Puerta de Alcalá

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Rest in our B&B HOTEL Madrid Centro Puerta del Sol and visit the mythical Puerta de Alcalá

Puerta de Alcalá is one of the most emblematic monuments in the city of Madrid. It is located at the beginning of Alcalá street, in Plaza de la Independencia. Our B&B HOTEL Madrid Centro Puerta del Sol is located, as its name suggests, just 50 meters from Puerta del Sol. And from there you can take the metro and in 3 stops, you will be at the mythical Puerta de Alcalá. It is the first triumphal arch built in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. Puerta de Alcalá is one of the oldest, being earlier than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Puerta de Alcalá was erected as one of the five royal access gates to the town.

When was Puerta de Alcalá inaugurated?

Puerta de Alcalá was inaugurated in 1778 by Francisco Sabatini, after four years of work. Sabatini was an Italian architect who worked most of his life in Spain and left his mark on places as famous as the gardens of the Royal Palace. The reason for its inauguration was to commemorate the entry of Carlos III (son of Felipe V) to Madrid as king of Spain. The monument replaced another previous gate that he ordered to demolish and rebuild a few meters below. This reconstruction of Puerta de Alcalá was one of the projects within his plans to improve the city.

What is the meaning of Puerta de Alcalá?

The name of Puerta de Alcalá, like that of the street, comes from being located on the road that existed to go to Alcalá de Henares. The name of the gate is not accidental either, since, in its origins, it was one of the five royal entrances that made up the accesses to the Villa de Madrid. Later, in 1889 it became a square.

Its location and history of Puerta de Alcalá

It is located in the center of the roundabout of Plaza de la Independencia. At the intersection of Alcalá, Alfonso XII, Serrano and Salustiano Olózaga streets. The gate gave access to those travelers who formerly entered the town from France, Aragon or Segovia. Currently it is a monumental gate that is located next to the Cibeles Fountain and Retiro Park. It is a neoclassical style gate with a monumental appearance similar to the Roman Triumphal Arches. It has undergone various transformations, going from being the border of Madrid to a Spanish tourist center of obligatory passage that appears inserted almost in the middle of the city. The gate acquired relevance in the capital from the end of the 18th century, and at the end of the 19th century it was already one of its most characteristic icons that appears in numerous illustrations of Madrid. Both sides of the Puerta de Alcalá have served as an image for all kinds of political and artistic manifestations and historical events have taken place in its vicinity.

The children who crown the Puerta de Alcalá

On the interior façade, above the side arches, are the four cardinal virtues represented in children's bodies: Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude. These representations refer to the outstanding virtues in Carlos III. All these ornamental motifs were carved in Colmenar limestone and their more baroque style contrasts with the neoclassical style of the gate. The most original thing about this proposal by Sabatini is that, until then, virtues were represented with adult female figures. Also noteworthy, allegorically, are empty armors located on the west side that seem abandoned in the form of trophies. All of them are allegories of the exaltation of peace. And some of them served as inspiration for the designers of the Puerta de Toledo.

Unlike Puerta de Toledo or San Vicente, the façade of Puerta de Alcalá has five spans instead of the usual three.

In the more than two centuries of existence it has had 6 restorations

Due to the damage that Puerta de Alcalá has suffered throughout its history, each of the restoration works has not only tried to keep the initial architectural form and distribution intact, but also the origin of the materials used has been respected. The restorations have kept intact the impacts of projectiles that, in various confrontations by the Spanish civil war, have been in its environment. In 1986, Víctor Manuel and Ana Belén dedicated a song to this great monument that became a hymn of Madrid popular culture.

Explore the mythical Puerta de Alcalá from our B&B HOTEL Madrid Puerta del Sol

During your stay, discover the history of Puerta de Alcalá while staying at our B&B HOTEL Madrid Centro Puerta del Sol. It is the perfect accommodation to relax, explore the city and fully enjoy your next trip to the Spanish capital.

Due to its location, on the west corner of Retiro Park, the visit to Puerta del Alcalá is a good opportunity to enter the lung of Madrid, explore the famous Prado Museum or go to the popular Puerta del Sol and stop at the lively Gran Vía.

Discover all our hotels in Madrid, whichever you choose, you will always feel as relaxed as at home from the moment you arrive until you leave. We are waiting for you!