The Madrid City Council is convinced that the new Plaza de España is going to become a new tourist hub in the city, which at the same time will change the appearance of the center of the capital. Its new distribution seeks to encourage visitors to enjoy the public space and stay in it, beyond being a place of passage. Also the walk, that is why the project develops an extensive network of pedestrian routes with routes next to the Royal Palace, the Sabatini Gardens or the Campo del Moro, without interference, to reach Madrid Río, Gran Vía, the Conde Duque Cultural Center or the University neighborhood.

The Plaza de España, next to the Gran Vía, opens in a circle to accommodate all the flows in this great commercial artery. From there, a main path connects with the square that gives access to the Sabatini Gardens and extends to the large pedestrian area to the east of the Royal Palace. In addition, another pedestrian path runs along the south side of the square, connecting the Temple of Debod and Calle Ferraz with Calle Bailén. All this in a greener environment, since more than a thousand trees have been planted which, together with the existing ones, significantly improve the environmental quality of the area.

Another of the fundamental changes has to do with mobility. A tunnel has been built that connects Ferraz street with the intersection of the San Vicente slope and the Bailén tunnel has been extended there, starting at the level of Calle Mayor. Likewise, the overpass for vehicles built at the end of the 1960s and which has been in operation until the beginning of the works, becomes a pedestrian platform that constitutes the connecting piece that allows generating this continuous system of free public spaces.

Cycling mobility

The segregated bike path connects Ferraz Street with Bailén Street, linking the cycle lanes of San Quintín Street with those of Ferraz Street and Paseo del Pintor Rosales. This itinerary runs separately from the pedestrian paths by a line of trees and a hedge. For its part, the other east-west cycling axis connects the Cuesta de San Vicente with the Gran Vía through a segregated lane that runs alongside the road under the overpass. In total, more than three kilometers of cycle paths have been implemented on roadways and almost 400 meters of cycle path on spaces without cars.

Archaeological remains

In addition, the project will integrate most of the archaeological remains found during the excavations for the construction of the Bailén-Ferraz tunnel, such as the two floors of the Godoy Palace and the buttresses of the old Royal Stables next to the current Sabatini Gardens, as well such as the remains of the ’round path’ of the old San Gil barracks. These remains will not only be able to be visited by citizens and scholars, but also an archaeological itinerary will be implemented and an Interpretation Center of the monumental cornice of the city will be built to explain and help understand the evolution of the city very close to the place of your birth.