Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid

Palacio de Cibeles is the paired-building complex before you, recognised by its pale façades and monumental scale. It now serves as Madrid’s city hall and includes CentroCentro, a public cultural centre. Before this civic role, the complex handled the city’s post, telegraph and telephone services.

Antonio Palacios and Joaquín Otamendi designed it for Spain’s Society of Post and Telegraph. Construction began in 1907, and the palace opened officially on 14 March 1919. Its site once formed part of the Buen Retiro gardens, and choosing it caused controversy because recreational space was being taken away.

The complex covers about 30,000 m2 and consists of two buildings. The design belongs to the eclectic style and was among the early and most representative examples of Modernismo in central Madrid. Ángel García Díaz created the decorative work for the façades and interiors.

The project aimed to make a building intended for public use, which suits its transformation into a municipal and cultural venue. Since 1993, it has held the designation Bien de Interés Cultural in the monument category. The palace began its life as a communications hub and now turns that monumental setting toward civic life and culture.