Puerta de Alcalá, Triumphal arch in Madrid, Spain
The Puerta de Alcalá is a city gate with five openings made of pale stone in the Plaza de la Independencia of Madrid. The three central arches are larger and decorated with columns and sculptures, while the two outer openings are rectangular and show simpler forms.
King Charles III commissioned Francesco Sabatini in 1764 to design a new gate on the site of an older entrance to the city. Work was completed in 1778 and replaced the earlier Moorish construction with this classical structure.
The name refers to the old road toward Alcalá de Henares that began here and led travelers eastward. Today locals and visitors gather in the square to photograph the monument or meet in front of the arches.
The monument stands freely on a large square and can be viewed from all sides. Those wishing to enter Retiro Park from here will find the entrance just a few steps away on the eastern side.
The two facades show different decorations: the outer one with lions and trophies, the inner one with representations of the cardinal virtues. This asymmetry was unusual for city gates of the period and makes each passage its own experience.
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