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Cibeles square is always busy, day and night! There is a very useful info spot here and also the start of many interesting routes for you. At the square you will notice for sure the strange shape of the Palacio de Comunicaciones (a post office building from the early 20th century) that looks like a palace or as others say like a wedding cake! :) Check also the building of Banca de Espana, the palacio Linares (from 19th century, now houses the casa de America for Latin culture)
At the center of the square there is a nice fountain (built at the late 18th century) of Cybelis, the greek goddess of fertility, famous also in the east at prehistoric period. Cibeles is on a chariot that being pulled by lions. I liked it during the night too.
I passed many times from Plaza Cibeles because here is the starting point of all the night buses and also the starting point of many walking routes for you:
1)you can go down Paseo del Prado for the famous museums Prado, Reyna Sofia, Thyssen until the Atocha train station
2)you can walk to Plaza Independencia for Puerta de Alcala, Retiro entrance is also close
3)you can walk at the other side of calle de Alcala and see the Circulo de bellas artes, the church of San Jose has some interesting paintings (but most of the valuable objects are now at Prado museum). Now you can continue till Puerta del Sol or turn to the Gran Via avenue. Before that check at the intersection of the two avenues the beautiful Metropolis building
Written Sep 16, 2008
Address: Alcala street and Paseo del Prado
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Plaza de Cibeles sits between the Paseo de Recoletos and the Paseo del Prado, two of Madrid's most charming streets. At the very center of the plaza you'll find the Fuente de la Cibeles (1777), an impressive fountain featuring Cybele, the Phrygian goddess of fertility, sitting in a charriot pulled by two lions. Around the fountain, you'll see some of Madrid's most beautiful buildings, including my own favorite: the Palacio de Communicaciones. This amazing piece of architecture was built at the beginning of the 19th century, in a design that allies several architectural styles quite harmoniously. Pretty much at any hour of the day you'll find tourists walking around the Plaza de Cibeles, looking for that perfect picture angle. And of course, I was one of them!
Updated May 17, 2008
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The Cibeles fountain shows the goddess Cibeles from Greek mythology that represented fertility. The goddess is seating in a chariot pulled by two lions. The
Cibeles fountain was built in the reign of Charles (Carlos) III between 1777 and 1782. The fountain of Cibeles is a place where fans of Real Madrid meet to celebrate their victories.
Written Apr 9, 2008
Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado
This building is amazing! A communications building?!? Ha! Why did they make it so nice?
The traffic circle here is very very busy, so good luck getting that perfect shot. Beautiful statue of Poseiden god in the center.
Written Mar 18, 2008
Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado
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If you take the Alacala street from Sol, after a few minutes you will come across the Cibeles Square. This square, as its name describes is dedicated to Cibeles, goddess of nature, fertility, animals, mountains and fortresses. You can see the goddess on the fountain you will find in the middle of this square. If you like football (soccer) you might recognise this as the place where the Real Madrid goes after winning to pay their respects to the goddess! Also in front of the fountain you can find the Palacio de Comunicaciones, one of my favorite buildings in Madrid. It was originally built for the Postal and Telegraphs Service in the early 1900's. Nowadays it's going to be the city hall of Madrid, which seems more apropriate for such a magnificent building!
Written Jan 12, 2008
Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado
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It was built in the reign of Charles (Carlos) III and designed by Ventura Rodríguez between 1777 and 1782. It depicts the goddess Cibeles (Cybele), the Phrygian goddess of fertility, who is seen sitting on a chariot and being pulled by two lions. Fans of Real Madrid footbal team goes there to celebrate when they win a competition.
Fue construida bajo el reinado de Carlos III y diseñada por Ventura Rodríguez entre 1777 y 1782. Describe a la diosa Cibeles, diosa de la fertilidad montada en un carruaje tirado por dos leones. Los aficionados del Real Madrid van a celebrar sus triunfos a la fuente de cibeles.
Written Dec 12, 2007
Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado
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Plaza de Cibeles, the busy roundabout connecting Paseo del Prado with Calle de Alcalá and Paseo de Recoletos, is home to some of Madrid's famous monumental edifices. Among them are el Palacio de Comunicaciones, the most lavishly decorated early 20th century post office that is more befitting of a royal palace, and Banco de España, the country's Central Bank. In the the centre of the roundabout is Madrid's famous Fountain of Cybele.
Updated Dec 5, 2007
Address: Where Calle de Alcalá crosses Paseo del Prado
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On a circle on the intersection of Alcalá street and Paseo del Prado you'll find the Cibeles Fountain. This sculpture was built by the Spanish architect Ventura Rodríguez and was installed in 1782. The sculpture represents Cibeles, the Phrygian goddess of fertility and agriculture, on a lion-pulled chariot. She holds a scepter and the keys to the city. Today the fountain is the traditional meeting point for fans and the football players of Real Madrid when they celebrate their winnings.
Updated Oct 9, 2007
Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado
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A heavily traffic grand square surrounded by huge and imposing buildings. One ot the symbols of Madrid. The fountain is named after Cibele, the roman goddess of nature. Was built between 1777 and 1782 by Ventura Rodriguez. The fountains looks as, a goddess in a chariot pulled by two lions. It is one of the most beautiful squares i've seen.
Updated Jul 19, 2007
Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado
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The Central Post Office is housed by the Palacio de Comunicaciones building. A historical monumental designed built by Antonio Palacio and Julian Otamendi. As for the locals they called it, Nuestra Senora de Correos(Our Lady of the Post).
Written Jul 19, 2007
Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado
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Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado
Cibeles Square tips and photos posted by real travelers and Madrid locals.
Write a ReviewThe Central Post Office is housed by the Palacio de Comunicaciones building. A historical monumental designed built by Antonio Palacio and Julian Otamendi. As...
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