Cibeles Palace

The former Communication Palace is a monumental building that has been the seat of Madrid City Council since 2007. Opened in 1909, it was designed and built by Antonio Palacios and Joaquín Otamendi as the headquarters for the Spanish Post Office. In 1993, it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) in the Monument category.

With clear Rationalist and Functionalist traits, the building represents the union of tradition and modernity. Comprising stone, iron and glass, Cibeles Palace stands where the former gardens of El Buen Retiro used to be.

The building is divided into different spaces:

• The former Operations Hall of the Spanish Post Office, on the 2nd Floor, houses one of the city's tourist information points as well as the cafeteria and restaurant Café Cibeles. In addition, as of December 2022, the Patio de Operaciones courtyard has been home to the Landscape of Light Interpretation Centre, an educational space where you can discover the treasures of this area, which stretches from Paseo del Prado, to the neighbourhood of Jerónimos and El Retiro Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 25 July 2021.

• The former Palace Chapel, on the 2nd Floor, holds various cultural activities.

• CentroCentro, which boasts 8,000 m2 spread throughout Floors 1, 3, 4 and 5, offers an extensive programme of cultural activities focusing on contemporary art.

• The Glass Gallery is a 2,800 m2 multi-purpose space that features a spectacular glass dome.

• The fully accessible Caja de Música Auditorium, with capacity for 262 people, can be found under the Glass Gallery. Built at a later date, it holds presentations, concerts and conferences.

• Two multipurpose rooms: Jorge García Berlanga and Sigfrido Martín Begué, which are located on the 1st Floor.

• The Cornamusa Cibeles restaurant and the Azotea Cibeles rooftop bar can be found on the 6th Floor.

• Mirador Madrid observation deck, located in the palace tower, offers an amazing panoramic view of the city.