List of destroyed landmarks in Spain: Difference between revisions

This list of missing monuments in Spain includes buildings, castles, royal palaces, medieval towers, medieval walls and other built structures that no longer exist in Spain.

Real Alcázar de Madrid

• Real Alcázar de Madrid: The defunct Real Alcázar de Madrid was located on the site where now the Royal Palace of Madrid stands. Built as a Muslim fortress in the 9th century, the building was expanded and being improved over the centuries, especially since the 16th century when it became a royal palace according to the choice of Madrid as the capital of the Spanish Empire. Nevertheless, this great building still retained its original name of Alcázar.

Famous both for its artistic richness and its irregular architecture, was the residence of the Spanish Royal Family and the seat of the Court from the dynasty of the Trastámara until its destruction in a fire on Christmas Eve of 1734, under Philip V. Many of its art treasures, including more than 500 paintings were lost, while others might be redeemed (as Las Meninas by Velázquez).

On Christmas Eve of 1734, the Court moved to the Palace of El Pardo, it is declared a terrible fire in the Royal Alcázar of Madrid. The fire, which may have originated in a chamber of the painter of the court the French Jean Ranc, spread rapidly, without being able to be controlled in any moment. it spread over four days and was of such intensity that some objects silver were melted by the heat and the remains of metal (along with precious stones) had to be collected in buckets.

The recovery of many paintings of the Alcázar was left on the back burner, given the difficulties involved in its size and location at various heights and multiple rooms. Some of these paintings were embedded in the walls. Hence a number of paintings that were kept in the building at the time ("The expulsion of the Moors" of Velázquez) is lost, and others (like Las Meninas) unpins frames were saved and thrown through the windows. However, part of the pictorial collections had been previously transferred to the Palace del Buen Retiro, to preserve the renovations that were taking place inside the Royal Alcázar, which saved them from probable destruction.

Extinguished the fire, the building was reduced to rubble. The walls that remained standing had to be demolished, given its state of disrepair. Four years after his disappearance, in 1738, Philip V ordered the construction of the current Royal Palace of Madrid, whose works spread over three decades. The new building was first inhabited by Carlos III in 1764.

Palacio del Real de Valencia

• Palacio del Real de Valencia: The Palacio del Real de Valencia was the former palace of the Kings of Valencia in the "Cap i Casal" (head and common house) of the Kingdom, as it was known in the city. Also known as the "Palace of the 300 keys" in reference to the number of rooms that once had.

Officially its demolition in the War of Independence, March 12, 1810, an alleged military strategy for not to allow a stronghold from where could become strong the invading Napoleonic troops and bomb the city.

Although of little avail, as they attacked by other flank and the Spanish troops ended up giving the city without a fight, to change to go to Alicante, all this despite that in the first siege, the June 28, 1808, Valencia defeated the French led by Moncey in the Towers of Quart, that with many casualties were driven back to Madrid.

Torre Nueva de Zaragoza

• Torre Nueva de Zaragoza: It was locally renowned due to its inclination. Built in the 16th century to give the time to the city, in the construction team attended the three cultures that lived in Aragon: Christian Juan de Sariñena, Jewish Juce de Galí and Muslims Ezmel Allabar and master Monferriz, all under the direction of Gabriel Gombao. Over the years it became the symbol of the city, was the highest Mudéjar tower has been built (80m in 1540) and a diameter of 11 and a half meters, with a floor of 16-pointed star.During the sieges it served for follow the French movements

Shortly after starting already was appreciated the inclination of the tower although it said there was no danger its stability, in 1892 the City Council decided to demolish the tower, justifying the decision with the inclination and the probable ruin of the work. The decision was opposed by many intellectuals and part of the population, but efforts to save it were in vain.

At present, there is only a sculpture of a boy looking at the cusp of the old tower and a star-shaped mark sixteen points on the floor of the square remembers the location of the Torre Nueva.

