Gran Vía’s broad avenue cuts through Madrid in a line that bends around buildings the planners chose to preserve. Built in stages between 1910 and 1931, it transformed the city center while its changing façades reveal distinct architectural moments along the route.
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Gran Vía does not run as one perfectly straight line. Its subtle changes of direction reflect a compromise: planners carved a modern avenue through dense central Madrid while preserving several religious buildings in its path.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Gran Vía was built in three sections from 1910 to 1931.
- Its route removed numerous older streets in central Madrid.
- The avenue’s bends reflect the decision to preserve religious buildings in its path.
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