Paris1972-Versailles2003

This time I updating an older post with new text and link that it needs, This is one very famous square where in my youths came to shop at the Galerias Preciados store now part of the current El Corte Inglés, the old timers will remember I am sure. And going over Arenal for the now discotheque Joy Eslava which then was a community center theater where dances for youths were held in strict order,,,,These were the 1970’s in my Madrid, Therefore, let me tell you on the Puerta del Sol of Madrid ,part IV !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I

The Puerta del Sol  is one of the most famous and lively squares in Madrid.  It was originally one of the gates to cross the wall that surrounded Madrid in the 15C. Its name comes from the fact that at the front of one of its buildings was once a sundial.  The Casa de Correos (post office) was built between 1766 and 1768 ,and today is the seat of the Presidency of the Community of Madrid. A plaque represents the zero kilometer point (Kilómetro cero) of the Spanish roads, and represents the symbolic center of the country, from distances are measure.

At the entrance to Calle Alcalá, from Puerta del Sol to Canillejas, you can see the statue symbolizing Madrid: the bear and the strawberry tree or el oso y el madroño. At the other extreme of the square you see the  Mariblanca  fountain, now gone but in its  memory a reproduction of the sculpture that adorned it was placed in 1986.

It is on the Puerta del Sol square that everyone usually meets on December 31 to celebrate the New Year to the sound of the clock of Casa de Correos. The custom is to swallow a grape at every bell or the twelve grapes with the further tradition of throwing out the 13 by making a wish. During the New Year’s Eve 2018-2019 night, the Puerta del Sol clock for the first time in history gave the bells according to the Canary Islands schedule. After the traditional twelve midnight chimes, the clock delayed its hands one hour to adjust to the Canary Islands hour (one hour behind) and also give the bells at the same time as this archipelago.

In the Sol station in the square there are numerous EMT bus  lines 15, 20, 51, 52, and 53 : three metro lines converge: Lines 1, 2, and 3. Cercanias or railway commuter lines: C-3 and C-4, which put Sol in direct communication with the Atocha-Cercanías and Chamartín train stations.

The streets that are born in the Puerta del Sol are ten now. The rotation of them from Calle de Alcalá (clockwise) are: Calle de Alcalá,(mine) Carrera de San Jerónimo, Calle Espoz y Mina, Calle de las Carretas, Calle del Correo, Calle Mayor, Calle del Arenal, Calle de Preciados, Calle del Carmen and Calle de la Montera. Some of the more famous stores still there are the bakery La Mallorquina, and the umbrellas and fans house of Casa de Diego founded in the 18C. Unfortunately one of my favorite shoes store Los Guerrilleros is gone. This is a vast square and in the middle there is a nice equestrian statue of king Carlos III 

Some anecdotes of what went on at the Puerta del Sol and my favorites over the years are: Cinema: The day of the beast (El día de la bestia), film director Álex de la Iglesia. Km. 0, Spanish comedy set near the kilometer zero plaque. El misterio de la Puerta del Sol, released in 1929, considered the first Spanish sound film. Vistas of the Puerta del Sol, shot in 1896 by Alexander Promio. Theater: The Celosa of Tirso de Molina. Zarzuela (Spanish comedy theater type): The Puerta del Sol (1907), Manuel Fernández Palomero. La Villa de los Gatos (1917), in the first act. El último tranvía, by Ricardo Blasco. Por Conseguir a una mujer of  Luis Olona, the work begins in the square. Littérature: Luces de Bohemia (Lights of Bohemia) of Valle Inclán. Los Comerciantes de la Puerta del Sol ( merchants), by Carmen de Burgos. Portfolio of Ramón Gómez de la Serna. In la Novela Benito Pérez Galdós, Fortunata and Jacinta, the personage Juanito Santacruz lived at the Puerta del Sol. Fernando Fernán Gómez published in 1995 a new title named La Puerta del Sol. El Largo Noviembre de Madrid  (long November) by Juan Eduardo Zúñiga.  Un Muchacho en la Puerta del Sol ( boy) (1973), by Jesús Izcaray. La Conquista de la Puerta del Sol  of Emilio Carrere. Painting of Dos de Mayo by Francisco de Goya.

The Madrid tourist office on the Puerta de Sol : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/puerta-del-sol

There you go folks, this is a must while in the City, a wonderful square already many have written on it, and to me it is just more, a whimsical memory of my youth and lucky to continue seeing it, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Puerta del Sol of Madrid ,part IV !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!