Madrid - Plaza de la Cibeles

Opposite the Palacio de Comunicaciones stands the Banco de España, Spain's national bank and the successor to the Bank of San Carlos founded under Charles III. It was built in 1884 by Eduard Adaro and Severiano Saínz de la Lastra in the style in vogue in France at the end of the last century. The building has subsequently been extended on several occasions. Inside the bank there are paintings by famous masters such as Goya, Sorolla, Mengs and Maella.

The Fuente de Cibeles is one of the great landmarks of Madrid and the central feature of one of the city's most beautiful squares. On the fountain the Greek goddess of fertility and love sits on a chariot drawn by two lions. The fountain was designed by the architect Ventura Rodríguez and its execution completed by Francisco Gutiérrez and Robert Michel in 1782.

Originally the fountain stood at the beginning of the Recoletos, looking towards the Paseo del Prado. It was only later that it was turned round 90 degrees so that it faced the Calle de Alcalá.

The southeastern side of the Plaza de la Cibeles is dominated by the Palacio de Comunicaciones, the main post office, known by the people of Madrid as "Nuestra Señora de Correos" (Or lady of the post). It was built between 1905 and 1917 by Antonio Palacio and Julián Otamendi in a historicist monumental style.

The northeastern side of the Plaza de la Cibeles is occupied by the Palacio de Linares. The palace was built in the 19th C. by Carlos Colubi.