Puerta de Alcala: Madrid’s Grand Entrance (Magnificent Madrid Series 18)

Puerta de Alcala 
Madrid’s Grand Entrance
Magnificent Madrid Series 18

The Puerta de Alcalá or the Alcalá Gate, located 
right across the Buen Retiro Park, is a Neo-classical 
monument in the Plaza de la Independencia.



The name came from the Arabic word ‘al-qal'a’,
or "citadel" and considered as the oldest among
the modern post-Roman triumphal arch in Europe.



…like the  Arc de Triomphe in Paris,

 

…and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. 



Puerta de Alcala was inaugurated in 1778, that replaced 
a smaller gate where road to the city of Alcalá was to pass.

 

It was later expanded as the Plaza de la Independencia, now
 bisected  by Alcalá Street, a name based from that old path that 
originates  from Madrid  to the nearby town of Alcalá de Henares.

This humongous arc is something
not to be missed when in Madrid.

Read the links below for related posts

Caceres to Madrid 
Scenic Train Ride to the Spanish Capital City
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La Pausa 
Madrid’s Welcome Feast 
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Petit Palace Opera 
Homey Hotel at the Heart of Madrid
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Calle Arenal 
Madrid’s Vibrant Street Mall
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Old Madrid Neighborhood Walk
History on Foot
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Bangkok Thai Restaurant
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Plaza de Oriente 

Madrid’s Historic Centre 

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Palacio Real

Spain’s Ceremonial Royal Residence

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Catedral de Nuestra Senora de Almudena

Seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid

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Plaza de la Villa

Madrid’s Medieval Plaza

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Mercado de San Miguel

20th-century Glass Market

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Plaza Mayor

Madrid’s Breathtaking Central Plaza 

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El Retiro District

Madrid’s Walk in the Park

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Plaza del Sol

Spain’s Kilometro Cero

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Calle de las Huertas

Madrid’s Charming Residential Strip Mall

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Museo del Prado

Spain’s National Museum

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Parque del Buen Retiro

Old Spanish Monarchy’s Glorious Garden

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Puerta de Alcala

Madrid’s Grand Entrance

Magnificent Madrid Series 18

Calle de Alcala

Main Street Madrid

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La Cueva

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Chocolateria de San Ginez

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Iglesia de San Ginés de Arlés

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Parque del Buen Retiro: Old Spanish Monarchy’s Glorious Garden (Magnificent Madrid Series 17)

Parque del Buen Retiro 
Old Spanish Monarchy’s Glorious Garden
Magnificent Madrid Series 17 

The Buen Retiro Park or Parque del Buen Retiro,
is one of the largest parks in the city of Madrid.



We walked our way to the park located
a block away from the Museo de Prado,

 



…by traversing the Calle Academia. 

 

We accessed the park the Puerta Felipe IV.



…and we were amazed by the beautiful gardens
at the Plaza Partere located at the threshold.

 

This is where Madrid’s Oldest Tree is located.

 

The Buen Retiro Park is one
of the largest parks in Madrid.

 

The park belonged to the Spanish Monarchy until
the late 19th century, when it became a public park



We had a leisurely stroll
towards the northwestern gate,



…and passed by a playground called Zona Infantil,



…where we decided to rest,



…while my young son played.



We the resumed our walk until we
arrived at the Paseo de Argentina.



Also known as Paseo de las Estatuas 
or Walkway of the Statues in English,



…it is where can find the statues of monarchs
from the Royal Palace flanking the walkway.





We continued our leisurely walk-



 

to the other side of the lovely park,





…and passed by another
playground at the Jeronimos.

 

We finally arrived at the as the grand main
entrance to the Parque del Buen Retiro, 

 

….located right in front of Puerta de Alcala. 

 

We exited in this gate with a plan of returning  the next day,
to explore some of the most popular  tourist attractions in 
Madrid located right inside this massive, verdant park.

 

We failed to do so, as there was an unexpected
transport strike that paralyzed Madrid the next day. 

Read the links below for related posts

Caceres to Madrid 
Scenic Train Ride to the Spanish Capital City
Magnificent Madrid Series 1 

La Pausa 
Madrid’s Welcome Feast 
Magnificent Madrid Series 2 

Petit Palace Opera 
Homey Hotel at the Heart of Madrid
Magnificent Madrid Series 3 

Calle Arenal 
Madrid’s Vibrant Street Mall
Magnificent Madrid Series 4

Old Madrid Neighborhood Walk
History on Foot
Magnificent Madrid Series 5

Bangkok Thai Restaurant
Taste of Asia in Madrid

Magnificent Madrid Series 6

Plaza de Oriente 

Madrid’s Historic Centre 

Magnificent Madrid Series 7

Palacio Real

Spain’s Ceremonial Royal Residence

Magnificent Madrid Series 8

Catedral de Nuestra Senora de Almudena

Seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid

Magnificent Madrid Series 9

Plaza de la Villa

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Magnificent Madrid Series 10

