Puerta de Alcalá

Puerta de Alcalá

The Puerta de Alcalá is one of the most representative monuments of Madrid. It is located at the beginning of Calle Alcalá, in Plaza de la Independencia.

The Puerta de Alcalá was inaugurated in 1778 by Francisco Sabatini, an Italian architect who worked most of his life in Spain. Previously there was another Puerta de Alcala of brick, but Carlos III ordered his demolition and reconstruction.

Curiosities

• The name of the Puerta de Alcala, as well as that of the street with the same name, come to be located on the road that existed to go to Alcala de Henares.
• The name of "door" isn't a casuality, since, in its origins, it was one of the five gates that gave access to the Villa of Madrid. In 1889 it became a square.
• Víctor Manuel and Ana Belén dedicated a song in 1986.

Because of its location, in the northwest corner of the Buen Retiro Park, the visit to the Puerta de Alcalá is a good opportunity to visit the Buen Retiro too.