Gran Vía

Gran Vía is Madrid's showcase artery, cut through dense blocks between 1910 and 1931. For more than a kilometer it lines up early-20th-century facades with a dash of Chicago: the Metropolis building with its golden dome, the Telefónica headquarters and the Callao cinema. The street is famous for musical theaters, shops and bars; at night neon signs make it especially photogenic. It runs from Plaza de España to Calle de Alcalá.