Palacio del Buen Retiro

• Palacio del Buen Retiro, Madrid: another great royal palace. Built in 1630 by order of Philip IV, It lasted little standing because it was destroyed by the French in the War of Independence. Isabella II tried to rebuild it, but could just demolish almost entirely.

Curiously, the gardens were saved, converted today in the Buen Retiro Park. These were also destroyed during the war by the French, but Ferdinand VII started the rebuilding and ended up becoming what these are today.

The palace itself a small part is preserved. On the one hand, the Salón de Reinos, which for many years housed the Museo del Ejército. The other part that remains is the Casón del Buen Retiro (the former Ballroom of the palace). Today is the Center of Studies of the Prado Museum, and at the time housed the Picasso's Guernica, before being transferred to the Reina Sofía.

File:Antiguo Castillo de Burgos.jpg

Castillo de Burgos before 1813 explotion

• Castillo de Burgos: The Burgos Castle was founded in 884 by Count Diego as a defensive fortification line running south during the Reconquista. Alfonso VIII in the 12th century converted in Alcázar, residence of kings. Its use as a palace will remain until the 16th century with the Catholic Monarchs. Its decline began in the 17th century. During the French occupation, the June 15, 1813, the French army decided to leave the Castle of Burgos and exploit along with he that housed. The explosion resulted in the total destruction of all the castle grounds. At present there are only walls.
• Castle of La Suda, Lleida: Built as Alcazaba by the Moorish in 882. It was exploited in the War of Independence. Currently remains a walls.
• Palacio Arzobispal, Alcalá de Henares: The entire set dating from 1209. Two thirds were destroyed as a result of a devastating fire in 1939, during the Spanish Civil War. What remains is the product of a completely renovation in 1996.

• Palacio de Cercadilla, Córdoba: (Archaeological Site of Cercadilla). An immense complex comparable to Diocletian's Palace in Split. It belonged to Maximian, who co-governed with Diocletian the Roman Empire in the late 3rd century. It was its headquarters for the campaign against the Mauritanian pirates that he wiped chasing to the few survivors to the Atlas Mountains.

The palace was discovered when rising the ground to make the AVE station in Córdoba, despite having the potential to be one of the greatest archaeological treasures of Europe, was destroyed almost entirely as the high speed train was a election promises of Felipe González.

Before the AVE, the site was never fully excavated, due to time constraints and the fear that was classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco cultural interest, so doenst know it its true extent. There is little that is known of this palace, for the noblest parts of it were destroyed or are buried under the excavation of the routes, initially a park, today apartment buildings.

Palacio de Ripalda

• Palacio de Ripalda, Valencia: The Palacio de Ripalda, it was home of the Countess of Ripalda, when she died her heirs sell it. It was demolished in 1969.
• Palacio de Sanchez Dalp, Seville: It was located in the old Plaza de El Duque. In its place is the El Corte Inglés store Plaza del Duque.
• Casino de la Arrabassada, Barcelona: had a great hotel, casino, a botanical garden and one of the most advanced amusement park of its time (and dangerous, because the attractions were no security measures or braking systems or to prevent derailment). Was ended in 1911. the facilities were shoot down in 1940.
• Real Armería de Felipe II, Madrid: (Spanish for: Royal Armory of Philip II). It was an annex to the Real Alcázar de Madrid, but this building survived the fire. It was located in what is now the courtyard between the Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace, but closer to the facade of the cathedral. It disappeared in 1884 by the flames.
• Alcázar de Plasencia: Due to unfortunate maintenance it were given, and that were demolishing progressively different parts to create plots of houses and extensions of streets came at the beginning of 20th century a ruin, at which time it was completely demolished to construct a Civil Guard barracks.
• Castell del Camp de la Bota, Barcelona: Built in 1858. It was demolished in 1960s. Now rises the Zona Forum.
• Hotel Florida, Madrid: It was located in the Plaza de Callao, in the center of Madrid. Besides its architectural value, it housed many international journalists during the Civil War, including the famous Ernest Hemingway. Constructed a El Corte Inglés building store after its demolition in 1964.
• Iglesia de La Merced, Málaga: Was converted in dilapidated after Convents burning.
• Teatro López de Ayala de Badajoz: It suffered a fire in the Civil War. In the 1990s Ibarra & co. were responsible for restoring, this not was restored according to the original building.
• Convento de San Francisco, Vitoria-Gasteiz: Demolished in the 1930s to the Government Subdelegation.
• Casa Bevan, Málaga.
• El Gran Hotel de París, Seville: In its place stand an El Corte Inglés store.
• Antiguo Mercado de La Cebada, Madrid, (Spanish for: Former Market of La Cebada). Built in 1875. It was demolished in 1958.
• Iglesia del Buen Suceso, Madrid: It was built in 1863 and demolished in 1974.
• Fábrica de harinas "La Molinera" building, Vigo: Built in 1898. It was demolished in 1970s.
• Noviciado de la Compañía de Jesús (Madrid): It Baroque church and set was located in Calle Ancha de San Bernardo, where currently rises the big house of the former Universidad Central. It was founded on April 15, 1602. After being used as a barracks for military engineers, in 1843 the old building of the Novitiate became to host the Universidad Central, which was none other than the Universidad Complutense, moved from Alcalá de Henares to Madrid. That same year the original facade was demolished and work began remodeling the building, under the direction of Francisco Javier Mariátegui, for use as an academic center.

