Madrid
Madrid
+ Madrid
Sights
* Basilica de San Francisco El Grande
* Basilica de San Miguel
* Botín
* Calle de Serrano
* Casa de América
* Casa Museo de Lope de Vega
* Casa de la Villa
* Casón del Buen Retiro
* Catedral de La Almundena
* Catedral de San Isidro
* Centro Cultural Conde Duque
* Convento de las Carboneras
* Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida
* Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Bernabéu Stadium)
* Iglesia de las Calatravas
* Iglesia de Las Salesas
* Iglesia de San Andrés Apóstol
* Iglesia y Convento de las Trinitarias
* Mercado de San Miguel
* Monasterio de la Encarnación
* Museo Arqueológico Nacional
* Museo Nacional de Antropología
* Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas
* Museo De La Real Academia De Bellas Artes De San Fernando
* Museo Cerralbo
* Museo Chicote
* Museo del Ejército
* Museo Naval
* Museo Romántico
* Museo Del Traje
* Palacio de Comunicaciones
* Palacio de las Cortes
* The Paseos
* Plaza de la Cibeles
* Plaza de Toros de las Ventas
* Puerta del Sol
* Puerta de Toledo
* El Rastro (Rastro Flea Market)
* Real Fábrica de Tapices
* Real Jardín Botánico
* Teleférico
* Telefónica
Excursions
+ Excursions
Walk/Drive
Food&Drink
In The Know
Did You Know?
( Highly Recommended )
Looking like a palace on the outside and a train station within, this building could well be the world's most impressive post office. Nicknamed Nuestra Señora de las Communicaciones, as if it were a cathedral, it dominates the Plaza de la Cibeles. The Banco de España stands opposite; further south, on the Paseo del Prado, is the Stock Exchange. These three grandiose buildings from the beginning of the 20th century were part of the city's programme of expansion and reflect a confidence in Madrid's future.
Inside, the post office is all marble and brass beneath a stained-glass ceiling providing plenty of natural light. The 80 different counters offer a wide variety of services from posting a parcel to paying the rent. Buying a stamp seems mundane by comparison. In the two side wings, you can stand and write your postcards at one of the 44 desks. Outside, customers slip their mail into 12 brass buzones (post boxes) marked Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, Barcelona and more. There is even a special one for urgentes. The post office is open daily; when the main door is closed at weekends use Gate H. Within the 12,000sq m complex is a chapel for members of staff (Door Y) and the Museo Postal y de Telegráfico, at the side (Door M) on Calle de Montalbán. This has been revamped to show off one of the world's great stamp collections. The oldest stamp, from 1850, bears the face of Isabel II.
Url: www.correos.es
Address: Plaza de la Cibeles s/n
Phone: 91 521 65 00; Museum 91 396 26 79
Hours: Daily 8:30am-9:30pm; (Museum) Mon-Fri 9-2, 5-7, Sat 9-2
Restaurant: Plenty near by (Inexpensive)
Metro: Banco de España
Accessible: Few
Admission: Free; museum free with passport/ID
Other: Casa de América, Museo Naval, Plaza de la Cibeles
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