The Puerta del Sol is where all of Madrid's roads meet, a central gathering point for madrileños, and home to some of its best-loved symbols.
Madrid lies dead-centre in the middle of Spain – and the Puerta del Sol lies dead-centre in the middle of Madrid. It's here that Spain's map-makers and road-builders placed their starting-mark, to be used for counting distances around the country. But the Puerta del Sol isn't just about geography and maps – there are other reasons why this square is considered the focal point of the country. Meetings, celebrations and marches are naturally drawn here. Over the last few years, it has been the rallying point for Spanish protests over the global recession and Euro-crisis.And for many centuries, it was here that couriers from across Spain – and its vast empire – would come to spread and gather news. Today the Puerta del Sol can appear a somewhat unassuming sliver of a plaza, one which doesn't even have a gate ('puerta' means gate or door in Spanish, and it was removed centuries back). It does, however, have a clutch of symbols which make it more important than appearances might suggest. The kilómetro cero plaque, marking the country's centre, is just in front of the old Post Office building, which now houses the office of the Spanish President.The heraldic symbol of Madrid – a bear leaning against a madroño (strawberry tree) – is here too, cast in bronze. Its odd pairing relates to the city's ancient past, when the Romans called the area around Madrid Ursaria, the land of the bears. Some reckon the fruit of the madroño was a favourite of the bears, because it often ferments on the tree. From that point of view, Madrid's bear-and-tree herald can also be seen as a symbol of the capital's love of a good-time.Yet another good-time icon found here is the neon Tío Pepe sign, hoisted high above the square, a long-standing advert for a famous brand of sherry (installed in the 1930s). the Puerta del Sol really comes to life at night, as the clubs and bars in the side streets throng with people. So if you're looking for a spot of entertainment in the capital, and a friend says "I'll meet you at the Bear," the omens are good that you'll be in for a great evening.
