461:
437:
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government. Their visit lasted two hours. The palace was at the time a symbol of national progress, modernity and the ideas of regenerationism that were taking root in the media and in some of the intellectuals of the age. The palace became the hub of communications in Madrid at the beginning of the twentieth century. After just one year, the palace became the international headquarters of the
Universal Postal Union (UPU). One of the first responsibilities of the palace was to deal with postal traffic. Palm trees were planted in the Plaza de Cánovas during the 1920s.
530:
560:
545:
327:
256:. The choice of the site generated some controversy at the time for depriving Madrid of recreational space. The first stone of the building was laid in 1907. The building was officially opened on 14 March 1919 and began operating as a modern distribution centre for post, telegraphs and telephones. Following some architectural changes to the building's exterior, such as the expansion of two floors and the street and pathway of Montalbán, it began to house municipal offices of the
42:
381:) until the construction of the new "Palacio de Comunicaciones". The location in the heart of the city resulted in road congestion and slow communication. The widening alterations to Puerta del Sol in 1856 led to the Casa de Correos finally hosting the Ministry of the Interior. The preliminary draft was approved by the minister of Public Works, Claudio Moyano, for the expansion on 19 July 1860; following the proposal project of the architect and engineer
302:. Palacios and Otamendi were also the consultants for the Bilbao Bridge, Madrid Casino and the San Sebastian Bridge. The Cybele Palace was the beginning of the brilliant career in construction for both architects. The decorative motifs of the façade and interior were made by the romantic sculptor Ángel García Díaz, a regular collaborator of Antonio Palacios. One of the design objectives was the construction of "a building for the public".
445:
and slowed down for a few years due to resistance and political struggles in the period. There were political instability and interests at that time that gave rise to the transfer of municipal sites. The
Chamber of Commerce in Madrid requested cancellation of the project and called for a new competition. The construction came to a halt for two years during the time the
389:, the Paseo del Prado and Recoletos continued being the preferred location for prestigious institutions and organisations, as well as mansions. Examples include, Buenavista Palace (the Army General Headquarters), which was designed by the architect Juan Pedro de Arnal in 1776 for the Dukes of Alba and the Palacio del Marqués de Linares (
637:
The
Palacio de Comunicaciones' transformation began in 2003 after the Collaboration Protocol between the City Council of Madrid and the Treasury Department to optimise the use of certain buildings in Madrid. The needs of the city hall and municipal administration had outgrown their traditional seat,
486:
despite the building not being completed until 1918. The construction materials required quickly brought the el Paseo del Prado to a standstill as between one thousand five hundred and two thousand tons of iron, seven thousand cubic meters of stone and a huge quantity of bricks were required. Groups
444:
The building took twelve years to complete. During this time, it was subjected to delays, superstitions, and various disputes. The project was approved in 1905 with construction commencing in 1907. The official opening was in 1919. After the approval of the design, the construction was interrupted
310:. Antonio de Sala-Navarro and Reverter carried out further repairs and alterations between 1980 and 1992. The decline in the use of postal mail in the late twentieth century gradually reduced the functions of the complex, and, as a result, it began to lose its importance. In 1993 it was declared a
471:
The work officially commenced on 12 September 1907. The works were awarded to the Toran and
Harguindey Society. The engineer Ángel Chueca Sainz was in charge of calculating the new building's metal structures, Chueca Sainz was the father of the distinguished architect Fernando Chueca Goitia. The
400:
in 1794, designed by
Ventura Rodríguez. The Plaza de Cibeles was originally called Plaza de Madrid, which was renamed as the Plaza de Castelar. The gardens of the Buen Retiro stretched to the Paseo del Prado. The so-called gardens of San Juan seemed to be the site for the construction of the new
633:
Telegraph services continued increasing in Spain until 1987. During this period the building underwent some restorations and a whitening of its façade in 1994. Since this date, the building's use had started to decline until 2005 when it became a purely residential service; with less than five
514:
After twelve years of construction, the building was officially opened at midday on 14 March 1919, with the name 'Catedral de las
Comunicaciones' (Cathedral of Communications). The royal couple, Alfonso XIII and his wife Victoria Eugenie, attended the celebration accompanied by members of the
305:
After their construction and due to the wear and tear of normal use, the buildings slowly started to show signs of the modifications made, which included alterations to improve the communication systems. Modifications were carried out in both buildings in the 1960s and were directed by
334:, in an aerial painting of Madrid in 1854, drawn by the French engraver, lithographer and architect Alfred Guesdon. Buen Retiro Palace, the Puerta de Alcalá and the gardens of the Buen Retiro zone, which will become the site for the future Cybele Place, are also visible.
