Puerta de Sol photos

This is downtown Madrid and it is also the main tourist area. Most tourist places that are worth visiting in Madrid are within walking distance of "Sol" which is best seen in the daytime as the area can get a bit dangerous at night. There are plenty of Spanish academies in the area, few English ones and loads of hostals (sometimes stacked one on top of the other) and hotels. Long-term housing can be dangerous, but this is where it's at for the "real" Spanish thing.

  

Puerta de Sol itself:

Casa de Correos.

View from Opera.

Statue of Charles III

View from Calle Mayor.

The famous bear and Madrone tree, symbol of Madrid.

Every Spaniard tunes in to watch the 12 gongs on New Year's Eve on TV and eat the traditional 12 grapes (peeled if possible).

Puerta del Sol on Wikipedia
Puerta del Sol on Google Maps