Edificio de Seguros La Aurora, Heritage building in Recoletos, Spain
Edificio de Seguros La Aurora is an eclectic building at the corner of Paseo de Recoletos in Madrid, featuring five stories capped with a decorative dome and a distinctive corner entrance. The structure contains three basement levels beneath the ground floor and upper floors with multiple entrances along both Paseo de Recoletos and Marqués de Duero.
The structure was designed in 1880 by architects Agustín Ortíz de Villajos and José Monasterio Arrillaga as a residential palace for businessman Ramón Pla Monje. Major modifications came in 1918, when two additional floors were added and ornamental elements received baroque-influenced renovations.
The insurance company La Aurora left its mark on the structure after purchasing it in 1922 by commissioning a bronze chariot sculpture atop the dome to symbolize economic prosperity. This sculptural addition became a recognizable landmark for those passing through the Recoletos area.
The building sits at a busy corner in Madrid's Salamanca district, easily reached by public transport and pedestrian paths. Visitors should know that this is an actively used structure, so interior access may be limited depending on current occupancy.
The bronze quadriga atop the dome was specifically commissioned to embody the financial power of the insurance company and remains a rare example of corporate sculpture in this part of Madrid. This ornamental detail is often overlooked despite being clearly visible from Paseo de Recoletos.
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