Madrid Atocha railway station

The first railway station in Spain – it was built in 1851, and is the largest railway station serving commuter, regional, and intercity rail transport. The AVE high speed trains for Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia start from here. The wrought iron structure was built in 1892 after the earlier building was destroyed in fire. The steel and glass roof covers the iron grid which is balanced on two sides by brick walls. The station received its name by the nearby royal basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Atocha. A new terminal was built in 1985, and the old building of Atocha station is now converted into a tropical botanical garden. On 11 March 2004, a commuter train became a victim of terrorism, series of bombs exploded killing 192 people, and wounding almost 2000. Atocha station memorial created in 2004 inside the station is dedicated to the victims of the tragedy. Monument a las Victimas del 11M is another cylindrical glass monument near the station dedicated to the victims. Visit the charming station and pay homage to the victims at Madrid Atocha.