An Egyptian temple with a pool that catches the western sky

Madrid is 600 kilometers from the coast. It compensates with the Temple of Debod — an actual 2,200-year-old Egyptian temple given to Spain in 1968, relocated to Parque del Oeste on the western edge of the city. The temple sits above a reflecting pool oriented west, which means on clear evenings around the equinoxes, the setting sun aligns almost directly through the temple's doorways. Crowds arrive around 90 minutes before sunset year-round. The Cerro del Tío Pío, in the Vallecas neighborhood, is quieter — eight rocky outcrops facing west over the city, known locally as "the nipple hills." The surrounding plain means unobstructed western horizons are available from the higher parts of the city, including Casa de Campo, Madrid's large western park that faces open sky over the meseta.