In the mid 19th century, Madrid's urban planners decided that a new thoroughfare had to be created, connecting the northeast to the city centre. However it wasn’t until 1861 when the Town Hall decided on building an alternative road to the congested Puerta del Sol with new open spaces and representative buildings. It wasn’t until 1866 that the project drafted by Carlos Velasco was approved and the first expropriations took place but the many difficulties that arose prevented the plan to be implemented. In 1895, the Ley de Saneamiento, Reforma y Ensanche Interior cleared the way for this project to come into force as it was declared of public utility. Three years later, with the Count of Romanones as mayor of Madrid, the project was undertaken by municipal architects López Salaberri and Andrés Octavio and was finally approved in 1904. The project comprised three stretches and the first one began en 1910. The third one was finished by the end of the 20’s although some buildings were built later on.
The Gran Vía, besides being a major communications axis of Madrid, is an ornate and upscale shopping street located in the city centre. This lively street is one of the Madrid’s most important shopping areas, with a large number of hotels, cinemas and theaters; it is also noted for the grand architecture prevalent among many of its buildings such as the Metrópolis, the Grassy, La Estrella, the Círculo de la Unión Mercantil e Industrial, Casa Matesanz, Telefónica, Madrid-Paris, Palacio de la Música, Palacio de la Prensa, Capitol and Coliseum amongst others. The stamp depicts one of the most popular views of the Gran Vía.
Technical details- Date of issue: 21/Apr/2010
- Printing process: Offset
- Stamp size: 28.8 mm. x 40.9 mm.
- Sheets: 25 stamps
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Notes
1. 2010, 100 años de la Gran Vía de Madrid, Correos de España website. Consulted 25/Apr/10.
1. 2010, 100 años de la Gran Vía de Madrid, Correos de España website. Consulted 25/Apr/10.
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