Faro de Madrid

Madrid


After a decade closed, this supremely ugly Madrid landmark just in front of Museo de América reopened in 2015. It looks out over the northern corner of the Parque del Oeste and has sweeping views of western Madrid. It was built in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America and to celebrate Madrid’s role that year as the European Capital of Culture. Sunset is the best time to visit.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Madrid attractions

1. Museo de América

0.08 MILES

Empire may have become a dirty word but it defined how Spain saw itself for centuries. Spanish vessels crossed the Atlantic to the Spanish colonies in…

2. Parque del Oeste

0.1 MILES

Sloping down the hill behind the Moncloa metro station, Parque del Oeste is quite beautiful, with plenty of shady corners where you can recline under a…

3. Teleférico

0.65 MILES

One of the world’s most horizontal cable cars (it never hangs more than 40m above the ground), the Teleférico putters out from the slopes of Parque del…

4. Cementerio de la Florida

0.72 MILES

Across the train tracks east of the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida is the cemetery where 43 rebels executed by Napoleon’s troops are buried. They…

5. Palacio de Liria

0.81 MILES

This 18th-century mansion, rebuilt after a fire in 1936, nestles amid the modern architecture just north of Plaza de España as a reminder of the days when…

6. Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida

0.82 MILES

The frescoed ceilings of the restored Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida are one of Madrid's most surprising secrets. The southern of the two small…

7. Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo

0.88 MILES

This rich collection of modern Spanish art includes mostly paintings and graphic art with a smattering of photography, sculpture and drawings. Highlights…

8. Antiguo Cuartel del Conde Duque

0.9 MILES

This grand former barracks dominates Conde Duque on Malasaña's western fringe with its imposing facade stretching 228m down the hill. Built in 1717 under…