Gran Via (Great Way) is an ornate and upscale shopping street located in central Madrid. It leads from Calle de Alcala (Alcala street), close to Plaza de Cibeles, to Plaza de Espana. The lively street is one of the city’s most important shopping areas, with a large number of hotels and large movie theaters; it is also noted for the grand architecture prevalent among many of its buildings. Now, most of the theaters are being replaced by shopping malls. Must for Madrid sightseeing tours.
GPS travel destinations: 40° 25′ 12″ N, 3° 42′ 13″ W
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Apr 172008
The Plaza de Cibeles is an attractive square featuring a famous sculpture with fountains that have been adopted as a symbol for the city of Madrid. The fountain of Cibeles is found in the part of Madrid commonly called the Paseo de Recoletos. It depicts the goddess Cibeles (Cybele), the Phrygian goddess of fertility, who is seen sitting on a chariot and being pulled by two lions. On one side of the fountain of Cibeles, the Paseo de Recoletos starts, heading north to join up with the Paseo de la Castellana. On the other side, the Paseo del Prado begins and heads off south, towards the fountain of Neptune, in the Plaza de Canovas del Castillo, and on until Atocha. Up until the 19th century both the fountain of Neptune and Cibeles looked directly at each other, until the city council decided to turn them round to face towards the centre of the city. Great summer tourist destination.
GPS travel coordinates: 40° 25′ 9″ N, 3° 41′ 35″ W
