The Gran Vía

The century-old Gran Vía is one of the city's main thoroughfares and one of its most emblematic avenues. Its creation, between 1910 and 1931, marked the beginning of the city's modernization with the construction of the country's first skyscrapers and the introduction of contemporary architectural trends from the United States.

The project, designed to decongest the chaotic city center—which consisted of a network of narrow streets, twenty-two of which disappeared—was carried out in three sections, beginning at its intersection with Calle Alcalá. The first section continued to the Red de San Luis, the second to Plaza del Callao, and finally, the third continued to Plaza de España. Each of them reflected the new architecture of the years in which they were built. Because the project had to respect three religious buildings—the Royal Oratory of the Knight of Grace, the Church of San José, and the now-demolished Church of San Francisco de Borja—the avenue's layout ended up being more irregular than planned. The result is a magnificent collection of buildings that includes such iconic landmarks as the Metropolis Building, the Telefónica Building, the Casino, the Capitol Building, and the Callao Cinema. The latest renovation of Gran Vía was completed in November 2018, widening the sidewalks, reorganizing traffic, and opening new crosswalks, with the intention of giving greater prominence to pedestrians and cyclists, who have since benefited from a dedicated bike lane between Plaza de Callao and Plaza de España, heading uphill. In addition, the environmental and landscape quality was improved through the planting of new trees, and new models of benches, streetlights, and traffic lights were installed.