Thumbs down this summer as Madrid is a disaster area. It pains me to post this message since I love this city soooo much but I felt it was only fair that I voiced my opinion and warned visitors about the construction and restoration going on in Madrid. Invaded by scaffolding and construction materials/equipmen is an understatement.
Below are some links to photos that I have taken of the closed monuments and tourist attractions that are not very photogenic these days.
1) The "Plaza de La Villa" (currently covered with scaffolding and soon to be cleaned is the facade of the "Casa de la Villa"). The stone face will be cleaned and left looking new. The "Casa de Cisneros" was put through this cleaning last month and the truth is they did a great job. When doing construction/restoration on a very popular site, the town hall usually has the good taste to design a cloth cover for the scaffolding that is painted like the building behind it, CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT I MEAN. So, while not ugly, it is not the real thing either. This restoration is estimated to end in September 2001.
2) The "Plaza de Isabel II" is currently sporting those attractive orange and white barriers which make a decent photo of the statue of Isabel difficult to say the least. This work is estimated to end in September of 2001.
3) The "Jardines del Descubrimiento" in the Plaza de Col�n have the monuments completely blocked off. I asked the foreman when (more or less) the work would be completed but got no answer, he simply did not know but said that it would continue in the current state until at least late September .
4) Part of "El Paseo de los Recoletos". Less visited by tourists to Madrid, at the north end of the "Paseo de los Recoletos", there is also restoration going on.
In addition, you can forget about getting a clean & clear photo of the following until September (at least):
1) "Puerta del Sol" - there is a hideous blocked off area right in the center that, while does not affect photos of monuments in Sol such as the Bear and Madro�o tree, Casa de Correos, etc, kind of destroys the possibilty of a Sol overview photo.
2) Part of the "Calle Cava de San Miguel" since there is a huge amount of scaffolding. In fact, if I look outside my kitchen window to the left, it is right there on the facade of the building next door
In addition to the rampant monument restoration, there is scaffolding on just about every street and in many "plazas" ("squares"). While we all know that restoration of monuments is necessary, it is hard to deal with the blow, especially when they are all being renovated at the same time.
I will add to this list as I see more construction/restoration going on.
There is good news however, since you can not get decent photos of the monuments/sites above, you can always use mine
Thanx for the heads up, Jer. One wonders if this is just another example of Spanish bureaucracy exerting its right to go mad, or if someone actually considered that in the summer they have a better change of completing "obras" without rain. Or, maybe they just want to whet our desire to come back to see the finished product. Glad we've got your pix to fall back on
Metaphors be with you.
Posts: 16 | Location: San Gabriel, USA | Registered: 22 July 2001
Hey jennie, wow you are fast, I just finished that post when you answered it. On your toes just before your departure for Spain, that's what I like to see .
Actually, your speculation is interesting. Truth is I do not know why they choose the summer months to do this work. It may have something the do with the fact that the city is less packed (by locals at least) during the summer. However, the city should be more worried about the damage this does to tourism. If a visitor comes to Madrid for the first time this summer, he or she is surely going to be turned off to future return visits. A shame (:eek because the city is so amazing!
Not to imply that the govt. officials here are corrupt but I also feel that good old "kickbacks" have a role to play in the huge amount of construction going on.
Another possible reason that many do not think of is the upcoming "euro". Since pretty soon all pesetas need to be converted to euros. Anyone who has very large amounts of "black money" (illegally earned) lying around needs to spend it or declare it prior to July 1st, 2002 (when the peseta will officially be worth nothing). Instead of declaring it and having to justify where it came from, many invest it in real estate (purchasing/constructing) and hence avoid the tax man (& possible legal problems).
Hey Jer, why so many people in the pic. of the Town hall? I remember being there this past year for Navidades and they had the most wonderful, colorful illusion over the facade. Recuerdas?, If you have any more info on what I saw, could you elaborate? thanks, La Duquesa...
Posts: 91 | Location: san diego, ca, usa | Registered: 23 May 2001
Hola laduque, good to see you are still alive, have not seen you on the board for a while .
YOUR WONDERFUL COLORFUL ILLUSION, was actually covering the cleaning of the "Casa de Cisneros" (the stone is very bright now and they did a great job!) next to the Town Hall. I think I explained it in the opening post for this thread but here goes again --> When doing construction/restoration on a very popular site, the city usually has the good taste to design a cloth cover for the scaffolding that is painted like the building behind it.
Oh yeah, as for the huge amount of people in the shot, I took it during the first Semana Santa procession before I left town for a little town in Andaluc�a. The complete set of Semana Santa pics is at www.multimadrid.com/sites/semanasanta/semanasanta.htm. If you look at them all you will even get to see a pic of our lovely Mayor
Interestingly enough when we were in Lisboa last week, we discovered that they are providing *very* serious competition in the amount of *obras* (construction) per square meter...one theory we had was that everybody had left Madrid to go do obras in Lisboa, while all the Lisboetas have gone to Madrid to do obras there...sounds as reasonable as anything else, tho Jer may be on to somethin' with the advent of the euro...go figure
Metaphors be with you.
Posts: 16 | Location: San Gabriel, USA | Registered: 22 July 2001
Wow! Sounds like a possibility for a new "Camino Pilgrimage". Maybe "El Camino de la Obra" ("The Construction Pilgrimage"). Never knew that scaffolding was so attractive
On a positive note, we are making progress.
