A Unique Chapel with Green Light Hidden on the 33rd Floor of a Madrid Skyscraper

In Madrid’s business district, among glass giants, there is a place that not even everyone working in the nearby offices knows about. On the 33rd floor of Torre Emperador, where people usually go only for work, there has been a small chapel for many years. It is located at a height where bustle and ringing phones are the norm, yet here—there is silence and a special atmosphere.

Every morning, as the city is just waking up, a small group of people gathers in this room. They come not for business meetings, but to start their day with prayer. The service is led by a priest, who arrives here long before the workday begins. He prepares the altar, greets those who wish to confess, and gets ready for the service. By nine o’clock, everyone has left for their daily duties, and peace returns to the chapel.

The chapel appeared in 2009 at the initiative of the building’s owners—the Villar Mir Group. At first, services were held only a few times a week, but soon they became daily. In its 75-square-meter space, there are no traditional wooden benches—everything is made of metal to meet strict safety requirements. Even the altar and furniture are metallic, giving the place a unique, modern look.

Inside, you can see several religious symbols: a statue of Christ facing away from the panoramic window, and images of the Virgin Mary. There is also a small figure of the Virgin of Pilar, once gifted to the chapel. In addition, there is a statuette of Saint Domingo de la Calzada, the patron saint of engineers, left here by the building’s former owner, who was an engineer by training.

A distinctive feature is the green LED light that shines behind the altar. It is visible even from the street and acts as a sort of beacon: as long as the light is on, the Blessed Sacrament is kept in the chapel. The light goes out only two days a year—on Good Friday and Holy Saturday—when the church enters a period of mourning. The rest of the time, the green light serves as a reminder that anyone can always find a moment for prayer here.

Services in this chapel are held quickly and without unnecessary ceremony, since most of the congregation is rushing to work. Yet for many, this place has become a true haven of calm amid the office routine. The priest admits he never expected to conduct services at such a height, but considers the experience a special one.