Kilómetro Cero
Kilometer Zero is a commemorative marker in Madrid that marks the starting point for measuring Spain's road distances. The granite and brass plaque displays a map of Spain with six main routes radiating from this central point, and features the emblems of the engineering association and Madrid's municipal government.
The plaque was installed in 1950 as a reference marker for national road distances, symbolizing the 18th-century decision to establish Madrid as the center for all major route connections. This choice was based on the city's central location and its importance as the nation's capital under Philip II.
Kilometer Zero represents Madrid's role as the heart of Spain and the starting point for national connections. The small marker on the ground at Puerta del Sol serves as a focal point where visitors can grasp how the city was historically organized around this central location and how it connects to the rest of the country.
The marker sits on the sidewalk at Puerta del Sol and is relatively small, making it easy to miss if you are not paying close attention. Visiting in early morning allows you to see the plaque details more clearly and take photos without large crowds.
The actual geographic center of Spain is located about 10 kilometers south in Getafe on the Cerro de los Ángeles, not at Kilometer Zero. Although this plaque serves as the symbolic midpoint, it is more a traffic reference than the true center of the country.
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