I am happy to update you all that #s 2) The "Plaza de Isabel II" and 1) "Puerta del Sol" below it in my opening post for this thread, are clear for photographing as of mid August, 2001
Can't wait to get that Puerta del Sol Panoramic to add to my PANORAMIC TOUR (just not the same without it).
Let's also remember that not only do these beautiful moments and buildings need restoring every so often, the city is also working hard to improve its image for the upcoming possibility of being chosen for THE location for the 2012 Olympics. I must admit that when the Palacio de Deportes burned down I was just a bit suspicious... But hey! Now they can build a NEWER, more MODERN one in its place! Thank goodness for insurance, right? hehehee...
But yes, it IS frustrating to go to Madrid and see our/my favorite monuments covered in scaffolding or blocked by construction barriers. VERY frustrating!! I've been fortunate during my last 4 trips, only seeing "The Green Shroud" covering a couple nice buildings along the Gran V�a or an advertisement covering one of the buildings in the Puerta del Sol. Oh well.. that's progress for you! I'll take it, though. It means they're keeping it nice for us all for years to come. Thanks, Ayuntamiento de Madrid (city hall)!
Well, yeah monument restoration is a necessary evil but what makes it all horrible is the private construction going on at the same time. "Scaffolding on every corner" seems to have replaced "De Madrid al Cielo" as the Madrid "Lema" ("Motto").
Buenoooooo! As for the olympic possibilities, although I am dreaming of a 2012, 2016 or 2020 summer games in Madrid, I am realistic and see that it will most probably not happen.
On the bright side, it looks as if the work is winding up on the Plaza de la Villa so get your cameras ready if you are coming over
Well, as they say "every silver cloud has a dark lining" and the construction in Madrid is no exception. There is a new MAJOR victim in the restoration of the city, the Retiro Park. Work began in early October to empty, fix, clean and refill the main "estanque" ("pond" in this case) of the Retiro Park. I guess this is a necesary evil since it has not been emptied and cleaned in 20 years . Visiting that area of the park during this cleaning phase will be a bit depressing but but just think, when they are done we will be able to see the bottom of the pond, something I personally have never come close to.
Don't ask me what they did with all the fishies that were in there but the pond is no longer and will be under massivce construction for the next 4.5-8 months. The estimate for the construction to be completed is "by next summer" (a direct quote translated from officials in charge).
Ok, I have (as usual) come through with the photos so just click on the corresponding description below to see the shot:
That's life, although King Alfonso XII would probably be rolling over in his grave , I guess we can't have such an amazing and beautiful city like Madrid without suffering at times.
Saludos, jer...
p.d. Oh yeah... another update.
The construction on the "Jardines del Descubrimiento" in the Plaza de Col�n that is mentioned in the opening post on this thread is still going on. So much for the Town Hall's estimated Sept. completion date
Hi again, finally got a good shot of the construction going on to build a new underground parking garage in the "Plaza de Santa Cruz", right in front of the "Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores" ("Ministry of Foreing Affairs") which lies just behind the PLAZA MAYOR.
Normally a great photo opportunity, the construction in THIS PHOTO has been going on for about 6 months and will probably continue for another 2-4.
You can however still get a decent shot of the building if you work the angles well
Saludos, jer...
p.d. A note to anyone planning to stay at the Hotel Plaza Mayor within the next few months, although very nice, the hotel is right next to the Ministry building and therefor directly in front of the aforementioned construction so I am not sure to what extent you can hear the drilling, digging, and general tearing up of the area from the hotel. Just a friendly warning. Best thing to do if you want to stay there would probably be to ask for "habitaci�n interior" ("interior room"), this way you will avoid any possible noise . This also goes for the other hostels in the same "Plaza" ("Square") such as the "Perla Asturiana" seen in THE PHOTO on the far side as well as the "Hostal Cruz Sol" (web:www.hostalcruzsol.com).
Hola Jer, You're a saint to let us know this information. I hoped to stay in that area during Dec 29-January 1st. Noise is not a big deal with me, my concern is getting a taxi to bring me home in the evenings etc. Do you think that would be a problem if I stayed at the Cruz Sol? Gracias, Booklady
Posts: 697 | Location: Florida | Registered: 24 August 2001
Hi Booklady, yeah, I recall your wanting to stay at the Hotel Plaza Mayor but it was full for the dates you wanted.
Not to fear, the above mentioned construction in the "Plaza de Santa Cruz" does not affect the traffic at all since it does not have any main streets crossing it. A taxi will have no problem at all dropping you there. In fact, it a cab will be able to drop you almost right in front of the hostel.
The updates are my pleasure, anything for my fellow Madrid lovers !
Saludos, jer...
p.d. I personally can't wait for them to finish that parking garage construction so I can get a decent panoramic of the Ministeri de Asuntos Exteriores (Foreign Ministry building) and the Plaza de Santa Cruz to add to my MADRID PANORAMIC TOUR.
Do you happen to know if the Plaza Santa Ana area in front of the Hotel Reina Victoria is under construction? In reading the threads some folks give this location thumbs up because of the activity of the restaurants and tapa bars, is this true? Gracias!
Posts: 697 | Location: Florida | Registered: 24 August 2001
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- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
hehehee...