Little remains of that Novitiate House. of the church survive the perimeter walls, used for the building of the university auditorium, although its original plan in a Latin cross was turned into a huge ellipse, similar to the Spanish Senate. The rest of the complex remains the spaces of the two cloisters, converted into courtyards, around which are distributed the various offices and classrooms.

• Ayuntamiento de Ribeira: (City Hall of Ribeira). Of Indiano colonial style.
• Antigua Capilla de San Isidro, Madrid.
• Colegio y convento de Santo Tomás, Madrid.
• Palacio del Marqués de La Sonora, Málaga: In 2006 it was acquired by the Sociedad Azucarera Larios to build a 5-star hotel. Citing the "poor condition" of the interior, completely demolished, leaving only the facade.
• Castillo Palomar, Zaragoza: Built in 1889, had the form of a particular castle. It was demolished in 1969.
• Antiguo Mercado de los Mostenses, Madrid: (Spanish for: Former Market of los Mostenses). Built in late-19th century. It was demolished in 1920s, on the occasion of the works of the Gran Vía.

Eclectic monuments in Galicia

• Antiguo Balneario de La Toja, Pontevedra: Located in a beach of the island of La Toxa. It was a Spa Grand Hotel that had two buildings, a pavilion of rooms and a dining area - casino. Opened in 1907. It was completely changed.

File:Antiguo Edificio Castromil. (derruido a finales de los 70).jpg

Edificio Castromil

• Edificio Castromil, Santiago de Compostela: It was located in present Praza de Galicia, which it was demolished in 1970s. Instead it built a small square and an underground parking.
• Edificio Rubira, Vigo: Built in 1880. The architect Francisco Hurtado de Saracho is sent by Banco Bilbao to Vigo to find a suitable place to build the new headquarters of the bank site, and the site chosen by the Basque architect would be the Edificio Rubira. His opinion about the construction was that "the building absolutely lacked of style, was a rare thing ..." He concludes that the best option would be to demolish the building and build a new one. It was demolished in 1967.
• Iglesia de los Jesuitas, A Coruña: It was located in Rúa Durán Loriga.
• Edificio de la Agencia Escalera, Vigo: Built in 1909. It was demolished in 1969.
• Antiguo Edificio Caixa Galicia, A Coruña: It was located in San Andrés with Rúa Nueva.
• Palace Hotel, A Coruña.
• La Villa de París, Vigo: Built in 1897. It was demolished in 1970s.
• Casa del Conde de Torrecedeira, Vigo: (House of the Count of Torrecedeira). Built in 1910. It was demolished in 1979.
• Mercado de la Laxe, Vigo: (Spanish for: Market of la Laxe). Built in 1900. It was demolished in late-1960s.
• Hotel Roma, Ourense: Built in 1915.
• Edificio del cruce de Colón, Vigo: Built in 1916. It was demolished in 1969.
• Hotel Continental, Vigo: Built in 1870. It was demolished in late-1960s.
• Edificio Ferrer y compañía, Vigo: Built in 1900. It was demolished in 1970s.
• Conjunto de edificios anteriores a la caja de ahorros, Vigo: (Previous set of buildings to the savings bank).
• Almacenes Olmedo, Vigo: It was demolished in 1970s.
• Gran Café Colón, Vigo: Built in 1905. It was demolished in 1960.
• Casa de Baños La Iniciadora, Vigo: Built in 1876. It was demolished in late-1960s.
• Kioskos de Elduayen, Vigo.
• Cine Ordeón, Vigo: Built in 1916. It was demolished in 1969.
• Mercado del Progreso, Vigo: (Spanish for: Market of the Progress). Built in 1901. It was demolished in 1975.

