Madrid's €2.2m interactive memorial for terrorism victims to open in 2027, featuring Atocha cylinder replica

A memorial rooted in 11-M

The centre will maintain a special link to the 11 March 2004 attacks, the deadliest terrorist attack in Spain, which killed 192 people. A small-scale replica of the original 11-metre glass-brick cylinder that stood near Atocha station will be installed, built with bricks from the dismantled structure. The original memorial, weighing 160 tonnes, was taken down starting in August 2023 to make way for metro expansion.

They will maintain a connection with the monument dedicated to the victims of terrorism at Atocha station.

Personal objects and interactive design

The centre will display personal items donated by victims' families, including the battery that belonged to Miguel Ángel Blanco, the Ermua councillor kidnapped and murdered by ETA in 1997, and the skateboard of Ignacio Echeverría, killed in the 2017 London jihadist attacks. The exhibition will use backlit textile panels and state-of-the-art projections to create an interactive experience.

A space for remembrance and education

The 1,700-square-metre facility, spread over three floors plus a workspace for victim associations, will include exhibition areas, a conference hall with audiovisual equipment, and two multipurpose rooms. The first floor will be dedicated to education, with a library, immersive room and workshop spaces. Activities for young people, presentations and debates are planned throughout the year.

The first floor will have an eminently didactic purpose, with a library, immersive room and areas for workshops.

Victim associations and regional context

The project has been designed in collaboration with victim associations, who will have a dedicated workspace on the fourth floor. According to Interior Ministry data cited by ABC, the Madrid region has recorded 412 fatal victims of terrorism, the second-highest in Spain after the Basque Country. Of these, 210 were killed in jihadist attacks, 123 by ETA, 49 by far-left groups, 21 by far-right groups, and nine by external organisations.

Timeline and next steps

The regional government, led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, first announced the project in 2024. On 8 July 2026, the Governing Council approved the nearly €2.2 million investment. The centre is expected to open to the public in the first half of 2027, housed in the protected former Banco de Madrid building at 13 Carrera de San Jerónimo, designed by architect Antonio Bonet.