Madrid - Puerta del Sol 
The Puerta del Sol derives its name from the emblem of the city gate which formerly stood here and was in line with the rising sun. Besides being an important traffic intersection, where numerous streets meet, it is also the "Kilometer Zero" point from which all distances on the national road network are measured.
In recent ears the typical old Madrid cafes have, unfortunately, given place to shops and cafeterias, and the old bookshops have disappeared; but the Puerta del Sol is still one of the liveliest squares in Madrid, with its old houses and shops, its confectioners, its little specialized shops selling fans, hats and walking-sticks, its vendors of lottery tickets and newspapers, its swarms of passers-by, its bus stops and its Metro entrances.
In recent ears the typical old Madrid cafes have, unfortunately, given place to shops and cafeterias, and the old bookshops have disappeared; but the Puerta del Sol is still one of the liveliest squares in Madrid, with its old houses and shops, its confectioners, its little specialized shops selling fans, hats and walking-sticks, its vendors of lottery tickets and newspapers, its swarms of passers-by, its bus stops and its Metro entrances.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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The Puerta del Sol, which was described in 1539 as being a plain brick gateway with six defensive towers, was once one of the principal gateways of the city, but the actual gate was torn down in 1570. During the course of time a large number of buildings also fell victim to changes in the square's layout: the Monastery of San Felipe Real (1547), the Royal Hospital (1560), the Church of Buen Suceso (1628) and the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Victoria (1597). The old fountain of La Mariblanca was replaced by a column.
The scene of great events
The Puerta del Sol, regarded as the geographical center of Spain, has also been the scene of great events in Spanish history.
Here on 2 May 1808 began Spanish resistance to Napoleon, when the people of Madrid fought an unequal battle with the Mamelukes and the Imperial Guard. In the numerous cafes - the Lorenzini, the Fontana de Oro, the Correos, the Comercio, the Levante, the Imperial, the Oriental, the Universal - there was much intellectual discussion and much plotting of political coups; in 1835 the Liberals occupied the Post Office building; in 1912 the Prime Minister of the day, Canalejas, was assassinated by anarchists; and in 1931 the Second Republic was proclaimed from the balcony of the Old Post Office, then occupied by the Ministry of the Interior.
The scene of great events
The Puerta del Sol, regarded as the geographical center of Spain, has also been the scene of great events in Spanish history.
Here on 2 May 1808 began Spanish resistance to Napoleon, when the people of Madrid fought an unequal battle with the Mamelukes and the Imperial Guard. In the numerous cafes - the Lorenzini, the Fontana de Oro, the Correos, the Comercio, the Levante, the Imperial, the Oriental, the Universal - there was much intellectual discussion and much plotting of political coups; in 1835 the Liberals occupied the Post Office building; in 1912 the Prime Minister of the day, Canalejas, was assassinated by anarchists; and in 1931 the Second Republic was proclaimed from the balcony of the Old Post Office, then occupied by the Ministry of the Interior.
