The Plaza de Oriente square is situated in western Madrid, next to the Teatro Real and Palacio Real. The square was designed by Joseph Bonaparte who took over the Spanish government after his brother's victory over the country. His original plan was to build a boulevard that would somehow emulate the Champs Elysées and which would extend from the plaza to Cibeles Fountain.

However, after Napoleon's defeat, Joseph was unable to carry through his project and instead the result was this attractive, vehicle-less open space - the Plaza de Oriente as it is today.

The Plaza de Oriente is very popular, both among tourists and locals, during the day and the evening.  It also contains numerous sidewalk cafes and many impressive statues, including one of King Felipe IV.  Make sure you enjoy an afternoon stroll around the Plaza de Oriente while learning Spanish during your Spanish course in Madrid.