Torrespaña, Television tower in Madrid, Spain
Torrespaña is a 231-meter-high television tower constructed from reinforced concrete and steel that rises above Madrid's landscape and carries hundreds of broadcasting antennas. The structure was engineered to transmit signals for television and radio networks across the surrounding region.
Construction began in February 1981 and the tower opened on June 7, 1982, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup that year. This opening marked the beginning of a new era for Spain's broadcasting infrastructure.
Madrid residents call the tower El Pirulí, a playful reference to its cone shape that resembles the lollipops popular in Spain during the 1980s. This nickname remains part of the city's everyday vocabulary.
The tower is visible from across the city and serves as a natural landmark for orientation when exploring the area. The production facilities at its base are not always open to the public, so visitors should check ahead to see which areas may be accessible.
The production center at its base houses Spain's state television news services and operates as a hidden hub for daily news production. Few visitors realize this facility coordinates the broadcast operations that reach millions of homes throughout the country each day.
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