Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol ( German: " Gate of the Sun " ) is one of the best known and busiest places in Madrid.
Importance
On the Puerta del Sol is among other things the kilometer Zero, of the six main national roads of Spain, extending radially from Madrid throughout the Spanish mainland. Also located on the Casa de Correos in the Puerta del Sol, a clock tower, the traditional New Year's Eve each year, with 12 bells ringing in the new year, with the Spaniards ( las uvas 12) consume at each stroke of a grape; this event will be transferred since December 31, 1962 each year nationally televised.
History is then represented by two events, the Puerta del Sol: the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931 and 1912, the assassination of the President of the Council of Ministers, José canalejas.
History
The Puerta del Sol is one of the approaches presented originally an enclosure that surrounded Madrid in the 15th century. This enclosure included the medieval suburbs, which had spread since the 12th century outside the actual city wall. The name of the Puerta del Sol comes from the image of a sun, which at the time adorned the entrance gate. This was positioned there because the entrance to the east, was so geared toward sunrise.
Although the area around the Puerta del Sol between the 17th century and the 19th century transformed into a sort of meeting place ( here, there was, for example, one of the most famous gossip premises of his time, the so-called Gradas de San Felipe ), so was the Puerta del Sol is not a real place like the Plaza Mayor, and also had only about half the current size.
In the years 1766 to 1768 the French architect Jacques Marquet built († 1782 ) at the Puerta del Sol, Casa de Correos ( German: post office ). By this construction the basis for today's urban structure of the Puerta del Sol and its growing importance was placed as a central location in Madrid.
Between 1857 and 1862 a complete redesign of the square by the architects Lucio del Valle, Juan Rivera and José Morer was performed, whereby the court was given its present appearance. Here were kept the lines of the Casa de Correos on one side of the square and built residential building with uniform facade in the form of a semicircle on the opposite front.
The place by Manuel Herrero Palacios 1959 was changed a second time. In the center of plantings and fountains were built. The last redesign took place in 1986 by the architect Antonio Riviere, Javier Ortega and Antonio González chapter, by the pedestrianized shopping area has been significantly expanded.
Today's structure
At the Casa de Correos today the seat of government of the Comunidad de Madrid is housed.
On the Puerta del Sol is among other things the statue Oso y el Madroño ( the bear and the strawberry tree - height is about 4 meters ), a work by the artist Antonio Navarro Santa Fe.