612:
placed a, artillery battery in the Plaza de
Cibeles. The building was involved in a battle on 8 and 9 March when communist troops succeeded in taking the Palacio de Comunicaciones within a few hours, while Casado's troops were resisting in the Naval Office
641:
Therefore, the city council was relocated to the much grander but underused building on Plaza de
Cibeles. The first municipal bodies, including the office of the mayor, were moved in 2007; the city council held its first session in the palace in 2011.
600:, the building came under gun fire. The bullet holes can still be seen today on the building's white façade. The bullet holes were caused by the military-like actions at the end of the Civil War (at the beginning of March 1939), as a consequence of
581:), which is situated on Calle Alaclá, demolishing the Casas-Palacio (known as Santamarca) for its completion. The Plaza de Cibeles was the main location for various political celebrations, such as the proclamation of the
980:
428:. This new larger road axis aimed to displace the role of the east–west axis featuring the roads Mayor-Alcalá, which had previously been predicted by architect Silvestre Pérez in 1810, during the Bonapartist reign.
417:. This led to the disappearance of the Real Pósito and the construction of the Palacio de Linares between 1873 and 1900. The Alcañices Palace or the Duke of Sexto were demolished to make way for the building of the
318:) and classified in the 'monument' category. At the beginning of the 21st century it was incorporated into the municipal estate and became a cultural centre and seat of the City Council of Madrid.
960:
502:(as Minister of the Interior) were to visit the construction. Interior building works were concluding between 1916 and 1918. The cost of the building was at the time twelve million
460:
436:
950:
765:
REAL DECRETO 892/1993, de 4 de junio, por el que se declara bien de interés cultural con categoría de
Monumento, el edificio denominado Palacio de Comunicaciones, de Madrid.
272:, which were both located in the Plaza de la Villa. This renovation of the building from the early twenty-first century also included a cultural area called "CentroCentro".
405:
had previously carried out studies for the remodelling of the area and had one of them published. The unveilings of the gardens of the Buen Retiro in 1876 and the
529:
589:
was raised on the façade of the
Palacio de Comunicaciones. The first remodelling was undertaken, adding two further floors to the management building.
842:
Soledad, Búrdalo (2001). "Diez décadas prodigiosas: el Palacio de Comunicaciones de Madrid, símbolo de la evolución de correos en el último siglo".
985:
482:(Our Lady of Communications) because of its monumental character and size. In 1916 it first opened its doors to the Public Postal Savings Bank (
457:
in the neighbourhood of Cuatro Caminos and in 1910 the headquarters for the Banco Español del Río de la Plata in the neighbourhood of Alcalá.
232:
and telegraph and telephone headquarters, it is now occupied by Madrid City Council, serving as the city hall, and the public cultural centre
112:
975:
965:
945:
775:
Grabado de Alfred Guesdon (Nantes, 1808-1876) realizado hacia 1854 y publicado en la revista «La Illustration, Journal Universel de París».
586:
681:
Pérez Rojas, Francisco Javier. «Arquitectura madrileña de la primera mitad del siglo XX : Palacios, Otamendi, Arbós, Anasagasti».
739:
559:
544:
609:
307:
690:
592:
Despite the important location, the building did not suffer major damage from the bombings that devastated Madrid during the
253:
220:) until 2011, is a complex composed of two buildings with white facades and is located in one of the historical centres of
406:
494:
By 1916, many of the finished façade elements were visible to passers-by from the street below. The media announced that
491:, who suspended his involvement and Manuel Ramos Rejano, from the Sevillian ceramists, sculpted the interior decoration.
342:
to transform the city onto an administrative and political centre for the nation. The Calle de Alcalá initially began at
105:
495:
446:
397:
916:
Isla Ayuso, Belén (2000). "Palacio de Comunicaciones: intervención en una de las muestras del modernismo madrileño".
701:
Isla Ayuso, Belén (2000). «Palacio de Comunicaciones: intervención en una de las muestras del modernismo madrileño».
311:
298:
and Joaquín Otamendi through a municipal competition to be the headquarters for the Society of Post and Telegraph of
168:
955:
450:
727:
382:
269:
261:
970:
784:
645:
The Casa de la Villa is still owned by the municipality and is used for receptions and other formal events.
