The Puerta del Sol
太阳门广场
太阳门广场在马德里的正中心位置，从那里有10条街道呈放射状向外延伸。现在太阳门广场是马德里孩子们游玩的场所，所以永远人声鼎沸。
太阳门广场是一个半圆形的广场，闻名于世。太阳门广场的名称缘于这里原有一扇朝东方开的称为太阳门的大门，现在此门已不存在。该广场于1853年扩建，面积为1.2万平方米。
太阳门广场是一个具有历史意义的广场，1808年5月2日，马德里人民在这里奋起抵御入侵的拿破仑军队，从而拉开了西班牙独立战争的序幕；1848年马德里安装了煤气街灯，太阳门广场首先被照亮；1879年西班牙有轨电车诞生，发车仪式也在太阳门广场举行。
保安局大楼是太阳门广场中最突出的建筑物，这是一座18世纪末新古典风格的宫殿式建筑。建成后，曾作为马德里的中心邮局、陆军司令部、内政部等。楼顶的钟楼是1867年加建的。此后，西班牙人就把这座大钟表示的时间视为“标准时间”。
在保安局大楼门前的广场马路边，游人都要亲眼目睹地上的全国公路“零公里”标记。该标记是用彩色石子镶嵌的直径约1尺的圆环，环内有伊比利亚半岛的地图，地图中央标有“零公里”的字样。西班牙用“零公里”为起点，全国公路的里程碑都从这里向外计算。太阳门广场还是马德里市门牌号的起点。目前该广场也是绝大多数公共巴士和三条地铁线的终点站。
太阳门广场一带是马德里最繁华的商业区。从广场辐射出的街道都是商业街，商品琳琅满目，喧闹非凡。
太阳门广场也是最能体现马德里风土人情的地方。广场最热闹的日子是每年的元旦，马德里人蜂拥聚集在这里欢庆新年。每个参加狂欢的人手中都拿着12颗葡萄，钟声一响，人们迅速吞下手中的12颗葡萄。据说这样做可使自己来年的12个月都有好运气。游客如有机会在马德里过新年，千万不要错过这个机会来这里看一看。
The Puerta del Sol is the heart of the city. This is in theory the starting point of all roads in Spain (they call it the “zero kilometer”). Around this bustling and gigantic gigantic adj.巨人般的， 巨大的 junction of 8 streets are a large number of shops and interesting places to visit including the Plaza Mayor (plaza means square). Nearby you，ll also find lots of places where you can try traditional dishes， though one must be careful as some of them are quite expensive due to the high number of tourists in the area. Be sure to confirm the price of everything in advance if you don，t want an unpleasant unpleasant adj.使人不愉快的， 讨厌的 surprise when paying！
The Plaza Puerta del Sol is the perfect starting point to explore Madrid. This bustling， centrally located square is one of the city，s most lively places.
Now the heart of Madrid，s historic center， this site used to be on the eastern border of the city. The plaza，s name originates originate vt.引起， 发明， 发起， 创办 vi.起源， 发生 from the eastern city gate located here in the 15th century. The gate was probably called after a sun drawn on it， hence the name Puerta del Sol or “Sun Gate”. The current semioval square was created in the 19th century.
The Puerta del Sol is the geographical center of Spain. This building is the “Casa de Correos” which is the headquarters of the Community of Madrid Autonomous government. This would be equivalent equivalent adj.相等的， 相当的， 同意义的 n.等价物， 相等物 to our state capital. Above this building is a famous clock tower that all Spaniards looks towards on New Year，s Eve. Much like the ball in Times Square is our symbol for the beginning of the New Year. In Spain a person eats one grape to countdown countdown n.倒数计秒 each of the twelve chimes. As a matter of fact this picture was taken on New Year，s eve.
Directly in front of this building is a stone slab which marks “Kilometer Zero”. This is the starting point for the 6 main highways in Spain. Directly opposite the building is the most important statue in the square that of the “Bear and the Madroo Tree” (“El Oso y El Madroo”) . This is the symbol of the city of Madrid. Follow the above link to discover what a madroo tree is and why this statue is sometimes incorrectly called “The Bear and the Strawberry Tree”.
