PLAZA DEL EMPERADOR CARLOS V

HISTORY

This plaza, popularly known as Atocha by being in it located the well-known railway station, is dedicated to Carlos de Austria and I de España, the first monarch who reigned with the crowns of Castilla, Aragón and Navarra. He was also Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire with the name of Carlos V. Born in 1500, the son of Juana I de Castilla and Felipe el Hermoso, inherited by paternal part the Netherlands and the austrian territories, and maternal part of the Reyes Católicos, he inherited Castilla, Navarra, the Islas Canarias, the Indias, Nápoles, Sicilia and Aragón.

In addition to the well-known train station, is also located in this square, the Centre of Art Reina Sofía, who was previously the General Hospital, and Ministry of Agriculture. Include the fountain that is located in the centre of this plaza, erected in the year 1992 in reason of the works for the reorganization of the road traffic. The name of the fountain is «La Alcachofa» and it´s an identical copy of the one that already exists in the park Buen Retiro , designed by Ventura Rodriguez in 1776 and completed in 1782. Carlos V died in 1558.