Arco de la Victoria

• Tweet
• Sharebar

• Tweet

Visiting Arco de la Victoria and Other Tourist Spots Nearby

Like any other major European cities, Madrid has a triumphal arch, which is located outside the city center. The Arco de la Victoria is at the Plaza de la Moncloa, near the Oeste Park.

The arch is 40 meters high and looks really older that it appears. It was built between 1953 and 1956 by many architects like Arregui, Jose Ortells, Lopez Knoll and Paschal Bravo. It was meant to commemorate the victory of the Spanish Civil War. At the top of the arch is a four-horse chariot.

The history behind Arco de la Victoria

The late dictator Franco has built this arch in 1956. It is a symbol of the triumph of the Nationalist army over the Republicans during the Spanish civil war. In the past, Franco is said to have passed along this route regularly from his El Prado residence palace.

Presently, the local people of Madrid prefers to call it Puerta de Moncloa or Moncloa Gate because they don’t want to be reminded of the late dictator.

What to see?

Arco de la Victoria has a resemblance to Paris’ Arc du Triomphe. There is nothing interesting inside aside from the numerous plans for the arch and a representation of the University City. Moreover, the monument is not open to visitors.

If you want to go up high and see a panoramic view of Madrid, you can use another lookout in the near. This is the Mirador del Faro, also known as the Faro de Moncloa or Faro de Madrid. This modern tower was built in 1992 as a communication center. It is 100 meters high but tourists may only go up as high as 83 meters where an observation deck awaits. Salvador Arroyo designed the tower.

You don’t have to worry that the tower is too high to climb. There is an elevator that will take you to the top of the tower where you can see the whole city of Madrid. The admission fee is for a minimal cost of one euro.

Apart from Arco de la Victoria, you can also enjoy other historical landmarks within the vicinity. There is the Ciudad Universitaria occupying the northern part of Moncloa station. This was an active battlefield during the Civil War and also the location of student revolts during the Franco dictatorship. You can also see student houses, green area, botanical gardens and a museum.

More Madrid Neighborhoods