Photos: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Satdeep Gill, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Satdeep Gill, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Puerta de Alcalá and the Cibeles fountain
Your local guide
Héctor Prado
View profile
Highlights
- A gate that once marked the city's edge
- A goddess on a lion-drawn chariot
- Grand buildings, repurposed over time
- Civic symbols beyond the photo stop
- Two landmarks, properly explained
About this tour
This session covers two of Madrid's most recognisable landmarks, the freestanding Puerta de Alcalá and the fountain at Plaza de Cibeles a short walk away. You see a triumphal arch that once marked the city's edge and a fountain now more associated with celebrations than its original mythology. I explain both properly rather than treating them as a quick photo stop.
We walk the short distance between the two at an easy pace, since both reward stopping rather than rushing past. I explain the buildings around Cibeles and their changing uses as we go. Questions about the football connection come up almost every session, and I am happy to explain that history too.
This suits anyone interested in Madrid's civic symbols and how the city grew around them. It also works as a good link between Retiro Park and the old town.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Madrid before heading out.
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Puerta de Alcalá 21 min
The freestanding gate once marked the city's eastern edge, long before Madrid grew past it. I explain why a triumphal arch was built here even though it led to open countryside at the time.
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Plaza de Cibeles 21 min
The fountain shows the goddess Cybele on a chariot pulled by lions, a spot now associated with football celebrations. I point out the grand buildings framing the square, several now used for entirely different purposes than they were built for.
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Your questions 9 min
Time to ask anything about Madrid: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 4 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Bocadillo de calamares and La Latina, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Madrid time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 8 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Madrid, showing you Puerta de Alcalá and Plaza de Cibeles live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk between the two landmarks live with my phone.
Times shown in Madrid time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Mon 26 Oct · 8 seats left From 24,00 €
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