On the footpath outside the Casa de Correos is a plaque marking Spain’s Kilometre Zero, the point from which Spain’s network of roads is measured. Facing the Casa de Correos from the rooftops opposite is the towering TÃo Pepe sign, long a city landmark. Puerta del Sol’s current shape, which is almost perfectly semi-circular, is the result of major renovations to the area which took place in the years between 1854 and 1860. On the “flat†or south side of the square visitors will notice a large clock tower, which is actually part of the Real Casa de Correos, one of the most famous and historical buildings in the area. Originally built in the 18th century as part of the Post Office, the building now functions as the headquarters of the President of Madrid’s Autonomous Community.
Like many medieval towns in the 15th century, Madrid was surrounded by a protective wall and Puerta del Sol was once the entrance to Madrid. Through the gate passed traders and visitors from all over the known world. It gradually grew to an important meeting place for important merchants and politicians. The gatehouse is long gone and the area was turned into a square in the late 19th century. A more recent addition to Puerta del Sol is the very modern SOL metro station in front of the statue of Carlos III.
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 - 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.
The end result was that the Church took control of the pastures, while the forest and hunting grounds were to be owned by the council. Set in the heart of the city, AbraCadabra Suites offers easy access to madrid Madrid's main shopping and sightseeing areas. It is situated a short walk from the Gate of Toledo, Almudena Cathedral and Royal Palace of Madrid. The large equestrian statue of King Carlos III is located in the middle of Puerta del Sol and was installed in the square in 1997.
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.
If you want to stay right in the square itself, check out Apartamentos en Sol, some self-catering apartments whose address is Puerta del Sol 3. The square is actually almost semi-circular in shape and owes its current form to the major renovation work carried out between 1854 and 1860. In 1939, in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, military dictator Francisco Franco added a sixth major radial road connecting Madrid and his homeland Galicia. The House of the Post Office was built by French architect Jacques Marquet between 1766 and 1768. The building was the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior and State Security in Francoist Spain.