Modernisme monuments

Hotel Internacional

• Hotel Internacional, Barcelona: The Hotel Internacional was one of the buildings that the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner built for the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition in Barcelona (Spain).

The hotel was a building of 5,000 square meters that was built in the record time of 53 days. It was designed as a temporary facility to welcome visitors to the exhibition and was demolished after the event ended.

The building really liked among the people of Barcelona, but the ground was transferred temporarily by Port of Barcelona, and not allowed the purchase or permanent assignment, so it ordered its demolition. Several associations were created to save the building, but were unsuccessful.

• Casa Trinxet, Barcelona: It was designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and is considered "one of the jewels of Barcelona Modernisme" both for its exterior facade as for its interior. Built between 1902 and 1904. It was demolished in 1968.

File:Antigua plaza del ayuntamiento de Valencia.jpg

Antigua plaza del ayuntamiento de Valencia

• Antigua plaza del ayuntamiento de Valencia: (Spanish for: Old square of the City Hall of Valencia). The entire set, that included the Mercado de Flores, was designed by architect Javier Goerlich in 1933.
• Modernisme buildings and fountains in Albacete: Demolished between the late 1960s and early 1980s.
• El Balco del Mediterrani, Tarragona.
• Casa Sicart, Barcelona: In its place stands an El Corte Inglés store.
• Gran Café De París, Seville: The building was built between 1904 and 1906, designed by architect Aníbal González. This work belonged to its brief modernisme period; the building was designed with a metal dome of French style.

Modernisme also was appreciated in its railings with natural motifs. Born as apartment building, while in its low was installed in the Café París which gives its name to the building. The building however change much over the years, its modernisme elements were peeling off the facade, the closing and the wrought and. In the 1920s had lost much of its Modernisme decor. The Gran Café de Paris had in the first floor a billiard room, and was a meeting place for the upper middle class and the bourgeoisie, as well as bullfighters and artists. During the Civil War changed its name to "Café de Roma". Was victim of the pick as many other buildings in the 1970s to make way for the building now occupied by the Burger King of La Campana.

