A stone slab on the pavement in front of the main entrance to the Casa de Correos marks Spain’s Kilometre 0, the starting point for all major radial roads in Spain. Across the square, at the beginning of Calle Alcalá, Madrid’s longest street, you’ll find the famous Oso y Madroño. The official symbol of the city, the statue of a bear nuzzling a strawberry tree is a popular meeting spot for Madrileños. Plaza Puerta del Sol is one of the most famous central squares and streets, located in Madrid, the capital city of Spain. It is usually very crowded and considered to be the busiest place of the city.
More than a simple geographic symbol, this exact centre of Madrid has formed a hotspot for demonstrations and protests, most recently for the anti-austerity movement in Spain. Although from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries the door was important as a meeting place, it was not a defined square, like the Plaza Mayor, and occupied half of the current space. It will be this Post Office that will begin to lay the foundations of what is now the Puerta del Sol and its growing importance as a central point of Madrid. After the conversion of the post office in the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior , it is decided to demolish some houses in the area to enhance the building and give security. Those bells began to televise in 1962 in the 1 of the TVE, and as of that year it has not stopped broadcasting by diverse television channels. The Puerta del Sol is the 0 km distance marker for all measurements in Spain and from the square six of the national highways originate from.
In Madrid’s medieval days, the Puerta del Sol was the site of the walled city’s eastern gate. Each morning, the sunrise crowned the gate until it became known as the Puerta del Sol, one of Spain’s most recognisable meeting points. As the absolute centre of the city, nearly every form of transport touches Puerta del Sol. Both the Madrid Metro and Intercity trains serve the city with platforms that are always bustling with energy. The historic centre of Madrid may lie at Plaza Mayor, but the Spanish capital’s geographic centre is at another well-known square, the Puerta del Sol.
Considered the Times Square and Picadilly Circus of Madrid, there is never a dull moment to be had. Outside the Casa de Correos is a stone slab on the pavement marking Kilometre Zero - madrid the official starting point for Spain's 6 National Roads. The photo below shows the original stone in its deteriorated state, but in September 2009 it was replaced with a shiny bright new one.
Looking for fun activities and sightseeing things to do on your next holiday to Puerta del Sol? Our selection of local expert articles show you the best things to see, places to visit, helpful travel tips and Puerta del Sol attractions for all budgets and ages. Conveniently positioned, Regente Hotel offers easy access to Madrid's main hot spots. Only a short walk from Gran Via, it provides modern rooms equipped with a mini bar, a refrigerator and wireless internet access. Centrally located, Casa de Huespedes La Asturiana allows for easy access to Madrid's main sightseeing areas.
The church is a complex building, having been built in the 17th century by the architect Miguel de Soria and sculptor Mateo de Cortray, the creator of the door that opens into the street. Also on its south side, the square holds a mounted statue of Charles III of Spain, nicknamed "el rey alcalde" ("the mayor-king") due to the extensive public works program he set in motion. The famous TÃo Pepe lighted sign was above the square's eastern building between the Calle de Alcalá and the Carrera de San Jerónimo for a long time, now is on top of the former Paris Hotel.
Puerta del Sol (meaning The Sun's Gate in English) is one of the most renowned central squares in Madrid, a meeting point both for tourists and Madrileños, and home to several of the city’s landmarks, such as the Kilometre zero. Under the square lies a public transport hub served by lines 1, 2 and 3 of the Madrid Metro. A commuter service was inaugurated on 27 June 2009, four years behind schedule. The lateness of the construction was in part due to the discovery of the remains of the Church of Our Lady of Good Success during the excavation of the main chamber.
The new station connects the Puerta to Madrid's commuter rail system and, by extension, to Spain's railroads via direct connections to Atocha and ChamartÃn railway stations . This arcaded square located in the historical centre of the city is the heart of Hapsburg Madrid. Because of its location and prominence, the Puerta del Sol still serves as the focal point for many political protests. Mimers and musicians keep the crowds entertained and Disney characters amuse the young ones with their little pranks.