Gran Via is an impressive street in downtown Madrid, sometimes referred to as the, "Spanish Broadway". I love to wander around downtown Madrid as its very conducive to walking and the dense development gives a vibrant and bustling vibe. Gran Via is a term used in cities and towns throughout Spain to indicate the main road of the city. The Gran Via of Madrid, the capital of Spain, represents the Gran Via's of the country well with wide pedestrian walkways lined with massive buildings and bustling businesses. There is everything from broadway venues to American fastfood to shops selling Spanish tourist trinkets.
I initially thought the great road was an artifact of the old monarchy times with parades and horses so I was surprised to learn it was constructed in the early 1900s. Apparently hundreds of homes and dozens of roads needed to be demolished to literally pave the way for the road. The road is 1.3km long with a few metro stops along the way with plenty of lanes for vehicle traffic as well.
Walking along Gran Via is a must for any visitor to Madrid. Walking from Sol to Plaza de Espana via Gran Via gives a nice feel for the downtown of Madrid albeit there are plenty of businesses that are pandering to the tourists so it's not exactly the most authentic. I love to hear all the different languages and see the excitement of people in the big city taking selfies and soaking in the atmosphere.
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