As from tomorrow, Madrid is to boast a new tourist attraction for the capital’s population and visitors to enjoy. The Faro de Moncloa reopens its doors, allowing everyone access to its superb panoramic views of the Madrid skyline from 90 metres above the ground, at the top of its illuminated tower.
Designed to commemorate Madrid’s nomination as the European Capital of Culture in 1992, this symbol of Madrid architecture offers one of the best views of the city, including its most emblematic buildings, such as the Royal Palace, the Telefónica Building on Gran Vía and the Cuatro Torres skyscrapers and its green spaces including Parque del Oeste, Casa de Campo, Monte del Pardo and the Guadarrama National Park in the distance.
The reopening of the tower and its new services, which is run by the municipal company Madrid Destino, expands the capital’s tourist offer in this area, revitalising the cultural institutions in the neighbourhood, such as the Museum of the Americas and the Garment Museum. A leaflet containing full information on this iconic building has been published and is to be distributed to all the tourist information centres and points in the capital. It can also be viewed on the city of Madrid’s official tourist website, esMadrid.com http://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/faro-de-moncloa/
Guided tour and information panel
New features include the possibility, included in the entry price, of taking a guided tour of the observation tower between 9.30am and 1.30pm (last tour at 1pm). The tour is offered in Spanish and English for groups of up to 25 people. Led by a professional guide, visitors can learn information of interest about the city and its most visible points during the tour that lasts up to 45 minutes. During the rest of the day, the public can visit the tower at their leisure during the same period of 45 minutes for the same entrance fee.
As part of the tower’s revamp, an information panel has been installed inside the lookout deck giving an account of the city’s growth and development over the course of its history.
Scale drawings of the key buildings and locations visible from the tower are presented around the railings, accompanied by information and interesting facts about them in Spanish and English. Torrespaña, Cibeles Palace, San Isidro Cemetery and the Corona de Espinas Centre of Historical Heritage are among them.
Tourist Information
A new tourist information desk is also opening at the foot of Faro de Moncloa, expanding the capital’s current tourist information service. It will join the other 10 information centres and points already in existence in the city: Plaza Mayor, Colón, CentroCentro, Cibeles, the Art Walk, airport (T2 and T4 in halls 10 and 11), the mobile unit and the Foreign Tourist Assistance Service (SATE).
This latest tourist information point, which will be open 365 days a year, from 9.30am to 8.30pm, will provide general information about the city of Madrid, what’s on in the capital and the products and services Madrid City Council offers visitors, including its Official Guided Tours Programme, the Madrid Card sightseeing pass and the Madrid City Tour tourist bus.
Ticket purchase
The standard entry fee to the tower and guided visit will cost 3 euros (1.50 euros for children aged 7 to 14, the unemployed, over-65s and disabled persons, and free for children up to 6 years).
Tickets are available at the tower itself and from the Plaza Mayor Tourist Information Centre. Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am to 8.30pm.