Sol has seen protests against the March 11th 2004 attacks on commuter trains, and Spain's involvement in the Iraq War . In 2011, the square became established as a focal point and a symbol for the ongoing Spanish democracy demonstrations. The demonstrations then spread to more than sixty other cities throughout Spain. Since 12 June 2011, the square has held a free-standing domed structure made from pallets, which served as an information point for the 15-M Movement.
More than a simple geographic symbol, this exact centre of Madrid has formed a hotspot for demonstrations and protests, most recently for the anti-austerity movement in Spain. Although from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries the door was important as a meeting place, it was not a defined square, like the Plaza Mayor, and occupied half of the current space. It will be this Post Office that will begin to lay the foundations of what is now the Puerta del Sol and its growing importance as a central point of Madrid. After the conversion of the post office in the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior , it is decided to demolish some houses in the area to enhance the building and give security. Those bells began to televise in 1962 in the 1 of the TVE, and as of that year it has not stopped broadcasting by diverse television channels. The Puerta del Sol is the 0 km distance marker for all measurements in Spain and from the square six of the national highways originate from.
Look for the kilometre zero (Km. O) plaque in the pavement on the southwest side marking the center of the radial network of Spanish roads. He’s known as the “best mayor of Madrid†and on the pedestal of the statue you can read about some of his works and famous ministers. He is also responsible for most of the things that you can see in the Prado Boulevard. Visitors can’t turn their head on the Puerta del Sol without spying a famous Spanish landmark. A mounted statue of King Charles III sits near the Old Post Office building, a magnificent neoclassical façade which currently plays host to the president of Madrid and its regional government offices. A plaque on the square denotes Madrid’s “kilometro ceroâ€, the point from which distances are measured.
Tour the city’s parks, visit a cervecerÃa , and take in the grandeur of the city’s main square, Plaza Mayor. Sink your teeth into some of the best tapas in the world, sample the famed churros at San Gines, wash them down with some sangria then join in the city’s booming nightlife scene until the wee hours of the morning. The bear reaching up to grab fruit from the top of the strawberry tree has been on Madrid’s coat of arms ever since the 18th century. Back then, there was a dispute between the Church and the local council, in which both claimed the pastures, hunting grounds and forests, all journey the way from Madrid to the Sierra de Guadarrama.
This continued throughout the summer of 2011 until the dawn of 2 August, when the national police decided to evict the structure and protestors. Currently, dozens of committees have their assemblies in the iconic square. The Puerta del Sol originated as one of the gates in the city wall that surrounded Madrid in the 15th century. Outside the wall, medieval suburbs began to grow around the Christian Wall of the 12th century. The name of the gate came from the rising sun which decorated the entry, since the gate was oriented to the east. Discover the city's most popular sights and attractions, from one of Europe's largest royal palaces to the magnificent Prado Museum and Real Madrid's stadium.
Nerja is well known throughout Spain for its famous beaches, coves and cliffs along the vibrant Mediterranean Costa del Sol. The majority of people who visit Nerja come to vacation and relax on any and all of the best beaches in Nerja. Puerta del Sol is also a great starting point to using the city’s underground Metro. Venture into the underground to explore other parts of the city or if you are trying to get to Puerta del Sol, then take lines 1, 2 or 3 and get off at the Sol Metro station. One of the first things that stands out when you enter Puerta del Sol, at least if you are looking up is Tio Pepe, a giant sign dominating one end of the square. Tio Pepe is a brand of sherry made from the palomino grape and this image, shines bright over the Madrid skyline at night.
Directly opposite this building is where until recently we would expect to see the most important of the 3 statues to be seen in the square, "El Oso y El Madroño" . However, on 25th September 2009, this statue was returned to its original location at the East side of the square, below the famous "TÃo Pepe" advert. This was the statue's location when it was placed here in 1967, so it has simply returned home.
The ancient city of Madrid had 5 gate ways and major routes while today there is 6 routes that start from the Puerta del Sol. Much of the history of the Puerta del Sol can be established by translating the Spanish name of the plaza into English. The plaza was once the main gateway to the east for the ancient city of Madrid and as the gate faced east it was referred to as the sun gate.