HISTORICAL

Gate of Toledo, the last Madrid decorative gate

Gate of Toledo is inspired by traditional Madrid decorative gates, as Gate of Alcalá, designed by italian arquitect Sabatini, who also projected the Royal Palace. Builded in granite and white stone from Colmenar, it was ended in  1827.

It structure is divided in three round archs. Central one is bigger and wider than the other two of the sides. Above this structure is a part decorated with military allegories. Both facades, north and south, are decorated with columns, different in each façade, as happens at Gate of Alcalá, which both facades are also different.

A beautiful view from Toledo Bridge

Above the middle arch there is an inscription in latin that tells the year the gate was inaugurated and the monarch at that time, Fernando VII. Gate of Toledo setting is excelent. From Toledo Bridge can be seen a straight uphill. First, can be seen Pirámides obeliscs, and, further, Gate of Toledo silhouette.

In XV century there was a gate called of Toledo, where started the road to that town. Gate of Toledo construction also wanted to make the way to Andalusia more beautiful and solemn.

Designed by Antonio López Aguado as a king Fernando VII triumph arch, con with sculptures designed by José Ginés and made by Ramón Barba and Valeriano Salvatierra, the Gate of Toledo was designed to conmemorate an important political event, but it was an agitated period of spanish history, so the intention behind its construction changed three times.

A building affected by political up and downs

First the intention was that Gate of Toledo celebrated just born 1812 Constitution. López Aguado was the arquitect. In the foundations was put a small chest with coins and objects related with the Constitution. The project was finally abandoned because there wasn’t enough budget.

In 1817, Fernando VII, thanks to some new wine and other liquors taxes, get the necesary money to take up again Pate of Toledo construction. Fernando VII had abandon liberalism, so the chest set in the Gate foundations changed its content: Constitution coins were removed and replaced by coins with the king image.

The construction was slow, so it continued during 1820 to 1823, when Fernando VII was forced to accept liberalism again. The political change had its reflection in a new chest with coins and newspapers celebrating the return of liberalism in Spain. Eventually, the construction ended in 1827. The Gate of Toledo was, then, the last decorative gate builded in historical Madrid.