Faro de Moncloa

As the expression goes, From Madrid to heaven, because once you've been to Madrid the only place that can top it is paradise itself. Enjoy the city from up high, taking in the wonderful views the Faro de Moncloa affords. Step into the panoramic lift that takes you up 92 metres to the observation deck which stands tall over the heart of Madrid's Ciudad Universitaria. This former transmission tower was built by architect Salvador Pérez Arroyo in 1992, the year in which the city was named European Capital of Culture, and stands at 110 metres tall.

Going up to the Faro de Moncloa observation deck is quite an experience. Just let your gaze wander through the huge glass windows. A whole series of monuments stretches out in front of you: the Royal Palace, La Almudena Cathedral, the Telefónica building on Gran Vía, the Cuatro Torres Business Area and, in the background, the peaks of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range. On clear days you can see for a hundred kilometres.

Information panels describe the city's growth over the course of its history, and feature scale drawings of the main buildings visible from the observation deck, together with details about their construction and a few interesting facts, in Spanish and English. Edifices that can be seen include Torrespaña, Cibeles Palace, the San Isidro Cemetery, or the "Crown of Thorns" historical heritage centre.

MONDAYS, CLOSED (except on holidays, long weekends and special openings).

Museum of the Americas

Right next door to Faro de Moncloa you'll find this fascinating museum, which houses collections from a number of cultures from across the American continent, including the Quimbaya Treasure, the most important set of precious metals from the Americas.

- Click here to check if the Faro de Moncloa is open today.