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Location Information:
The
Puerta del Sol (Spanish for "Gate of
the Sun") is one of the best known
and busiest places in Madrid. This
is the centre (Km 0) of the radial
network of Spanish roads. The square
also contains the famous clock whose
bells mark the traditional eating of
the Twelve Grapes and the beginning
of a new year. The New Year's
celebration has been broadcast live
on TV since 31 December 1962.
The
Puerta del Sol contains a number of
well known sights associated both
domestically and internationally
with Spain. On the south side, the
old Post Office serves as the office
of the President of Madrid, the head
of the regional government of the
Autonomous Community of Madrid (not
to be confused with the Madrid City
Council, which is housed elsewhere).
Also on its south side, the square
holds a mounted statue of Charles
III of Spain, nicknamed "el rey
alcalde" ("the king mayor") due to
the extensive public works programme
he set in motion. The famous Tio
Pepe lighted sign is above the
square's eastern building between
the Calle de Alcalá and the Carrera
de San Jerónimo. On the east side
lies a statue of a bear and a
madrone tree (madroño), the heraldic
symbol of Madrid. Until 2009, the
statue stood on the north side at
the entrance to Calle del Carmen.
The Mariblanca (actually Venus)
marks the place of a former
fountain.The Puerta is located in
the very heart of Madrid.
Immediately to the southwest lies
the Plaza Mayor; the Palacio Real,
the official home of the Royal
Family, is further west. Parliament
and the museum district are to the
east and the train station Atocha is
to the southeast.
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 June 27, 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
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