In the heart of Madrid we find the Plaza España, a transit place that allows us to get from The Royal Palace al Temple of Debod and Gran Vía, an important crossroads, (although for years this space was an edge of the city) but which has not had an easy history, neither today nor centuries ago. We leave you linked an excellent article for those who want to delve deeper into that history.
In time of Philip II, With the opening of the Court in Madrid, it was only an area of ​​orchards, watered by the stream of Leganites that was born very close, in the Fountain of the Pipes.
In 1656 it appears in the Texeira map inside the fence built by Philip IV.
Carlos III He bought land here to build the Convent of Gilitos, which was to house the friars of the old convent of San Gil, then located next to the Royal Palace. The work was carried out according to the plans of Manuel Martin Rodriguez, but the monks never inhabited it.
Joseph Bonaparte He installed the San Gil Barracks in the building, which was for Corps guards, then for Cavalry and ended up being for Artillery. The barracks remained there until it was demolished in 1908-1909 to undertake the Plaza España project. The project was made in 1910 but was never completed.
Starting in the 60s, Spain was in a different period, Madrid began to have a more cosmopolitan appearance, there was talk of the Spanish economic miracle, after years of isolation we opened ourselves to the outside, our tourist development was taking shape, those were the years of the construction of two of the most significant buildings in the Plaza.
Tower of Madrid
The Madrid Tower was at the time the tallest building in the city. Built between 1954 and 1957, its height reaches 142 meters, being visible, for example, from the Royal Palace or the Temple of Debod. It is located on one of the corners of Plaza de España (at the beginning of Calle Princesa). It is the work of the brothers Otamendi Machimbarrena, who were commissioned to build it shortly after the España Building was built. Its works were completed on October 15, 1957. The Madrid Tower was for a few years the tallest concrete building in the world, and until the completion of the telecommunications tower Torrespaña (the famous Lollipop 1982, built for our World Cup), the tallest construction in Spain. Likewise, the tallest building in Europe until 1967, when it was surpassed by the Tour du Midi (Brussels, Belgium), 150 meters high.
Building Spain
On the land resulting from the extension of Gran Vía to Calle de la Princesa, the so-called España Building was built, an architectural complex that occupies the front of the square characterized by its staggered silhouette in four heights. It was built in 1953 and is still part of the skyline of our city at 117 meters high.
We cannot forget the fountain in tribute to Cervantes, with Don Quixote and Sancho, one of the essential monuments in the photos of tourists passing through Madrid.
Today the Plaza de España is at the center of the debate, after a significant decline, with several of its buildings closed, it arouses the interest of hotel operators and investors. It is an opportunity for the future. But it affects public space and its use, the quality of our urban landscape, the regeneration of the built heritage and some buildings with historical or artistic protection, let us trust that a solution suitable for everyone will be adopted and we will be able to enjoy a great square that It opens up countless visits to one side and the other.

Much remains to be told, the setting for so many films by Edgar neville, the Gallardo House, its basements and cinemas... it will have to be for another 365 days in Madrid.

A hug and a very good weekend.