Puerta del Sol is right in the center of Madrid, from where 10 streets radiate outward. It is also the most lively square in Madrid. Puerta del Sol was originally the eastern entrance to the city of Madrid, and became a square after losing the boundary between the inner and outer city. it was built in 1782 and became the symbol of Madrid. Puerta del Sol is a semicircular plaza, known throughout the world. The square was expanded in 1853 to cover an area of 12,000 square meters.
Plaza de Espana, also known as Plaza de Cervantes, is another important square in Madrid, considered a symbol of the city and famous for its monument to Cervantes and statue of Don Quixote. The monumental work "Don Quixote" by Cervantes has become the pride of Spain and a national treasure.
The square was built in 1930 to commemorate Cervantes, the monument on the back of the sculpture on the top of the Spanish 16th-century dress holding a book of women, symbolizing that Spaniards of all sexes, young and old, rich and poor are fond of literature, love of reading. The monument is the top of the earth, surrounded by five portraits on behalf of the five continents, symbolizing Cervantes's magnum opus reputation in the five continents. The building behind the statue is the Tower of Spain, and next to it is the Tower of Madrid, the tallest building in Europe at the time, which was completed in 1948. On the top floor, there is a café where you can enjoy a coffee and a bird's eye view of the city. It's very relaxing.
Another important square is the Plaza de Mayor, a rectangular square built by the Habsburgs in the 15th century as a marketplace for the people, located near Puerta del Sol. It has been the site of many events in Spanish history, from its beginnings as a market square, to a gathering place for bullfighting enthusiasts, an amphitheater for soccer matches, and even the execution of many so-called heretics during the Spanish Inquisition. No wonder some people say that to this day, you can see the blood left over from the bullfights held in that year on the walls of that statue of Philip III on horseback in the plaza. In Spanish, mayor means big, so Plaza Mayor means big square and is often translated as "big square".
Plaza Mayor was built by Philip III in 1619, with a unique style of quadrilateral square. It measures 128 meters horizontally and 94 meters vertically, and is surrounded by four-story buildings. In the center of the square is the statue of Philip III on horseback. In the long years following its construction, it suffered three fires and was rebuilt until 1953, when it was completed in the form we see today. Lavish royal ceremonies, bullfights and commemorations could often be seen from the balconies of surrounding homes.
Adjacent to the Grand Palace of Spain is the Plaza de Oriente, which was built on the order of Napoleon's brother, King José Bonaparte I. The unpopular king was always worried that the royal family would be harassed by the commoners, so he decided to build a square in front of the palace. The square was designed by Velázquez, who also did the head details of the bronze statue of Philip IV in the center of the square. And Galileo solved the problem of balancing the towering horse's head and hind hooves.
Fuente de la Cibeles is also known phonetically as the Plaza de Cibeles. It is a large square with a wide intersection of roads. There is an old post office building built in 1760, which is one of the most historical buildings in the square. The fountain in the center of the square was chosen by King Charles III, who loved fountains, as the most beautiful among many designs. Next to the fountain is the statue of Sibeles, the goddess of the harvest, driving a lion's chariot, and the buildings surrounding the square are magnificent. It is also the starting point of the Prado Avenue, the art district. The Plaza de la Fomento is also a shrine for the Real Madrid team, which celebrates its championships with tens of thousands of fans in the plaza.
Plaza de la Independencia is another square in Madrid. It is one of the symbols of the Spanish capital and boasts Madrid's famous monument, Puerta de Alcalá, built in 1778 by King Carlos III and architect Francesco Sabatini. The square in its current form was created in 1869, when a section of the eastern wall of the city of Madrid was torn down to create a circular square with Puerta de Alcalá as its centerpiece. The square is surrounded by late 19th and early 20th century buildings, and on the southeast side is the main access to the Ritz Park.