Bernabeu
The northern area of Madrid is the most modern part of the city. It extends around the Real Madrid Stadium, where it splits into two districts:
The financial district, known as Azca, dubbed 'Madrid's Manhattan', features a cluster of modern skyscrapers. The highest office skyscrapers in the area are:
Torre Picasso a 157m / 516ft structure built in 1989. At the time of construction, it was the tallest tower in Spain. The sleek and elegant white building was designed by Minoru Yamasaki, who also designed the World Trade Centre Towers in New York.
Torre Europa is a modern round building that faces the Castellana avenue and features a huge clock. The area is bordered by a large ministerial complex, Nuevos Ministerios, on the south and by the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones on the north
Plaza Castilla is next to the famous leaning twin towers. The towers symbolize Spain's gateway to Europe, and they have the distinctions of being the world’s first leaning high-rise buildings. Each building is 115 m tall, or 26 stories, with an inclination of 15º, which is about more than twice that of the ‘leaning’ tower of Pisa.
Another significant monument is the golden revolving obelisk, a cylindrical metal shaft of equal length and 2 meters in diameter. 462 ribs and 462 bronze strips line the entire obelisk. These strips create a tilting movement through the ribs, giving the appearance of an outwardly moving wave ascending along the spine. The design of the obelisk is inspired by the Column of Infinity, built in 1938 in Targu Jiu.
Recently 4 towers were erected that have radically changed the Madrid skyline. They were built on grounds formerly belonging to the Real Madrid soccer team and are the tallest skyscrapers in Madrid. In order of height they are:
Torre Espacio, which stands at 236 meters, or 774 feet;
Torre Sacyr Vallehermoso also standing at 236 meters, or 774 feet;
Torre de Cristal standing at 249.5 meters, or 817 feet; and the tallest of the four,
Torre Caja Madrid standing at 250 meters, or 820 feet.
