The Top 10 Things To Do And See In Puerta Del Sol, Madrid

If you look to the "flat" south side of the semi circle you will see a clock tower, part of a building known as the "Real Casa de Correos". This was originally built in the 18th century as part of the Post Office, and now functions as the headquarters of the President of Madrid's Autonomous Community. It was reputedly named for a gate that stood there until 1510 and had on its front a representation of the sun . Throughout Madrid’s history the square has been the focal point of transportation and of intellectual and economic activity. It was the first part of the city to be equipped with modern conveniences and is the site of a New Year’s celebration similar to that of St. Mark’s Square, Venice.



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According to the legend of Madrid, there were a high number of bears throughout the forests surrounding the city of Madrid. So, before Madrid got its current name, the original name of the city was Ursaria, which means “land of the bears” in Latin. The statue of the bear and strawberry tree have been the symbol of the city since the middle ages. It’s definitely something you don’t want to miss while visiting Puerta del Sol and it makes for a great spot to meet up with friends to explore the central part of Madrid and the surrounding area. The Puerta del Sol is the centre of Madrid and Spain as a country; it is from here that the five historic routes of the country originated from stretching to all corners of the country. The Puerta del Sol is the heart of Madrid with every national celebration or protest focused in the large semi circular plaza.

Centrally located, Madrid Motion Hostels allows for easy access to Madrid's popular retail areas and tourist attractions. It is also situated just a short walk from Puerta del Sol and Gran Via, and offers a convenient shuttle service. Puerta del Sol is a great place to meet up with your friends and catch up while relaxing in the square as you people watch. It’s also ideally located in the central part of Madrid so there are many other sites and locations that you can visit that are close in proximity to this plaza. Puerta del Sol actually means “Gate of the Sun” and got its name from being one of the gates of the city walls that surrounded the old city of Madrid during the 5th century. Every morning the rising sun would shine brightly on and through the east gate of the square and hence having been given the name Gate of the Sun or Puerta del Sol.

Despite once being the meeting point of the six major radial roads of Spain, in 2020 the square was pedestrianized and closed to most traffic. Exceptions are made for supplies to shops, emergency services and blood donation campaigns. On the other side of the square, at the start of Calle Arenal which leads to the Teatro Real opera house, stands a copy of La Mariblanca statue. The original, which dates back to the 17th century and once adorned a fountain in this very spot, is now stored in Casa de la Villa. Puerta del Sol’s third and largest statue is found in the centre of the square and depicts King Charles III of Spain on horseback. During his reign, the monarch introduced so many progressive reforms and gave the city such a makeover that he earned the moniker Madrid’s best mayor.

Also on the east side lies the statue of The Bear and the Strawberry Tree (in Spanish, el Oso y el Madroño), the heraldic symbol of Madrid. Until 2009, the statue stood on the north side at the entrance to Calle del Carmen. The Mariblanca is a copy of a statue , which marks the place of a former fountain displaying that figure. Puerta del Sol is home to many famous statues, the most important of which is El Oso y El Madrono, or the “Bear and the Strawberry Tree.” This statue is located at the east end of the square below the famous Tio Pepe advert. For many years now the Bear and the Strawberry Tree has been the unofficial symbol of Madrid.

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 Chamartín railway stations . This arcaded square located in the historical centre of the city is the heart of spain 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.