Madrid, Spain Travel Guide
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Puerta del Sol
Musicians playing at north end of Puerta del Sol
You can’t visit Madrid without visiting Puerta del Sol. Puerta del Sol is the heart of Madrid and happens to be aptly named. Its crowds, its history and all the action that goes on in this famous and historic public square in Madrid pumps endless vigor and life into Madrid’s city center. The Sun Gate, or Puerta del Sol, was originally used as a gate in the fifteenth century when the city was surrounded by a wall. The gate faced east and adorned with an image of the sun. Thus, we have Puerta del Sol.
Puerta del Sol in Madrid
Puerta del Sol radiates all the charm of any tourist attraction. It’s surrounded by enormous old buildings, tons of shopping, restaurants and bars, a statue of The Bear and Madrona Tree, Spain’s symbol, and the equestrian Statue of King Felipe III.
One of the charms of Puerta del Sol is the myriad of vivid avenues, alleys and plazas to explore and experience.
Statue of King Felipe III in Puerta del Sol
Location: City center of Madrid
Cost: Free
Accessibility: Accessible but some of the crosswalks have about a 2 inch climb up the descending part of the curbs. Also, a bit of cobble stone like Plaza Mayor but they are not huge. They are fairly easy to negotiate.
Getting There: Walk, wheel