The traffic roundabout where the Puerta de Alcalá stands, forming the north-eastern entrance to the Retiro park and the symbolic gateway between the Salamanca district and the historic city. The plaza has been through various configurations since the 18th century; the current arrangement with the triumphal arch as a central island in a roundabout dates from the late 19th century.
At night the arch is lit and the square is briefly spectacular. The streets leading north from here into Salamanca are among the most characteristic of the district — Calle de Goya and Calle de Jorge Juan are good for restaurants and the specific Madrid café culture of late-evening dining. Metro Retiro.