Puerta del Sol, Central square in Madrid, Spain
Puerta del Sol is a large pedestrian square in central Madrid, where the Casa de Correos with its clock tower forms the main building. Several wide streets lead away from the square, and the open space invites people to linger.
In the 15th century, a city gate stood here that marked Madrid's eastern boundary and gave the square its name. In the 18th century, the Casa de Correos was built, later becoming the regional government seat and shaping the appearance to this day.
The name Puerta del Sol comes from a sun decoration that once adorned the eastern city gate, and today the square serves as a popular meeting point for locals and travelers. People gather here daily to meet friends, walk through surrounding streets, or simply watch life unfold in the capital.
The square is best visited early in the morning or late in the evening, when fewer people are around and you can observe the surroundings more calmly. The area is completely flat and easily accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
A bronze plaque on the ground marks Kilometer Zero of Spain, from which all distances in the country are measured. Additionally, a 20-ton statue of a bear reaching up to a strawberry tree stands here, representing Madrid's heraldic symbol.
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