3.  This relatively young city was founded by the Moors in 852. It was just another small village until 1561, when King Philips II made Madrid the capital of Spain. The city grew quickly and soon became the largest city in the country. With 3 million inhabitants, it is currently one of the largest cities in Western Europe.  Madrid is home to many attractions, some of the most famous include the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace, the largest palace in Europe. The city also boasts some beautiful plazas such as the large Plaza Mayor or the popular Plaza de España.Royal PalacePlaza MayorPlaza de España.  Architectural highlights include the Gran Via with many beautiful early 20th century buildings. More recent architecture can be found in Azca, Madrid's modern business district.Gran ViaAzca

4. 4 City: Madrid 4 Country: Spain 4 Year: 1980 4 Height: 107,0m / 352.0ft 4 Floors: 30 4 Architects: Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza 4 Clients/Developers: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria 4 Aliases: BBVA Building Prime Function: 4 Commercial / Office Building 4 Address: Paseo de la Castellana 79-80

5. 4 City: Madrid 4 Country: Spain 4 Year: 1975 - 1979 4 Floors: 23 4 Prime Function: Commercial / Office Building 4 Address: Plaza de Cuzco

6. 4 City: Madrid 4 Country: Spain 4 Year: 1947 - 1953 4 Height: 117,0m / 384.9ft 4 Floors: 25 4 Architects: Julian & Joaquin Otamendi 4 Other Functions: Commercial / Hotel 4 Address: Plaza de España

7. 4 City: Madrid 4 Country: Spain 4 Year: 1975 - 1985 4 Height: 121,0m / 398.0ft 4 Floors: 30 4 Surface: 37.100sq. m. / 401,446sq. ft. 4 Architects: Miguel Oriol e Ybarra 4 Aliases: Europa Tower 4 Prime Function: Commercial / Office Building 4 Materials: reinforced concrete 4 Address: Paseo De La Castellana 95

8. 4 City: Madrid 4 Country: Spain 4 Year: 1957 4 Height: 142,0m / 467.1ft 4 Floors: 34 4 Architects: Julian & Joaquin Otamendi 4 Materials: concrete 4 Address: Plaza de España 4 Tallest concrete building in the world at the time of construction Tallest building in Madrid until the construction of the Torre Picasso in 1989

9. 4 City: Madrid 4 Country: Spain 4 Year: 1989 4 Height: 157,0m / 516.4ft 4 Floors: 43 4 Architects: Minoru Yamasaki & Associates 4 Aliases: Picasso Tower 4 Prime Function: Commercial / Office Building 4 Address: Plaza de Pablo Ruiz Picasso 4 Tallest building in Spain until the Hotel Bali III was built in Benidorm

10. 4 City: Madrid 4 Country: Spain 4 Year: 1907 - 1911 Height: 45,0m / 148.0ft 4 Floors: 5 4 Architects: Jules & Raymond Février 4 Prime Function: Commercial / Office Building 4 Address: Corner of Calle de Alcalá and Gran Via. 4 The original statue was replaced in 1975 by a statue of a winged Goddess Victoria. The original statue was taken by the original occupant, which moved it to a building on the Paseo de la Castellana