In the middle of the square is a large equestrian equestrian adj.骑马的， 马的， 在马背上的， (古罗马)市民特权阶层成员的， 骑士阶层的 n.骑手 statue of King Carlos III. The King looks out to a beautiful 18th century red brick building， the former main post office. In front of this building on the pavement is the “kilometer 0” plaque， marking the center of the Spanish road network. It is the starting point from where all the highway distances are measured.
Many important streets in Madrid originate at this point in the city. For example， Calle de Alcalá (calle means street) leads to the bullring of Las Ventas， the most important in Madrid， also known as the “Cathedral of Bullfighting”. Another street departing depart vi.离开， 启程， 不按照， 逝世 adj.过去的， 逝世的 from Sol， Calle Mayor， will take you to Plaza Mayor， to Madrid，s City Hall located in Plaza de la Villa， or to Calle Bailén. Calle Arenal will take you to the Opera and to the Royal Palace， situated in the area known as the Austria，s Madrid， named after the Austria royal family of Spain. Sol is the official heart of the city， but the actual city center extends quite a ways out from this point. It is this extended center zone zone n.地域， 地带， 地区， 环带， 圈 vt.环绕， 使分成地带 vi.分成区 that we imply in any of the following descriptions.
Travellers should be made aware that Sol and its surrounding metros are particularly popular spots for pickpockets， and are advised to keep their wallets and other valuables in a safe place.
The Plaza de Espana
西班牙广场
西班牙广场（Plaza de Espana）位于格兰维亚大道鱼公主街（Calle Princesa）的交接口，将之分成东西两条大道。该广场以两个20世纪50年代罕有的建筑物着称，分别是：西班牙大楼（Edificio Espana）以及马德里塔楼（Torre de Madrid），均是由欧塔梅迪兄弟（Otmendi）所共同设计。在西班牙大楼旁边的圣雷欧那多街（Calle San Leonardo）上则有圣马可教堂（Iglesia de San Marcos），该教堂是由文杜拉·罗德里盖戡所设计，完成于公元1753年，而于公元1944年正式宣告成为国家纪念馆，也是马德里最吸引人的巴洛克建筑之一。
从公主街绕道到文杜拉·罗德里盖戡街（Calle Ventura Rodriguez）时期好，有一座建于19世纪的十分庄严气派的宅邸，称为塞拉伯博物馆（Museo Cerralbo），里面收藏的全是一些极有价值的家具及艺术珍宝。位于公主街20号的百合宫（Palacio de Liria）也是由文杜拉·罗德里盖戡所设计，原本是阿尔巴公爵夫人（Duquesa de Alba）的居所。位于都克伯爵街（Calle Conde Duqu）上有一座都克伯爵军营（Cuartel de Conde Duque），由佩罗德·里贝拉于公元1720年所设计，目前市政府的各个机关皆集中在此巴洛克建筑中，包括展览中心及图书馆；在夏季时，市政大厅前的广场常举办音乐会，同时也是民众夜晚活动的主要聚集地。
The Plaza de Espana is one of Madrid，s largest and most popular squares. On a sunny day it is filled with street vendors vendor n.卖主， tourists and sunbathing locals. The square is located at the end of the beautiful Gran Via， one of Madrid，s busiest streets. The green square is surrounded by streets， but it is still a very relaxing place during daytime. It features a large fountain and famous statue honoring the Spanish writer Cervantes.
Located close to the Palacio Real (Royal Palace)， the site was occupied by a barrack barrack n.(临时性)木板房， 兵舍， 军营 vt.使驻兵营内. After it was demolished， a new public square was created. It became a popular meeting place in the 1950s， after two of Madrid，s largest buildings were constructed： the Edificio de Espana and the Torre de Madrid. Both buildings were constructed by the project developer Metropolitana and designed by the Otamendi brothers.