Plus Ultra Building
Plus Ultra Building
4
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Huertas
Also known as Barrio de las Letras, Huertas was once home to prominent literary figures, Miguel de Cervantes and Lope de Vega among them. The neighborhood is committed to celebrating its rich heritage: Calle Huertas itself is inlaid with quotes from celebrated authors, street names pay homage to them, and second-hand bookshops pervade. Huertas receives a fair amount of spillover from the center — side streets around Plaza Santa Ana take on a foreign party atmosphere at night, and you always see young backpackers navigating the streets — but as you descend into the neighborhood, everything becomes a little more cramped and slightly less refined, and takes on more of an underground feel. Live music is at the heart of Huertas: by night, its subdued bars are ideal for meeting friends, sipping cocktails, and chatting quietly while enjoying jazz or singer-songwriter performances.
How to get there
- Sevilla • 5 min walk
- Banco de España • 5 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
9,622 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,528 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
61 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
33
Average
9
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Mikael F
Helsinki, Finland31,096 contributions
Dec 2022
This beautiful building housed the Plus Ultra Seguros, an insurance company.
The building is best known for its famous clock and chime shows.
We didn't know about these chimes but were lucky to pass the building just when the show started.
The building is best known for its famous clock and chime shows.
We didn't know about these chimes but were lucky to pass the building just when the show started.
Written January 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom12,096 contributions
Feb 2020
This was one of the properties owned by the fabulously wealthy Marquis of Amboage, a philanthropic multimillionaire and politician. Grand as it looks, this was built as one of his rental properties in 1913 (one wonders what the rent would have been). His own home was the even grander Palacio de Amboage (now the Italian embassy).
The building became the Plus Ultra building in 1941 when the insurance company bought it. We noticed that insurance companies seem to own an inordinate number of Madrid’s beautiful buildings, like the Grassy and Metropolis buildings on Gran Via.
The other features that make this building worth a quick stop are the carillon clock and the large bronze statue of Cervantes (author of Don Quixote) which stands outside in the Plaza de las Cortes.
You can see the clock on the balcony of the first floor. If you get lucky and are there at the right time, you can also see 5 fun figures appear on the chimes, King Carlos III and a bullfighter among them. Our timing wasn't right and we missed it but it takes place several times a day.
The building became the Plus Ultra building in 1941 when the insurance company bought it. We noticed that insurance companies seem to own an inordinate number of Madrid’s beautiful buildings, like the Grassy and Metropolis buildings on Gran Via.
The other features that make this building worth a quick stop are the carillon clock and the large bronze statue of Cervantes (author of Don Quixote) which stands outside in the Plaza de las Cortes.
You can see the clock on the balcony of the first floor. If you get lucky and are there at the right time, you can also see 5 fun figures appear on the chimes, King Carlos III and a bullfighter among them. Our timing wasn't right and we missed it but it takes place several times a day.
Written November 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GaGirlWalking
Statesboro, GA402 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
At 1200 (noon) and 1800 (6 pm) hours, the music plays and the animated figures come out from under the clock to perform. It is quite a bit like an adult sized cuckoo clock and quite beautiful to stop and enjoy amid the hustle and bustle of the city. The building is located next to the Westin Palace Hotel, near the fountain of Neptune.
Written November 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BennyMalaga
Malaga, Spain89,727 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
The Plus Ultra Building is located at the Plaza de las Cortes and is a very beautiful building that housed the Plus Ultra Seguros, an insurance Company. It is famous for its carillon that was inaugurated in 1993. There are five figures designed by Antonio Mingote that move at 12:00, 15:00 and 20:00 hours. The five figures represent King Carlos III, Goya, the Duchess of Alba, Pedro Romero and Manola.
Written January 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wraxall_Travellers
Bristol, UK1,056 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
This is hidden gem not far from the Prado.
It operates about 4 times per day and there is a plaque on the wall to state the operating times.
It is beautiful to watch. It is free too!
It operates about 4 times per day and there is a plaque on the wall to state the operating times.
It is beautiful to watch. It is free too!
Written March 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin v
Antwerp, Belgium1,482 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
Didnot know about the carillon an the animated figuerines. Passed the building at 6pm and heard it playing, and then saw the display. Just lovely.
Written September 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil K
Liverpool, UK825,850 contributions
Sep 2019 • Friends
Plus Ultra Building is yet another amazingly looking structure located on Plaza Del Cortes ,famous for its famous clock ,show and chimes ,me personally love the look of the building, its stunning, a fabulous structure, very photogenic and makes for some great photographic opportunities, it's in an area of outstandingly beautiful architecture, check out the beautiful Congreso De Los Diputados ( House Of Parliament ) building opposite, it's a wonderful building in a wonderful plaza ,well worth a visit, easy to locate on Plaza De Cortes.
Written September 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia53,312 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Plus Ultra Building is a nice looking building on Plaza de las Cortes. It is opposite the Congreso de los Diputados (the local Parliament). It is in a lovely area and the architecture is quite stunning. The beautiful clock up on the corner wall of the building puts up quite a show about twice a day, if you can catch it. Unfortunately we didn't!
Written July 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Douglas H
Cincinnati, OH445 contributions
Oct 2018
A great place to be on the hour when the animated clock starts chiming. It s great little show a few floors above the street. Also a very interesting building.
Written January 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giorgio G
Washington DC, DC1,348 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
... we stumbled upon in while walking from the Plaza de Santa Ana down the Calle del Prado... it was lit up and we were struck by the 'over-the-top' illumination... ..impressive..
Written October 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fuimos en septiembre de 2019, lleve a mis amigos a ver el carrillon y me informaron q lo estaban reparando. Ya ha terminado la reparación?
Written October 4, 2019
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