Plaza Puerta Cerrada - Closed Door Square, Madrid

Street sign at Segovia St. and Gomez de Mora St. In the heart of the historic center of Madrid, we have Plaza Puerta Cerrada (Closed Door Square), which takes its name from one of the gates of the former Christian wall, located here during the Middle Ages. The entrance to Madrid through this gate, taking the traveler to the Plaza de Arrabal (now the well-known Plaza Mayor), had a lot of corners and recesses that facilitated the hiding to thieves and robbers, so that is was closed down. Since then, it was called “Puerta Cerrada”. Puerta Cerrada Square, view towards the West The closing of this gate, along with the opening and widening of this square , happened in 1582 due to a fire that completely destroyed it . After this, Philip II , decided not to rebuild the door , mainly because of urban growth, and the expansion of Madrid towards Segovia Street , which would have left this gate inside the city. Today, this place has a lot of activity and allows local bars and restaurants to enable their terrace bars to eat and drink outdoors. Puerta Cerrada (Closed Door) Square, and St. Michael's Parish.