Gate of the Sun

Originally a gate in the 15th-century city wall that encircled Madrid, Puerta del Sol is named after the rising sun that adorned its entrance as it faced eastward. The gate stood outside the wall, and during the medieval era, suburbs sprang up around the 12th-century Christian Wall.

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Puerta del Sol became a significant meeting spot for couriers from various parts of Spain and abroad who visited the Post Office to catch up on the latest news. The stairs leading to Saint Philip Church in the square were referred to as the Gradas de San Felipe, which were among the most famous "lie-spreaders of the Court" (in Spanish, "mentideros de la Corte," a term more accurately translated as "places in the City where people gossip").

The Post Office building, known as the House of the Post Office, was constructed by French architect Jacques Marquet from 1766 to 1768. During Francoist Spain, the building served as the Ministry of Interior and State Security's headquarters. It currently houses the Presidency of the Madrid Community.

Protests in Sol have taken place over the years, including those against the March 11th 2004 attacks on commuter trains and Spain's involvement in the Iraq War. In 2011, the square became a significant symbol for ongoing democracy demonstrations in Spain. These demonstrations began with camping in the plaza (@acampadasol) on May 15, 2011, during the election campaign for city halls and Autonomous Communities governments, and were largely organized through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. The demonstrations eventually spread to over sixty other cities in Spain. From June 12, 2011, a free-standing domed structure made from pallets served as an information point for the 15-M Movement in the square throughout the summer until the national police decided to evict the structure and protestors on August 2. Currently, many committees hold their assemblies in the iconic square.

Despite its history as the meeting point of the six major radial roads of Spain, the square was pedestrianized and closed to most traffic in 2020. Exceptions are made for supplies to shops, emergency services, and blood donation campaigns.

Puerta del Sol is a popular attraction in Spain, known domestically and internationally for its various landmarks. The southern side of the square is home to the former Post Office, which now serves as the office of the President of Madrid, the head of the regional government of the Autonomous Community of Madrid. The Royal House of the Post Office on this side of the square has two commemorative plaques, one honoring Madrid's residents who fought against the Napoleonic invasion in 1808 and the other memorializing the victims of the 2004 terrorist attacks.

A mounted statue of Charles III of Spain, fondly called "el rey alcalde" (the mayor-king) for his significant contributions to public works, can be found on the south side. The Tío Pepe sign, a famous illuminated landmark, was previously located on the eastern building between Calle de Alcalá and Carrera de San Jerónimo and is now situated atop the former Paris Hotel. On the east side stands the Bear and the Strawberry Tree statue, a heraldic symbol of Madrid. The Mariblanca, a replica of a marble statue (potentially of Venus), formerly adorned a fountain and is now positioned at the site of the former water feature.

Directly north of the Post Office is the kilómetro cero plaque, which symbolizes the center of Spain and serves as the starting point for measuring distances in the Spanish road system. It is a must-see for visitors to Puerta del Sol.

Located at the heart of Madrid, the Puerta serves as the central point from which all radial roads in Spain are measured, as indicated by a plaque on the square's floor marking the exact location of Km.0. The old plaque was replaced in 2009 due to wear and tear from foot traffic. The Puerta also serves as a reference point for street numbers in Madrid, with numbers beginning at the street-end closest to Puerta del Sol.

The Plaza Mayor lies immediately to the southwest of the Puerta, while the Palacio Real, the official residence of the Royal Family, is located further west. To the east are the Parliament and museum district, and to the southeast is the Atocha train station.

The square also functions as a public transport hub, with the Madrid Metro lines 1, 2, and 3 passing through it. In 2009, a commuter service was inaugurated, connecting the Puerta to Madrid's commuter rail system and, in turn, to Spain's railroads via direct connections to Atocha and Chamartín railway stations [2]. The construction of the new station was delayed by four years due to the discovery of the remains of the Church of Our Lady of Good Success during excavation.

The Puerta and its surrounding streets are a hub of commercial and recreational activity, with numerous shopping establishments, such as El Corte Inglés department store buildings in Preciados Street, La Mallorquina cafe, and an ever-changing array of restaurants catering to both locals and tourists. The area remains active late into the night and early morning, with nearby bars and dance clubs often starting entertainment at 1 am. Street music is also common in the area.

Several side streets near the square contain residential flats, small offices, and tourist hostels.