Puerta de Alcalá
A neoclassical triumphal arch commissioned by Charles III and standing in Plaza de la Independencia. It predates Paris’s Arc de Triomphe.
Completed in 1778 and designed by Italian architect Francesco Sabatini, it is one of Europe’s earlier Roman-style triumphal arches. The two faces carry different reliefs, and the original stonework, along with some war-era bullet marks, survives to this day. The gate stands at the center of a roundabout in Plaza de la Independencia and cannot be climbed. The best photo spots are the crosswalk in front of the main gate of Retiro Park or the view from the Cibeles direction. It is free to see at any time of day. The north gate of Retiro Park is right next door, so you can easily stroll in.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Plaza de Cibeles & Cibeles Palace
- National Archaeological Museum
- Prado Museum
- El Retiro Park
- Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
- Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid
- Chueca
- Reina Sofía Museum