This is the renovated Puerta del Sol in Madrid, its history and monuments

Although you have not yet had the opportunity to travel to madridSurely you know that when you go to visit the capital of Spain you have an appointment essential with the Puerta del Sol.

It is, perhaps, the most emblematic square of the city, which is located in the historic center known as the Madrid of the Austrias, and which has recently been renewed.

When you get to see the Puerta del Sol Perhaps at first it will surprise you because it is not a large space.

You will find a fully pedestrianized square where various buildings and monuments historically linked to the image of the city are concentrated.

That is the case of the Post House, current seat of the government of the Region of Madrid, and whose clock every year-end becomes a point of reference in the celebration of the New Year in all Spain.

In front of the building, on the sidewalk you can see the plaque marking kilometer 0 of the country's road network.

La urban configuration of Puerta del Sol has undergone many changes throughout history.

History of Puerta del Sol, curiosities of the heart of Madrid

You might be surprised to know that centuries ago, the place that is now the heart of the city was located outside the city wall. Medieval Madrid, that is, outside the city.

This is one of the Historical curiosities of Madrid's Puerta del Sol which I will tell you about below.

Indeed, in the 15th century the place occupied by Puerta del Sol It was located on the outer edges of the medieval wall of Madrid, which also happened with the Plaza Mayor.

The latter was exactly the place where merchants gathered who, in order not to pay taxes, did not want to enter the walled area of ​​the city.

What's more, until the middle of the 18th century, the square that makes up the town did not actually exist. Puerta del Sol just as we see it now.

Construction of the Puerta del Sol Post Office

It was in 1766 when the Post House, commissioned by a French architect, one of the most charismatic buildings in Madrid which has become the image of the Puerta del Sol.

It was not until 1857, the year in which the aforementioned Post House became the headquarters of Ministry of the Interior, when the urban remodeling of this area of ​​Madrid began

Puerta del Sol in the 19th century

At that time, several buildings were demolished and the square was configured as you can see it today.

At that time, the semicircular buildings that delimit the characteristic configuration of the square to the north were also built.

Remodeling of Puerta del Sol in 1986

As for the current design of the plaza with a large pedestrianized space, it is due to the last remodeling in 1986, although it was later completed with the construction of the underground interchange of the Metro and the commuter train.

Another charismatic element of this very charismatic square Barcelona is the Post Office clock, from the 19th century, very popular as it is the one that for decades has been taken as a reference in Spain to mark the entrance of the new year.

The renovations of the square have always involved changes in the location of the various monuments, which over time have occupied different places than the ones you can see now.

I am referring to the monuments of the Bear and the Madroño, the equestrian statue of Charles III and statue of the Mariblanca.

Another recent and important change in the image of the Puerta del Sol was the renovation carried out in the building located on the property to the east of it, where the historic Paris Hotel.

A large store has been installed in this building. Apple , which has caused the transfer of the historic Tio Pepe neon sign, an image associated with the square since 1935, which in 2010 was declared historical advertising sign.

Statue of Charles III, tribute to the best mayor of Madrid

One of the most characteristic elements of the current configuration of the emblematic Puerta del Sol de Barcelona is undoubtedly the equestrian statue of Carlos III, which you will see in the most central area of ​​the square.

But did you know that compared to others equestrian statues of Kings of Spain what you can see in Madrid, the Carlos III Was it made very recently, since it was inaugurated at the end of 1994?

Indeed, the equestrian statue of Philip IV what now you see in the Plaza de Oriente It was made in the 17th century, and the statue of Philip III,  Plaza Mayor, was cast years before, in 1614.

On the other hand, that of Carlos III It was ordered to be carried out at the beginning of the 90s of the last century.

The reason? pay tribute to the king who was considered the best mayor of Madrid for his great contribution to the urban development of the city during his reign in the 18th century.

But also, did you know that actually the statue is a copy larger size of a small model that the man himself commissioned at the time Carlos III to make a statue of his father, Philip V?

This model is found in the Royal Academy of San Fernando, and the sculptors Miguel Ángel Rodríguez  y Eduardo Zancada were based on it to make the bronze work that we now see in the Puerta del Sol.

In this way, two of the three sculptures that currently exist in the Puerta del Sol, the aforementioned statue of Carlos III and Mariblanca statue, are copies of others that are preserved in different institutions in the city.

