Madrid Architecture Week for tourists
The popular Madrid Architecture Week is organised each year at the beginning of October. This year, the event took place from 3rd to 10th October. Once again, it was organised by Madrid’s Official College of Architects and many other institutions. The aim of this annual event is to turn the city of Madrid into an international reference point. During the Madrid Architecture Week, tourists had the chance to see and to be revealed the secrets of some of the most iconic buildings of Madrid near their Madrid apartments. The places that were opened to the public include mainly modern constructions and urban buildings, such as the Palace of Communication, the Madrid Rio project and the historical site – the cemetery La Almudena.
The events in the programme of the Madrid Architecture Week presented the tourists with guided tours, discussions and architecture-themed guided tours with some of the architecture students and lecturers. These guided tours covered approximately fifteen buildings. Some of these most profound buildings included the Residencia de Estudiantes and the BBVA Tower, Casa de las Flores and Casa Árabe, Spanish Historical Heritage Institute, as well as the Crown of Thorns at Ciudad Universitaria. Other sites include the Madrid Metro Engine Shed, the Royal Astronomical Observatory and the construction site of the future Museum of Royal Collections.
This photo of Casa de Las Flores
Among the other activities organized in Madrid during the Madrid Architecture Week were guided walks along Calle Alcala and Gran Via, the modern homes in Sanchinarro, the Tiles in Madrid, as well as the Casa de Campo.
The programme for tourists during Madrid Architecture Week further included documentary film screenings and photographic exhibitions, however there were also some round-table discussions and lectures for the more professionally oriented participants. There were three guided tours and they covered Cuartel del Conde Duque, various routes on Madrid Rio and Cibeles Palace. The first one, Conde Duque Cultural Centre was built back in the year 1717 to serve as barracks for the elite military units that were guards of the monarchs. The place has been later operating as a cultural centre and is today being renovated and new facilities are to be added such as a new theatre and auditorium as well as one new exhibition space with a domed ceiling. The Madrid Rio tours featured the urban zone on the Manzanares River banks. Special attention was paid to the new bridges, the twin walkways with interesting decorations, the many sports zones; the tree-lined walk as well as the urban beach with its three swimming pools with oval form.
The last, Cibeles Palace guided tours, part of the Madrid Architecture Week, featured the building of the Antigua Casa de Correos y Telégrafos which was transformed into a new home for the City Council in Madrid. The most interesting feature of the renovated building was its glass dome. The views revealed from the terrace of the palace were just wonderful.
This post has been written by Vargas who writes about Barcelona apartments and apartment in Lisbon.
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