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Home / Provinces of Spain / Madrid / Madrid / Attractions in Madrid /

Puerta de Alcalá

It is one of the most emblematic monuments of Madrid.

 

It is located in the Plaza de la Independencia, immersed in a nerve centre of the traffic in Madrid. It commemorates the arrival of Carlos III to the capital city. It is decorated with sculptures, relieves, capitals, a headstone which says “Carlos III. Año 1778” and the coat of arms is held by the fame and the genius. It is built with granite and white stone and is 1.95 metres height. It consists of five openings, three round arches and two trabeated arches.

Over the central arch, there is a curved gable that has another triangular gable inside. This monument presents two different faces. The military trophies and the sculptures of children and the coat of arms that decorates the upper section are Francisco Gutiérrez´ s works, and the rest of the ornamentation belongs to Roberto Michel. In this Savatini´ s work, elements of the international and academic Baroque are mixed in their monumental version, stressing the urban value of a strategic point of the city, due to the relation between the gate and the avenue.

When Carlos III entered to Madrid through the Puerta de Alcalá in 1759, he did not like it and he ordered to pull it down in 1764. The new gate was also ordered to be built by the king Carlos III, who wanted to replace another Baroque gate that had been ordered by Felipe III.

Built: XVIII Century (1769- 1778)

Author: Francisco Sabatini

Style: Neoclassical

Category: Civil

Type: Door

Best things to do

★★★★★5 reviews

From 24.00 €
Flamenco shows in Madrid.
From 15.00 €
If you're visiting Madrid do not miss an essential tour through its most emblematic places.  [+]

If you're visiting Madrid do not miss an essential tour through its most emblematic places. 

This guided tour will takes to you to stroll historical and enchanting Madrid sights such as the Paseo del Retiro, the Barrio de las Letras, the Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor.

Without forgetting the Plaza de Oriente, where the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral are located.

From 29.95 €
Make the most of your visit to the Prado National Museum. By booking your ticket with an audio guide here, you'll enjoy skip-the-line access to the museum and an app that provides all the details about masterpieces by renowned artists like Goya and Velázquez,... [+]

Make the most of your visit to the Prado National Museum. By booking your ticket with an audio guide here, you'll enjoy skip-the-line access to the museum and an app that provides all the details about masterpieces by renowned artists like Goya and Velázquez, as well as great European painters like Rubens.

A perfect option to explore at your own pace one of the largest and most visited art galleries in the world.

From 29.95 €
Discover one of Spain's most visited contemporary art museums, the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. [+]

Discover one of Spain's most visited contemporary art museums, the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid.

Book your ticket with a multilingual audioguide and be captivated by the stories behind masterpieces like Guernica by Pablo Picasso or The Face of the Great Masturbator by Salvador Dalí.

This plan is perfect for exploring the museum at your own pace without missing a single detail.

Plan your visit

Address

Plaza de la Independencia, s/n. 28001 Madrid

If you see any mistakes or want to add anything to this information, please contact us.

Location

Things to do in Madrid

★★★★★5 reviews

From 24.00 €
Flamenco shows in Madrid.
From 15.00 €
If you're visiting Madrid do not miss an essential tour through its most emblematic places.  [+]

If you're visiting Madrid do not miss an essential tour through its most emblematic places. 

This guided tour will takes to you to stroll historical and enchanting Madrid sights such as the Paseo del Retiro, the Barrio de las Letras, the Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor.

Without forgetting the Plaza de Oriente, where the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral are located.

From 29.95 €
Make the most of your visit to the Prado National Museum. By booking your ticket with an audio guide here, you'll enjoy skip-the-line access to the museum and an app that provides all the details about masterpieces by renowned artists like Goya and Velázquez,... [+]

Make the most of your visit to the Prado National Museum. By booking your ticket with an audio guide here, you'll enjoy skip-the-line access to the museum and an app that provides all the details about masterpieces by renowned artists like Goya and Velázquez, as well as great European painters like Rubens.

A perfect option to explore at your own pace one of the largest and most visited art galleries in the world.

From 29.95 €
Discover one of Spain's most visited contemporary art museums, the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. [+]

Discover one of Spain's most visited contemporary art museums, the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid.

Book your ticket with a multilingual audioguide and be captivated by the stories behind masterpieces like Guernica by Pablo Picasso or The Face of the Great Masturbator by Salvador Dalí.

This plan is perfect for exploring the museum at your own pace without missing a single detail.

From 35.00 €
Would you like to stroll through the heart of Madrid and taste the best tapas? This is your tour. [+]

Would you like to stroll through the heart of Madrid and taste the best tapas? This is your tour.

By booking, you’ll receive a link to download an exclusive, multilingual app. With it, you’ll explore iconic spots like Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel, and Puerta del Sol.

Discover renowned venues where you can savor the finest Spanish and Madrid-style tapas, from timeless classics to bold innovations. Immerse yourself in the culinary culture of this vibrant city and its people. You’ll even learn fascinating stories and fun facts about each selected bar.

Don’t miss out on this experience!

From 15.00 €
Discover Madrid through its movies with this incredible tour—an original way to explore the city's heritage and culture. You'll learn about Madrid's origins while strolling through film locations and watching their sequences. [+]

Discover Madrid through its movies with this incredible tour—an original way to explore the city's heritage and culture. You'll learn about Madrid's origins while strolling through film locations and watching their sequences.

Your journey will start at the Royal Palace, passing through the Austrias neighborhood, Plaza Mayor, Sol, and Callao. Along the way, the guide will reveal fascinating anecdotes about Madrid in cinema.

The tour ends on Gran Vía, a backdrop for iconic films, where you'll enjoy a cocktail at the legendary Chicote. Don't just hear about it—experience it yourself!

Attractions in Madrid

The Prado Museum is considered as one of the most important art galleries in the world.
It is a museum of Spanish art from the XX Century. It has headquarters in the old San Carlos Hospital built by Francisco Sabatini, and recently enlarged by the architect Jean Nouvel. It was inaugurated the 10th September 1992 by their Majesties the King...
This Palace is a solemn and monumental building whose immense architectonical beauty is enhanced by the gardens that surround it. It is located in Madrid City Centre.
This Cathedral is placed in Madrid city centre, in front of the Royal Palace. The temple joins different styles, such as Neoclassic, Neogothic, Neoromanesque. It was consecrated by the Pope John Paul II, during his fourth visit to Spain, the 15th June...

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