Puerta de Toledo

This 19 meters high gate is built with granite. It consists of a central round arch and two doors with lintels that were built during José Bonaparte´ s reign, when its construction was ordered with the aim of tiding up the entrance to Madrid through the former royal path from Andalucía. It was inaugurated in 1827. It is the last monumental gate that was built in Madrid. It is crowned by a group of stone sculptures designed by José Jinés and sculpted by Ramón Barba and Valeriano Salvatierra.

After the French troops´ withdrawal in Spain, the Puerta de Toledo became the place of reception of the King Fernando VII. Nowadays, it is located in the middle of a roundabout and is surrounded by gardens, so people and vehicles are not allowed to go through it. As a result of the construction of subways, the land where it is built has slightly given way and the central arch has become deformed in a hardly perceptible way. It was restored by the City Council of Madrid in 1995.

Interesting resources

   Photos of the Puerta de Toledo