This is Madrid's most famous and most central square, located just a short walk from the
Plaza Mayor. Originally it was the site of one of the city's gates, which faced the east and was adorned with an image of
the sun, hence the square's name. 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.
Since this is now Madrid's most central location, it is an excellent area to in which to stay and there are many hotels, hostals (smaller, often family-run hotels) and tourist apartments
nearby. The following links will show you only those properties within 1000 metres of the square ...
Tourist Accommodation Near the Puerta del Sol, Madrid
If you look to the "flat" south side of the semi circle you will see a clock tower, part of a building known as the "Real Casa de Correos". This was originally built in the 18th century as
part of the Post Office, and now functions as the headquarters of the President of Madrid's Autonomous Community.
The clock is the famous clock all Spaniards turn their eyes to on New Year's Eve, guzzling down a grape to each of it's twelve chimes at midnight
Millions watch on TV and what sometimes seems like millions more brave the cold here in the square. If you're here on New Year's Eve this is a marvellous experience
(see our information on
Christmas & New Year in Madrid).
Click here to see the Puerta del Sol on our tourist map
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.
Directly opposite this building is the most important of the 3 statues to be seen in the square,
"El Oso y El Madroño" (the Bear and the Strawberry Tree). Official symbol of the city although with an unclear origin
- it seems that there used to be many bears in the fields around Madrid
although the original symbol was supposed to be a female bear (osa). And the strawberry tree seems to be have actually been a hackberry tree
(almez), which was
once in abundance around Madrid.
Whatever the real history, this bronze statue is the work of the sculptor Antonio Navarro Santa Fe.
The other statues to be found in this square are a reproduction of the Mariblanca statue (the original is in the Municipal Museum)
which is believed to be Venus or Diana the Hunter and which marks the
spot where previously a fountain stood,
and a statue of King Carlos III (placed here by popular demand, since he was
called the "Mayor of Madrid" due to the improvements he ordered made to
the city).
