Edificio Metropolis (Metropolis Building), Madrid

Easily recognized for its French-inspired architecture, the Metrópolis Building stands at the junction of Calle Alcalá and Gran Vía, anchoring this important Madrid intersection with its elegant presence. Completed in 1911, the structure was originally commissioned by the Union and Fenix insurance company and designed by French architects Jules and Raymond Février.

At ground level, the building presents a restrained facade that gradually ascends into richly decorated upper floors, framed by colonnades. Each pair of columns serve as pedestals for allegorical statues symbolizing Commerce, Mining, Industry, and Agriculture. At the rounded corner of the structure, a tower rises, topped by a double-layered dome made of dark slate accented with gilded ornaments.

Initially, the dome supported a bronze statue of a mythical Phoenix, with the figure of Ganymede riding atop it—a symbol of the Union and Fenix brand. When the company sold the building in the 1970s, the statue was moved to their new headquarters on Castellana Boulevard. In its place now stands a statue of Winged Victory, while the original Phoenix statue rests in the garden of the Union and Fenix building.

Tip: For a small fee, you can enjoy great views of the Metrópolis Building from the rooftop of the nearby Circle of Fine Arts just across the street.