Discover the historical monuments on a tour of the center of Madrid.
PUERTA DE ALCALÁ
It is one of the symbols of Madrid, one of its most frequent postcards, one of its most recurrent signs of identity. The current Puerta de Alcalá, in Plaza de la Independencia, was erected as a triumphal arch to commemorate the arrival of Carlos III in the capital. It came to replace a previous gate, since this was the entrance to the city from the Aragón road.
The gate was built between 1769 and 1778 and has five openings: three semicircular arches in the center and two lower-height side lintels that once served as pedestrian crossings.
THE DOOR OF TOLEDO
Located in the roundabout of the Puerta de Toledo and with a height of 19 meters, this monument began to be built in 1812 under the direction of the architect Antonio López Aguado, who followed the orders of José Bonaparte.
In 1813, after the departure of the French, the Madrid City Council decided to continue the work and turn it into the reception area for King Ferdinand VII, as reflected in the frieze located under the main sculptural group.
Inaugurated in 1827, it gave entrance to the capital to the old Camino Real de Andalucía.
LA CIBELES
It is one of the universal symbols that distinguish the city of Madrid. In this beautiful fountain (which gives its name to the square that surrounds it), the goddess Cibeles, symbol of the Earth, agriculture and fertility, is mounted on a chariot pulled by lions.
The Spanish architect Ventura Rodríguez carried out this project between 1777 and 1782. As an anecdote, the fountain was initially designed to occupy a prominent place in the Gardens of La Granja de San Ildefonso in Segovia.
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