Mercado de San Miguel

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Plaza Mayor

Madrid’s Breathtaking Central Plaza 

Magnificent Madrid Series 12

El Retiro District

Madrid’s Walk in the Park

Magnificent Madrid Series 13

Plaza del Sol

Spain’s Kilometro Cero

Magnificent Madrid Series 14

Calle de las Huertas

Madrid’s Charming Residential Strip Mall

Magnificent Madrid Series 15

Museo del Prado

Spain’s National Museum

Magnificent Madrid Series 16

Parque del Buen Retiro

Old Spanish Monarchy’s Glorious Garden

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Puerta de Alcala

Madrid’s Grand Entrance

Magnificent Madrid Series 18

Calle de Alcala

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La Cueva

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Jose Rizal Monument

A Piece of Filipiniana in Madrid

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Chocolateria de San Ginez

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Awesome European Vacation Conclusion
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Museo del Prado (Spain’s National Museum) Magnificent Madrid Series 16

Museo del Prado 
Spain’s National Museum 
Magnificent Madrid Series 16

The Prado Museum or Museo del Prado 
was our main destination of our long walk
on Madrid’s Retiro District from Calle Arenal.



 The Museo Nacional del Prado 
is housed in a historic building.



…was designed in 1785 by Juan de Villanueva, an
architect at the Period of the Enlightenment in Spain .

 

It was initially meant to house the Natural History Cabinet,
but the Spanish monarchy later decided to convert the building
as the new Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures.



It was subsequently renamed as the Museo Nacional del Prado,
and was opened to the public for the first time in November 1819.



I was able to get some shots before
being informed by a museum usher,





… that taking photos inside
the museum is not allowed,



…but the entrance ticket comes with a book that
details the museum’s extensive art collection. 



Museo del Prado is considered to have one of the finest
collection of European and Spanish arts in the world,



It has on display he numerous works by Francisco Goya,

 

…El Greco Hieronymus Bosch,  
Peter Paul Rubens and Titian.

Museo del Prado is considered
one of the greatest art museums,

 

… and also one of the most visited sites in the world,
making it a must see museum for anyone visiting Madrid.

Read the links below for related posts

Caceres to Madrid 
Scenic Train Ride to the Spanish Capital City
Magnificent Madrid Series 1 

La Pausa 
Madrid’s Welcome Feast 
Magnificent Madrid Series 2 

Petit Palace Opera 
Homey Hotel at the Heart of Madrid
Magnificent Madrid Series 3 

Calle Arenal 
Madrid’s Vibrant Street Mall
Magnificent Madrid Series 4

Old Madrid Neighborhood Walk
History on Foot
Magnificent Madrid Series 5

Bangkok Thai Restaurant
Taste of Asia in Madrid

Magnificent Madrid Series 6

Plaza de Oriente 

Madrid’s Historic Centre 

Magnificent Madrid Series 7

Palacio Real

Spain’s Ceremonial Royal Residence

Magnificent Madrid Series 8

Catedral de Nuestra Senora de Almudena

Seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid

Magnificent Madrid Series 9

Plaza de la Villa

Madrid’s Medieval Plaza

Magnificent Madrid Series 10

Mercado de San Miguel

20th-century Glass Market

Magnificent Madrid Series 11

Plaza Mayor

Madrid’s Breathtaking Central Plaza 

Magnificent Madrid Series 12

El Retiro District

Madrid’s Walk in the Park

Magnificent Madrid Series 13

Plaza del Sol

Spain’s Kilometro Cero

Magnificent Madrid Series 14

Calle de las Huertas

Madrid’s Charming Residential Strip Mall

Magnificent Madrid Series 15

Museo del Prado

Spain’s National Museum

Magnificent Madrid Series 16

Parque del Buen Retiro

Old Spanish Monarchy’s Glorious Garden

Magnificent Madrid Series 17

Puerta de Alcala

Madrid’s Grand Entrance

Magnificent Madrid Series 18

Calle de Alcala

Main Street Madrid

Magnificent Madrid Series 19

La Cueva

Best Madrid Dining Experience

Magnificent Madrid Series 20

Jose Rizal Monument

A Piece of Filipiniana in Madrid

Magnificent Madrid Series 21

Chocolateria de San Ginez

Spain’s Legendary Churros

Magnificent Madrid Series 22

Iglesia de San Ginés de Arlés

Madrid’s Medieval Church

Magnificent Madrid Series 23

Madrid Souvenir Shopping

Madrid’s Best Buys

Magnificent Madrid Series 24

Cafe & Te

Best Coffee Shop Paella

Magnificent Madrid Series 25

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport

15 Hours Airport Trap

Magnificent Madrid Series 26

Urban Grill

Airport’s Culinary Gem

Magnificent Madrid Series 27

Madrid, El Magnifico

Awesome European Vacation Conclusion
Magnificent Madrid Series 28