Plaza de España, Madrid

This large public square at the western end of Gran Vía was extensively redesigned in recent years to reconnect green space with the historic city center. At its heart stands a monument to the writer Miguel de Cervantes, featuring bronze figures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza before a stone obelisk. The square is flanked by two of Madrid's tallest mid-century towers, the Edificio España and the Torre de Madrid. Fountains, shaded walkways, and a reflecting pool make it a popular meeting point.