La Puerta de Alcalá

Portrayed as one of the  most popular photos, in postcards and brochures of touristic routes The Puerta de Alcalá is one of the Spanish Capital’s most emblematic symbols.  Motive of songs, movie scenes , paintings and thousands of memories, what is considered as one of the neuralgic hotspots in Madrid has a great history behind its back.

Historical entry to the city

Far away from being a linguistic resource, the name of the Puerta de Alcalá  (meaning Alcala’s Gate) comes from its original purpose . This monument is  one of the 5 original Gates that closed Madrid city and served as an entry to the capital of Spain, to be more accurate, the one that leads to the old road to the acclaimed village of  Alcalá de Henares.

The Puerta de Alcalá that we see today was built in 1778.  Design  and  created by  the acclaimed architect  Sabatini. The previous door ( existing  since the  XVI century)  made from brick and stone, was a much more practical and functional one that was demolished in favor  of this “new” grand and ornamental one.

But this Gate  has not always been in the location were it stands today  . The  Puerta de Alcalá did not became a Plaza ( Square ) until  1889. This neoclassic monumental gate is  the first triumphal Arch built in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire .  Its  considered source of inspiration such as the Branderburgh Gate un Berlín or  l’arc de Triomphe in París.

An essential location in Madrid’s Life

The Puerta de Alcalá is a referential  landscape of Madrid’s city Life, that has un all its surroundings a good number of interesting visitas that all turists should make at least once  whilst visiting Madrid.

Next to the Puerta de Alcalá you can find the Buen Retiro Park, one of the favourite places of the Madrid people  as well as visitors to practice Sports, walking relax or disconnet of the busy   city Buzz for a while.

But this is not the only interesting place un this área, around the Gate , and in a 700 metre  radius  you have Archeology Museum,the  Thyssen art  Museum, la Plaza de Cibeles (fountain) or the Navy Museum