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plaza de Colón

Almagro

7 story sections

square in Madrid, Spain

History & cultureBY TELLBY

Contents

7 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Orientation

    Welcome to the Plaza de Colón, one of Madrid's most significant and sprawling open spaces. This 'central square' is a profound meditation on Spanish history, exploration, and national identity. …

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  2. 2The Columbus Monument — The Navigator's Pillar

    At the center of the roundabout stands the 'statue of Christopher Columbus,' perched atop an elaborate Neo-Gothic pedestal. This monument, completed in the late 19th century, is the spiritual heart of the plaza. …

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  3. 3The Gardens of Discovery — Concrete and History

    To the side of the monument lie the 'Jardines del Descubrimiento,' a paved garden area that serves as a platform for further historical meditation. The gardens are dominated by four massive, abstract 'concrete monuments' known as…

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  4. 4The National Library Facade — The Temple of Knowledge

    Bordering the Plaza de Colón to the south is the 'National Library' (Biblioteca Nacional), an institution that owns 'more than 30 million publications.' While we will visit the museum specifically in our next stop, the 'facade'…

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  5. 5The Giant Spanish Flag — A Banner of Unity

    One of the most 'patriotic' sights in all of Madrid is located right here in the Plaza de Colón: 'the biggest Spanish flag of the whole country.' Measuring 294 square meters and flying from a pole that is 50 meters high, the flag…

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  6. 6The 'Julia' Sculpture — A Modern Face for Colón

    In recent years, the Plaza de Colón has welcomed a 'new and captivating' addition: the 'Julia' sculpture by Jaume Plensa. This is the 'head of a woman' that appears 'stretched and elongated,' standing 12 meters high on the…

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  7. 7Closing

    As we conclude our walk through the Plaza de Colón, we must reflect on the 'sweep of history' that this space represents. From the '15th-century voyages' of Columbus to the '19th-century Neo-Gothic' monument and the…

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What is plaza de Colón?

plaza de Colón is a place in Almagro with 7 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
LocationAlmagro
TypeHeritage
Story sections7
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates40.4249, -3.6894
Last updated

Nearby places

within a 5-minute walk
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