Calle de Alcalá

Calle de Alcalá is the longest street in Madrid. It goes through many of Madrid´s most known places, like Puerta del Sol, Puerta de Alcalá or Plaza de Cibeles. Another famous spot, Las Ventas, where the bullfights take place is on calle de Alcalá.

Also Calle de Alcalá is one of the oldest streets in Madrid. It was created in the XV century from an old path that back then went out of the western limit of the city, Puerta del Sol. That path went to Alcalá de Henares all the way to the old kingdom of Aragón. Its first name was Olivares, because of an olive grove that it crossed. Queen Isabel I la católica ordered to cut down the olive grove due to all the thieves that hide there.

The development of the city and the grow of the population (because of Madrid becoming the capital of Spain) made its sidewalks a favourite spot for the houses of the aristocracy and the convents.