634:
hundred users. In 1996 the architect Belén Isla Ayuso was in charge of the first restoration of the façade.
582:
499:
280:
617:), the War Office and the Bank of Spain. Much later it would be confirmed as the beginning of the street
355:
453:. During these processes, J. Otamendi tackled two other projects in the capital. In 1908 he began the
285:
809:
402:
367:
363:
276:
449:
was in government. The construction processes for the new post office began with the arrival of the
618:
425:
386:
331:
326:
294:
façade and Baroque Salamanca evocations. The building was designed by the young Spanish architects
487:
of artists and artisans were organised by the sculptor Ángel García. Among them were the ceramist
41:
454:
339:
751:
Arévalo Cartagena, Juan Manuel (2004). «Un escultor para arquitectos: la obra de Ángel García».
410:
638:
the Casa de la Villa and Casa de Cisneros, both of which are located in the Plaza de la Villa.
921:
885:
847:
735:
686:
601:
593:
551:
390:
351:
295:
245:
197:
183:
338:
Madrid was growing in population and size in the seventeenth century after the decision of
597:
414:
347:
291:
249:
714:
Pérez Rojas, Francisco Javier (1985). «Antonio Palacios y la arquitectura de su época».
605:
503:
488:
424:
On 4 April 1910 the works commenced to demolish and build the north–south road axis of
343:
939:
574:
418:
371:
396:
One of the distinguishing elements of the surroundings was the installation of the
354:). Madrid's population growth meant that postal communication during the reign of
918:
Restauración & Rehabilitación: Revista Internacional del Patrimonio Histórico
703:
Restauración & Rehabilitación: Revista Internacional del Patrimonio Histórico
229:
82:
880:
Montero Barrado, Severiano (2001). "Arqueología de la guerra civil en Madrid".
825:
Sambricio, Carlos (1975). "Sivestre, Pérez. Un arquitecto de la Ilustración".
925:
889:
851:
127:
114:
732:
El Palacio de Comunicaciones: un siglo de historia de Correos y Telégrafos
465:
290:
and most representative, to be built in the centre of Madrid, with its
683:
Exposición celebrada en el Museo Municipal de Madrid, en marzo de 1987
472:
construction started quickly and the people gave it the humorous name
814:
El Parque de Madrid. Los Jardines del Buen Retiro. El Salón del Prado
536:
257:
221:
94:
358:
was promoted through the construction of the Real Casa de Correos (
46:
Cybele Palace, with the fountain of the same name in the foreground
459:
435:
325:
299:
252:) and occupies about 30,000 m of what were the old gardens of the
225:
98:
409:
two years later led to the traffic moving to the junction of the
664:
Ariza, Carmen (1990). «Los jardines del Buen Retiro de Madrid».
867:
Proclamación de la República: La fiesta popular del 14 de julio
981:
Buildings and structures in Jerónimos neighborhood, Madrid
869:(primera ed.). Ayuntamiento de Madrid. p. 245.
789:«La Puerta del Sol y sus monumentos (siglos XVI y XVII)»
800:
Acuerdo Municipal de Madrid de 14 de diciembre de 1900.
844:
Revista de los Ministerios de Fomento y Medio Ambiente
829:. San Sebastián: Colegio de Arquitectos Vasco-Navarro.
573:
In 1927 saw the construction of the rear half of the
179:
174:
164:
159:
151:
143:
104:
90:
78:
70:
65:
55:
23:
506:, almost three times the initial amount proposed.
865:Martínez Rus, Ana (2002). Madrid siglo XX (ed.).
520:Decoration around the windows on the main facade
440:A view of one of the glass domes from the inside
362:), which was allocated to the Spanish architect
248:in the Los Jerónimos neighbourhood (district of
244:The palace was built on one of the sides of the
629:Decline in its use as a postal centre and reuse
30:
8:
961:Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in Madrid
791:, Madrid, Ayuntamiento y el I.E.M. (folleto)
718:(Madrid: Ayuntamiento de Madrid) (38): 3-20.
377:The building served as the Casa de Correos (
498:(as Director General of Communication) and
393:), which is currently the Casa de América.
951:Buildings and structures completed in 1919
837:
835:
20:
260:in 2007, moving its departments from the
660:
658:
366:. After the crowning of the new monarch
279:stance, is one of the first examples of
654:
608:'s government. The constitution of the
525:
370:, Charles III reassigned the architect
385:to expand the old city limits. During
169:Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
7:
477:Nuestra Señora de las Comunicaciones
755:(301-302): 289-306. ISSN 0017-2715.
