Puerta de Alcalá

A neoclassical triumphal gate completed in 1778 for King Charles III, standing in the Plaza de la Independencia beside the Retiro Park.

The gate was part of the old Walls of Philip IV, which once surrounded Madrid. Its name comes from the old road leading from Madrid to the town of Alcalá de Henares. Around 1774 King Charles III ordered the architect Francesco Sabatini to build a grand gate to replace a smaller older one, and it was inaugurated in 1778. The sculptor Francisco Gutiérrez and Roberto Michel carved the decoration. A plaque in the centre carries the year in Roman numerals.

What is it made of?

The decorations are made of white stone from Colmenar, and the main architectural parts are made of granite from Segovia. The central plaque reads rege carolo iii anno mdcclxxviii, which is Latin for in the year 1778, under King Charles III. The gate stands on the old road that led from Madrid to Alcalá de Henares. It is a famous symbol of Madrid that sits beside Retiro Park.

Marks of history

The Puerta de Alcalá was hit by a burst of cannon shrapnel in the past, and the marks can still be seen today. In the late 18th century Madrid still looked like a drab town surrounded by medieval walls. In 2010 the square around it hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards concert, with 100,000 spectators. The square around it is cut in two by Alcalá Street, though the street does not pass through the gate itself.

On the globe

The model shows a neoclassical triumphal gate beside the Retiro. Look for the central arch and the smaller side openings.