Location Madrid, Spain Criteria Monument Reference no. RI-51-0008214 Phone +34 914 80 00 08 | Type Non-movable Designated 1993 Province Community of Madrid Architect Antonio Palacios | |
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Address Plaza Cibeles, 1, 28014 Madrid, Spain Hours Open today · 10AM–8PMTuesday10AM–8PMWednesday10AM–8PMThursday10AM–8PMFriday10AM–8PMSaturday10AM–8PMSunday10AM–8PMMondayClosed Similar Plaza de Cibeles, Puerta de Alcalá, CentroCentro, Royal Palace of Madrid, Buen Retiro Park | ||
The Cybele Palace (Palacio de Cibeles), formerly the Palace of Communication (Spanish: Palacio de Comunicaciones) until 2011, is a palace located on the Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, Spain. Currently the seat of the City Council, it opened in 1919 as the headquarters of Correos, the Spanish postal and telecommunications service. It was designed by Antonio Palacios and Joaquín Otamendi.
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History
Like the eighteenth century fountain in front of it, the palace has become an emblematic monument of the city. However, since 2007 it no longer serves its original function. There is a post office in part of the building, but Correos headquarters has moved to Campo de las Naciones and the Postal and Telegraphic Museum to Aravaca. Now it is the seat of the Madrid City Council. The mail sorting office has been converted to serve as the council chamber.
Conservation status and access
Palacios is seen as a modernist architect, but his work is also of interest for its historical references, for example to the work of Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón. As the Palacio de Comunicaciones, the building was given a heritage listing (Bien de Interés Cultural) in 1993.
Access
As well as the city hall, the building houses a cultural centre called CentroCentro.
The central tower has a viewing point (mirador), a terrace from which visitors can view the city.