Plaza de Oriente
Plaza de Oriente · Madrid
Por Spain ·
It is, without a doubt, one of the most monumental and beautiful architectural complexes in Madrid, thanks to the way it blends seamlessly with the Royal Palace and the Royal Theatre. A stroll through this area to admire it is a must for anyone visiting the city.
The first driving force behind the Plaza de Oriente was José Bonaparte, who proposed creating a large landscaped area opposite the Palace. A few years later, in 1817, Ferdinand VII commissioned a new project to build this space, although this too failed to materialise.
It was not until Isabella II ascended the throne that its final design was finally finalised, the work of the architect Narciso Pascual y Colomer.
The square was inaugurated in 1844, the same year that the equestrian statue of Philip IV, created by the Italian sculptor Pedro Tacca in 1640, was installed there; it stands 12 metres tall and has a diameter of 17 metres. With its meticulously designed gardens, the Plaza de Oriente has become a sculpture museum, thanks to the twenty figures of various Spanish monarchs that surround the square.
More at spain.info
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