CentroCentro

The Palacio de Cibeles (formerly known as the Palacio de Telecomunicaciones or Palacio de Comunicaciones) is a complex of two white-façaded buildings located in one of the centres of historic Madrid, Spain. They stand along one side of the Plaza de Cibeles in the Jerónimos neighbourhood (Retiro district) and occupy around 30,000 square metres of what were the former Jardines del Buen Retiro. The choice of site caused some controversy at the time, as it deprived Madrid of a place for recreation. The building's foundation stone was laid in 1907, and it was officially inaugurated on 14 March 1919, beginning its operation as a modern central distribution hub for post, telegraph and telephone services. After some architectural changes to the exterior of the building, such as the extension by two floors towards the street and the Pasaje de Montalbán, it began to house the municipal offices of the Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Madrid City Council) at the end of 2007, moving its offices from the Casa de la Villa and Casa de Cisneros, both located on the Plaza de la Villa. This early-21st-century renovation of the building also included a cultural area called "CentroCentro".

From the point of view of Spanish architecture, the complex is one of the first and most representative examples of Modernist architecture erected in central Madrid, with its façade evoking Neoplateresque and Salamancan Baroque styles. The building, commissioned through a municipal competition, was designed by the young Spanish architects Antonio Palacios and Joaquín Otamendi as the headquarters of the Sociedad de Correos y Telégrafos de España. The pair were also the authors of the projects for the Bilbao bridge, the Casino de Madrid and the San Sebastián bridge. This work marked the start of the meteoric construction careers of both architects. The decorative motifs of the façade and interior were created by the Romantic sculptor Ángel García Díaz, a regular collaborator of Antonio Palacios. One of the aims of the design was the construction of 'a building for the public'.

Over time, after their construction and normal use, the buildings gradually showed the effects of the changes made, so further refurbishments were carried out to improve communication systems. Modifications to both buildings were therefore made in the 1960s, directed by Alejandro de la Sota Martínez, and repair and renovation works were carried out between 1980 and 1992 by Antonio de Sala-Navarro y Reverter. The decline in postal use at the end of the 20th century gradually took its toll on the complex's functions, and as a result it lost prominence. In 1993 it was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Asset of Cultural Interest), in the Monument category. At the beginning of the 21st century it was incorporated into the municipal heritage and became a cultural centre and the seat of the Ayuntamiento de Madrid.