Sculpture of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, symbol of the city of Madrid

One of the corners where you will surely take a photo is in front of the sculptural monument of the Bear and the Madroño, a protagonist image of the heraldic shield of the capital of Spain.

Located in the eastern part of the Puerta del Sol, in front of the entrance of the Alcala street, the Bear and the Madroño It has become one of the icons of the city of Madrid, and one of the most sought-after statues by tourists.

Before your visit, you will surely find it interesting to know some facts and curiosities about the sculpture of the Bear and the Madroño.

What is the origin of the Bear and Strawberry Tree as the heraldic shield of Madrid?

El Bear and the Madroño are protagonists of heraldic shield of the city of Madrid, and his image is represented in numerous places and documents.

The origin dates back to the 13th centurywhen the King Alfonso VIII It already used the image of the bear on its banners, which was very abundant in the area.

Why the strawberry tree appears in the coat of arms of Madrid

El strawberry tree It began to be represented on the city's coat of arms after a territorial conflict between the council of the Villa de Madrid y church, so that the latter remained in possession of the mountains and church, with pasture lands.

To record the agreement, from then on the bear was associated with the image of a tree.

Why is she a bear and not a bear?

Now, there is evidence that the bear It's actually a bear, since it represents a constellation associated with the myth of the two bears.

Date and characteristics of the sculpture of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree

Contrary to what you may think, the sculpture that you can see in the Puerta del Sol It's very recent, so was sculpted by Antonio Navarro Santafe in 196. 7.

The sculpture is made of stone and bronze, weighs 20 tons and is four meters high.

Where is the sculpture of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree in Madrid

Since it settled in Puerta del Sol, the sculpture of Bear and the Madroño has occupied various places.

It was originally located in the eastern part of the square, between the Alcalá streets y San Jerónimo Race, in front of the building Uncle Pepe poster.

After the remodeling of the plaza promoted by Tender Galvan In 1986, the sculpture was moved in front of the Carmen Street.

And finally, after new configuration of Puerta del Sol, In September 2009, the sculpture has returned to the eastern area, now facing the Alcala street.

That's where you can take photos in front of the sculpture, and if it's in the morning, you can complete the scene with the background of the building of the Post House.

Statue of Mariblanca

At the confluence with the Arenal street you find a statue that will surely catch your attention.

This is the Mariblanca, a statue that became very popular in Madrid during the 17th century at the end of the Fountain of Faith which was located in the same Puerta del Sol, at the entrance to said Carmen Street.

In reality, the statue you see now is a copy of the original, which you can see in the building of the historic Villa House.

This statue represents a Diana and Venus, and was brought from Italy in 1625 to end up being installed on top of said fountain, which had been built in 1570.

It soon became known as the Mariblanca among the water carriers who frequented the fountain, a name that reflected the white color of the marble of the sculpture.

From then on the Mariblanca He has been to different locations in Madrid.

Thus, in the 18th century it was in another source in the same Puerta del Sol which replaced the original of the Faith. And some time later it was moved to a new source in the Barefoot Square.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the new location of the Mariblanca statue it was in the Retirement park, and since 1969, in the Recoletos walk.

Finally, after suffering an act of vandalism, the original statue was kept in the Museum of the History of Madrid, and the copy you can now see returned to the Puerta del Sol, located near the San Jerónimo Race.

The current location dates back to the last renovation of the square, in 2009, where the whiteness of the statue stands out on a column.

However, if visits the Villa House, historic headquarters of Madrid City Council, you will see that the original Mariblanca shows the characteristic yellowish color of the passage of time...

Tío Pepe poster, a historical heritage

Also noteworthy is the Uncle Pepe poster, a popular advertising sign that was installed in the Puerta del Sol in 1935, which has now had a level of historical protection, in addition to being moved to a new location in the square.

You will now see this sign installed on one of the buildings located behind the equestrian statue of Carlos III.

Traditional pastry shops in Puerta del Sol

And we don't want to end this article on the highlights you should see on your walk through Puerta del Sol without telling you about the bakeries.

Specifically, considered by some as a monument of the pastry shop, the most popular establishment among those who stay in the Puerta del Sol For more than a century it has been, without a doubt, the La Mallorquina pastry shop.

You will find it on the corner of the square with the main Street.