Edificio de la Compañía Telefónica

The Edificio Telefónica on Madrid's Gran Vía is a historic high-rise built between 1926 and 1929 as the headquarters of Spain's national telephone company. Its architecture pairs a design vocabulary inspired by American skyscrapers with elements of Spanish Churrigueresque. Europe's first skyscraper, the building served as an observation post for the Republican defense during the Civil War and housed anti-aircraft artillery. Today, visitors come to admire the imposing façade and the distinctive clock, which has glowed in the company's signature blue since 2013 and is part of the city's evening skyline.