Madrid’s main street celebrated 100th birthday
On Monday, the city of Madrid celebrated the 100th anniversary of one of it´s emblematic street, the Gran Via, a place where Hemingway lived during the Spanish civil war.
Spain’s King Juan Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia unveiled a bronze and aluminium plaque on the 1.3 kilometre avenue to mark the occasion.
Traffic on the Gran Via, literally meaning “the Great Way” came to a standstill during the ceremony which was also attended by Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon.
Work on the avenue began on April 4, 1910 during the reign of King Alphonse XIII who wanted to make Madrid one of the great capitals of Europe to rival Paris and London.
Hundreds of houses were demolished to create the broad avenue which crosses Madrid and connects the old and new parts of the city.
Known as Madrid’s “Broadway”, it includes most of the city’s theatres, the headquarters of many of the country’s financial institutions and features ornate neo-classical and art-deco buildings.
Hemingway lived in the Gran Via’s Hotel Florida when he worked as a correspondent during the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War.
One of his favorite watering holes there was the Chicote bar which later became popular with Spanish filmmakers Pedro Almodovar and Alejandro Amenabar.
The Gran Via is also mentioned in his novel “The Sun Also Rises,” parts of which are set in Spain.
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