Paseo de la Castellana

Paseo de la Castellana (English: The Castilian's Mall), commonly known as La Castellana, is one of the longest and widest avenues of Madrid. It is named after an old fountain that used to exist in Plaza de Castilla. It starts at Plaza de Colón, passes through the Nuevos Ministerios, Plaza de Lima, Plaza de Cuzco, Plaza de Castilla, and ends near the Nudo Norte (North Junction), connecting with the M-30 and the road to Colmenar Viejo. The Paseo de la Castellana is the continuation of Paseo de Recoletos and Paseo del Prado, and these three avenues vertebrate the north-south axis of the city.

As part of an ambitious project called Operación Chamartín, it is planned to extend it further to the north, where a big number of railway lines will be dug underground and the area will be transformed with high-rise buildings. This project was recently brought to life again, after many years of debate.

To the west of La Castellana lie the districts of Chamberí and Tetuán, and to the east, the districts of Salamanca and Chamartín.

Many business, banking and financial buildings are located along La Castellana or its immediate proximity, including those that house AZCA, Puerta de Europa, and the CTBA. Also, many of the most important embassies are located in or around the stretch between Plaza de Colón and Plaza del Doctor Marañón. Other landmarks that can be found along this street are the Nuevos Ministerios complex, where the offices of several ministries of the Spanish Government are located, and the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Between 1952 and 1981, the stretch north of Nuevos Ministerios was called Avenida del Generalísimo.

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Coordinates: 40°26′38″N 3°41′29″W / 40.44389°N 3.69139°W