Civil Palaces in Madrid

• Palacio de Medinaceli: Demolished in the 1960s. Now in the site is the Wax Museum of Madrid.
• Palacio del Marqués de Portugalete: It was located on Calle de Alcalá, corner to Calle de Alfonso XI. It was built by architect Adolfo Ombrecht. Demolished after the civil war, instead was built in 1946 the building of the National Insurance Institute.
• Palacio de Xifré. It was one of the best examples of Neo-Mudéjar architecture in Madrid. Built between 1858 and 1862. It was demolished in 1950s.
• Palacio de José Campo.
• Antiguo palacete donde ahora se ubica la sede del PP: (Spanish for: Old palace where currently is located the PP headquarters).
• Palacio de Alcañices: The date of its construction is unknown, which was carried out over the houses of Luis de Haro, favorite of Philip IV. Nor is it known the chronology of owners thereof and appear in 1790 inhabited by Pedro de Alcántara Téllez-Girón y Beaufort Spontin and María Josefa Pimentel, Dukes of Béjar. It sold in 1882 to the council of Banco de España, and today, in part of the land that occupied the palace rises the Banco de España building.
• Palacio de Indo: It was located in the block between the streets of Jenner, Fortuny, Cisne and Paseo de la Castellana. Built in 1866. It was demolished in 1966. Its site is now occupied by the building of la Unión and the Fénix.
• Villa Bilbao.
• Palacio de Lorite: It was demolished in 2003 by Banco de España.
• Antigua embajada alemana (Madrid): Was in a time Embassy of Germany.
• Palacete Maza.
• Palacio del Duque de Arión: It was located in the Paseo de la Castellana 7. In it was common the parties attending members of the foreign Royalty.
• Palacio árabe propiedad del Sr. Tartabull.
• [[[Palacio Aliaga]]: it was located in Paseo de la Castellana, corner to Calle García de Paredes.
• Palacio de la Huerta de Cánovas: located in Paseo de la Castellana and the streets of Martínez de la Rosa (disappeared), General Oraa y Serrano. In is site it found the Embassy of the United States and the building of an insurance company.
• Palacio del marqués de Santamarca.
• Palacio del Duque de Anglada.
• Palacio del Marqués de Casa Riera.
• Palacio de Montellano.
• Palacio del Duque de Santa Elena. It was built in 1916 by Enrique Yor. In 1967 it was built on its site the German Embassy. All that remains is an octagonal pavilion in the garden, seen from the street behind the wall of the Embassy.
• Palacio Villapadierna.

Neoclassical monuments

• Instituto de Higiene del Dr. Murga, Seville: This Neoclassical building was in street Marqués de Paradas n° 35, close to the old Córdoba Station and belonged to Dr. Leopoldo Murga Machado, founder of the Institute of Hygiene.

This building-minded Roman temple, inspired in the British Museum, was built between 1905-1907 by the architect Francisco Franco Pineda as a residence, clinic, laboratory and scientific agencies of the doctor Murga, who ordered its construction as a private initiative. The garden of the building was flanked by sculptures allegories referring to hygiene and baths. These sculptures, made of stone, were the work of Adolfo López Rodriguez, Sevillian sculptor of the early 20th century.

Since its closure in 1938 was completely abandoned until that its demolition was ordered in 1958, without even mentioning its restoration to adapt it to other uses. the sculptures of the garden also were destroyed in the demolition. Instead was built a new health center.

City Walls and Gates Walls

File:Puerta del Real Valencia.jpg

Puerta del Real, a former gate of the Muralla de Valencia (in the foreground the existing Puente del Mar bridge with its statues).

• Muralla de Valencia: the Roman city of Valentia had its walls. The Muslims of Valencia also built their Walls, carried out between 1021 and 1061. The Christian City Walls, was built between 1356 and 1370. In it are opened thirteen doors distributed in Big Gates and Small Gates. The Big Gates were: Puerta de Serranos (north), Puerta de San Vicente (south), Puerta de Quart (west) and Puerta del Mar (east). The Small Gates were: Portal de Russafa, Portal de Torrent, Portal de les Setze claus, Portal dels Tints, Portal de Sant Jose, Portal de la Trinitat and Porta del Real. Today only remain part of the Walls and the Gates Puerta de Serranos and Puerta de Quart.
• Muralla de Almería: While Almería retains today some of its walled enclosure, as the walls of Jayrán or the Barranco de la Hoya, the vast majority were lost in 1855. It was the beginning of the end of the Horizontal Almería, one that lived up to its name in Arabic "Mirror of the Sea", a Mediterranean white city that loomed to sea and from where it could see the Alcazaba. The City Council of Almería in municipal council approved destroy the walls to give space to the city, and also gave carte blanche to the Almerians so that everyone would make with the materials it wanted, so its demolition was carried out by Almerians themselves.
• Muralla de Sevilla: Carthaginians already had walls. Julius Caesar restored them. During the Visigoth period, the Walls of Sevilla suffered no serious changes, as the number of settlers was quite stable but, in times of Al Andalus, the cultural, social and demographic flowering led some governments to break down the Walls that prevented canvases the normal growth of the city. However, pressure of the Christian kings during Reconquista, force the reconstruction of the demolished and construction of new sections. In the 13th century, more than 160 towers (together with its corresponding walls along seven kilometers) pre-walls and moat defending the city of the Christian advance, covering an area of about three hundred hectares. To combat the increase of population, royal or public gates (also had private) widened and were matched with the main streets of the city, so that were provided the passage of people, horses and carriages. In all, the Walls of Sevilla have reached 13 gates and 6 postigos.

