Plaza de España, Central square with Cervantes monument at Gran Vía, Madrid, Spain.

Plaza de España is a large public square in Madrid with a central monument surrounded by landscaped areas, rectangular ponds, and granite structures. The space unfolds across a generous area with different zones for walking and stopping to rest.

The square's layout was approved in 1909 and the definitive project in 1911, after the San Gil barracks was demolished between 1908 and 1909. The area had earlier been part of the Príncipe Pío hill, where French firing squads executed prisoners during the 1808 uprising. The Cervantes monument was inaugurated in 1929.

The monument's figures include Dulcinea and Aldonza Lorenzo, added after the initial group, alongside allegories of the five continents reading Don Quixote and a figure of Spanish Literature holding a book. The landscaping uses olive trees, a nod to the La Mancha plains of the novel.

The site is easy to reach through the Metro station at its eastern corner, which connects to multiple lines and provides access to different city areas. The square itself is well-developed with clear pathways and plenty of space to explore and rest.

Olive trees circle the monument, creating a direct link to the La Mancha landscape where Don Quixote's adventures happen in the novel. This planting choice physically connects the urban square to the Spanish countryside of the famous story.