Puerta De Alcala: A Neoclassical Gate in Madrid
A short stroll from the Parque del Buen Retiro (19th-century park) on Calle de Alfonso XII road is Madrid’ first contemporary triumphal arch, the prominent neoclassical monument of Puerta De Alcala. This stunning arch takes its name after Alcalá Gate or the Alcalá Citadel that belonged to the late King Philip IV. In actuality, what drove me to this monument are the charming stories of the Serrano, Alcalá, Alfonso XII and Olózaga streets that gave Puerta De Alcala its essential congruity. When I arrived here, I couldn’t stop rhapsodising over the fact that Puerta De Alcala coherently mirrors 18th-century Madrid.
Puerta De Alcala is so much more than just a neoclassical gate in Madrid. This site invokes a medieval era ambience and instantly takes you back to the 17th-century when King Charles III ordered to build an archway leading to Alcalá city. Take a walk around Puerta de Alcalá, and you will notice the marks of cannon shrapnel from the eighteenth century. These impressions of cannon burst, in particular, symbolize the 1854 war defeat at Vicálvaro. To adjunct, the feats of Puerta de Alcalá – a handful of gardens and night lights were added, to the Plaza in 2001. However, nothing popularized this arched gate like the 1985 Spanish super hit song La Puerta de Alcalá, sung by Víctor Manuel and Ana Belén.
Until 2010, when Linkin Park and Katy Perry smashed when they performed live from Puerta de Alcalá for the MTV Europe Music Awards. Most recently, in 2017, this venue was seen hosting the concert of World Pride, and with all the magnificence it displayed, I hope for more and more people visiting Madrid to stop by this historic gate. Some of the nearby attractions that you may want to take a look at are Plaza De La Independencia, National Archaeological Museum of Madrid, Estanque Grande Del Retiro, Maritime Museum, Palacio De Cristal, Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, Real Jardin Botanico and Casa De Vacas Cultural Centre.