The city was surrounded by the entire wall and doors, many at the style of La Macarena, of which few traces remain. Gates: Puerta de Córdoba (still stands), Arco de la Macarena, (still stands), Puerta de Córdoba (still stands), Puerta del Sol, Puerta Osario, Puerta de Carmona, Puerta de la carne, Puerta de Jerez, Postigo del carbón, Postigo del aceite, Puerta del arenal, Puerta de Triana, Puerta de la Barqueta, Puerta de San Fernando, Puerta Real, Puerta de San Juan, Postigo de la Feria, Postigo de San Antonio.

• Muralla de Alicante: Due to the great warfare that has been many times in Alicante, just a few traces remain.
• Muralla de Toledo.
• Muralla de Ciudad Real.

Squares

• Plaza de las Descalzas, Madrid: Between other buildings had the Casa del Tesorero with its porticoed facade. Instead in the place is the Caja Madrid building and a El Corte Inglés store.
• Fuente de la Plaza de España en Vigo (Spanish for: Old fountain in the Plaza de España in Vigo). It was a light fountain that was next to a park, it was removed allegedly because they had to fix it and finally it put a big sculpture.

Big sculptures

• Former Monumento a las victimas del atentado contra Alfonso XIII, Madrid: (Spanish for: "Monument to the victims of the attack against Alfonso XIII"). It was located in Calle Mayor.

Historic neighborhoods

Barrio de La Coracha

• Barrio de La Coracha, Málaga: To overthrow it was the reason of a plan of total sanitation, of the creation of an "district of the arts".
• Barrio de Pozas, Madrid: It demolished this entire triangle shaped-neighborhood and built in its place, the Hotel Husa Princesa and an El Corte Inglés store.
• Barrio de Indo, Madrid: It consisted of several hotels or palaces that were the most luxurious in Madrid in its time.

Towns

• Riaño, León.

Modern buildings

• Avinguda de la Llum, Barcelona: it was an underground shopping arcade in Barcelona located on Carrer de Pelai, touching La Rambla, between Plaça de Catalunya, Carrer de Balmes and Carrer de Bergara, off the lobby of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, open from 1940 to 1990. Was the first underground shopping arcade of Barcelona and Europe.
• Edificio Pagoda, Madrid: The Edificio Pagoda was built by the architect Miguel Fisac in 1965, it was a totally different from any building that had in Madrid. It was in the street Josefa Valcarcel, next to Arturo Soria, and was clearly visible from the highway of Zaragoza. It was the seat of the Jorba laboratories.

The area where it was had a huge social and economic boom in the years 1980s-90s and land prices soared to very high heights. Despite being an iconic and very liked by the locals, the building owners negotiated its sale and decided that the site was worth more than the building itself and it was in their best interests to demolish it and build a mass of offices.

The city of Madrid did not include the building in the list of protected places in the capital, which would have prevented its demolition. But neither the protests of neighbors, nor the controversy in the press as well as the manifest discomfort of its creator, Fisac, not could prevent its demolition. Between 1 and 4 August 1999, the Pagoda was demolished.