Plaza de Castilla, square in Madrid, Spain
Plaza de Castilla is a large, bustling square at Madrid's northern edge where Paseo de la Castellana begins. The space is framed by tall buildings including the distinctive Torres KIO and the bright blue-and-yellow Torre de Castilla, with the golden Calatrava Column and a monument to José Calvo Sotelo standing as landmarks.
The square evolved from an early 20th-century transport hub into a modern business center. The monument to José Calvo Sotelo, killed in 1936 just before the Spanish Civil War, has stood since 1960 as a reminder of that turbulent period in Madrid's story.
The square marks the site of a former water supply center and reflects Madrid's shift from industrial past to modern hub. The preserved structures like the old water depot and Los Nichos housing show how the area served workers and evolved over time.
The square is easily reached by metro with three lines meeting here: lines 1, 9, and 10. Several bus routes also stop at the plaza, and nearby Chamartín station serves longer train journeys, while wide streets make driving straightforward.
The Torres KIO lean inward at roughly 15 degrees, creating a disorienting perspective that catches visitors off guard. This dramatic tilt makes them a photography highlight that stands out starkly against the sky and is often overlooked by those simply looking straight ahead.
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