The Arco de Santa María stands at the point where the old city walls met the river, and it was the most elaborate of Burgos's twelve medieval gateways. The sixteenth-century renovation transformed it from a functional fortification into a display of civic and imperial prestige, with tiers of statues set in ornate niches rising to a battlemented top.
Walking through the arch from the river side into the old town is still one of the best approaches to the historic centre. The arch connects the Plaza del Rey San Fernando and the cathedral quarter. Inside the arch, a free exhibition space is sometimes used for temporary art and cultural displays. The building is well-lit at night and particularly striking seen from the riverside promenade.