother of The Gods, Roman goddess of fertility and nature) riding a chariot pulled by 2 lions. She holds a sceptre in one hand, and in the other the keys to the city.

The legend is that these lions are the lovers Hippomenes and Atalanta, who had been brought together by Aphrodite. Apparently, they upset Cybele, presumably 'going a bit too far' in her Temple, so she had them changed into lions and made to pull her chariot. Aphrodite had engineered this, as she was slighted by the lovers ingratitude to her!

Created by Ventura Rodriguez between 1777 and 1782.

It is quite a busy roundabout, with enough traffic whizzing by to stop you getting clear photos. The Paseo del Prado ends here, then continues northwards as the Paseo de los Recoletos. From West to East Calle de Alcala cuts across.

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“El diablo sabe más por viejo que por diablo.” (“The devil knows more due to being old than by being the devil.”)
— A Spanish proverb

Known to madrileños as Nuestra Señora de Correos, Our Lady of the Post, because of its Neo-Gothic, cathedral-like style, Palacio de Comunicaciones dominates the southeastern side of the Plaza de la Cibeles.

The central post office is inside the Palacio de Comunicaciones; the four-storey, turreted structure was built between 1905 and 1917 by Antonio Palacio and Julián Otamendi. Their eclectic design combines Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance styles with a bit of French detailing, American skyscraper and Spanish Modernism vocabulary. The result is magical.

The interior is equally dramatic, with high ceilings, soaring pillars, marble floors, and a palatial staircase. If you want to send a postcard with a difference there are special counters inside the post office where you can get your postcard stamped with a commemorative postmark. In addition, the Postal and Telegraphic Museum is located inside; it traces the development of the Spanish communication system starting with the country’s 18th-century postal service right up to today’s technological advances. The collection of stamps, both Spanish and foreign, dates from 1850 and is magnificent. Admission is free.

Opening hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM, and again from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, (Oh! God bless and preserve the Spanish siesta) and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.