730:(2000). Correos y Telégrafos, ed.
685:(Madrid: Ayuntamiento de Madrid).
16:Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
14:
816:(primera ed.). Madrid: Fortanet.
558:
543:
528:
40:
986:Post office buildings in Spain
882:Historia y Comunicación Social
1:
535:Head of the Egyptian Goddess
214:Palacio de Telecomunicaciones
61:Palacio de Telecomunicaciones
976:City and town halls in Spain
966:Former post office buildings
946:1919 establishments in Spain
705:(44): 34-45. ISSN 1134-4571.
432:The building: a long process
218:Palace of Telecommunications
906:, recorrido por la Gran Vía
734:(primera edición). Madrid.
587:flag of the Second Republic
585:on 14 April 1931, when the
228:. Formerly the city's main
1002:
510:Inauguration and beginning
407:Hipódromo de la Castellana
387:Spain's restoration period
316:Asset of Cultural Interest
275:The whole complex, from a
668:(Ayuntamiento de Madrid)
206:Palacio de Comunicaciones
59:Palacio de Comunicaciones
51:
39:
28:
610:National Defence Council
401:building. The architect
312:Bien de Interés Cultural
210:Palace of Communications
904:Programa de TV «Trazos»
902:Santiago Amón, (1977),
615:Ministerio de la Marina
583:Second Spanish Republic
484:Caja Postal de Ahorros)
464:View of the building's
175:Design and construction
827:Catálogo de Exposición
728:Bahamonde Magro, Ángel
468:
441:
383:Carlos María de Castro
360:Royal House of Letters
350:(at the height of the
335:
201:
147:Ayuntamiento de Madrid
128:40.418906°N 3.692084°W
31:
884:(6). Madrid: 97–122.
785:Virginia Tovar Martín
753:Goya: Revista de Arte
463:
439:
329:
204:), formally known as
368:Charles III of Spain
356:Fernando VI of Spain
330:The bullring at the
308:Alejandro de la Sota
277:Spanish architecture
133:40.418906; -3.692084
124: /
79:Architectural style
66:General information
810:Grases Riera, José
604:'s revolt against
469:
455:Hospital of Maudes
451:Conservative Party
442:
398:Fountain of Cybele
340:Philip II of Spain
336:
202:Palacio de Cibeles
32:Palacio de Cibeles
956:Palaces in Madrid
602:Segismundo Casado
594:Spanish Civil War
496:Francos Rodríguez
403:José Grases Riera
391:Palace of Linares
364:Ventura Rodríguez
266:House of the City
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352:Plaza de Cibeles
332:Puerta de Alcalá
296:Antonio Palacios
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270:Casa de Cisneros
262:Casa de la Villa
246:Plaza de Cibeles
187:Joaquín Otamendi
184:Antonio Palacios
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971:Paseo del Prado
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579:Banco de España
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411:Calle de Alcalá
348:Paseo del Prado
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144:Current tenants
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86:Neo-Plateresque
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565:An Aztec deity
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489:Daniel Zuloaga
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344:Puerta del Sol
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292:Neoplateresque
258:City of Madrid
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194:Cibeles Palace
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24:Cibeles Palace
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920:(44): 34–45.
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623:The Great Way
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596:. During the
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575:Bank of Spain
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500:Santiago Alba
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447:Liberal Party
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419:Bank of Spain
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412:
408:
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399:
394:
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388:
384:
380:
375:
374:to the city.
373:
372:Jamie Marquet
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361:
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349:
346:and ended at
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606:Juan Negerín
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234:CentroCentro
233:
217:
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209:
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193:
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180:Architect(s)
56:Former names
18:
379:Post Office
284: [
254:Buen Retiro
230:post office
152:Inaugurated
131: /
106:Coordinates
83:Eclecticism
940:Categories
691:8450559227
649:References
281:Modernismo
268:) and the
116:40°25′08″N
926:1134-4571
890:1137-0734
852:1136-6141
119:3°41′32″W
74:Completed
812:(1905).
787:(2008),
619:Gran Vía
550:Head of
466:transept
426:Gran Vía
413:and the
240:Overview
91:Location
846:(494).
666:Lunwerg
504:pesetas
322:History
198:Spanish
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888:
850:
738:
689:
537:Hathor
250:Retiro
222:Madrid
212:) and
160:Height
95:Madrid
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552:Ceres
480:'
474:'
300:Spain
288:]
226:Spain
99:Spain
922:ISSN
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