ADVERTISEMENTSpain’s Puerta de Alcalá is one of Madrid’s most emblematic monuments. As the song by Ana Belén and Víctor Manuel says: “There it is, there it is, watching time go by”. Now, the monument, in addition to having a song in its honour, has been awarded the prestigious European Heritage Prize/Europa Nostra Prize 2024 for its exceptional restoration process.
This recognition, awarded by the European Commission and Europa Nostra, represents the highest European award in the field of cultural heritage and positions Madrid as an international benchmark in heritage conservation.
The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, together with municipal authorities and the Vice-President of Hispania Nostra, Luis Cueto Ferrándiz, unveiled the commemorative plaque celebrating this historic achievement. The restoration of the Puerta de Alcalá, a project initiated by Madrid City Council in 2022, has stood out among 251 candidates from 41 countries, being selected among the 30 best European initiatives for heritage conservation.
The Madrid project has been recognised for its scientific rigour, comprehensive approach and commitment to public outreach. The intervention has returned the neoclassical monument designed by Francesco Sabatini in the 18th century to its original splendour, making it an example of good heritage practice at European level.
In addition, the restoration of the Puerta de Alcalá is eligible for the Public’s Choice Award 2025, a vote open until 12 September on Europa Nostra’s digital platform: voting is open until 12 September.
A comprehensive project combining conservation and cultural dissemination
The restoration of the Puerta de Alcalá has stood out not only for its technical excellence, but also for its innovative approach to dissemination. Madrid City Council has inaugurated a free exhibition on the restoration process, located at the entrance to the Retiro Park through the Puerta Real, which will remain open until 15 September 2025.
The exhibition details the history of the monument and the different phases of the complex restoration process. This educational initiative intends to underline to visitors the importance of heritage conservation and the scientific methods used in the recovery of Madrid’s emblematic monument.
As a complement to the educational work, the City Council has released the book ‘La Puerta de Alcalá. Restauración 2022-23’, a technical work that exhaustively documents the operation, from the preliminary studies to the final intervention. The publication is meant to demonstrate the council’s commitment to transparency and dissemination of knowledge in the field of heritage conservation.
The European Heritage Prize for the Puerta de Alcalá not only recognises the technical quality of the intervention, but also underlines the value of Madrid as a European cultural destination and reinforces its position as a city committed to preserving its historical legacy for future generations.
