New Year in Sol
Madrid closes iconic Sol metro station to beef up New Year security
The metro station at Puerta del Sol, where thousands of people gather every year to welcome in the New Year, will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Madrid’s regional government confirmed on Wednesday that the
underground station would be closed between 9pm and 12.30am on Wednesday
30th December and from 9pm on Thursday 31st because of New Year's Eve
preparations.
Trains will pass through Sol station but will not stop. The closure will affect metro lines 1, 2 and 3. Those wishing to reach Sol are advised to get off at nearby metros such as Tirso de Molina on Line 1, Opera on Line 2 and 5 or Callao on Lines 3 and 5.
Sol metro station will also open later than usual - at 7am - on January 1st.
The closure has been ordered by Madrid’s police in a bid to limit overcrowding in Madrid’s busiest and most iconic meeting place, where every year, thousands of people gather to welcome in the New Year and eat twelve grapes - one on each gong of the bells at midnight.
The tradition of eating the twelve grapes stems from the beginning of the 20th century, when, in 1909, grape growers from Alicante encouraged the custom to sell that year’s excellent harvest.
According to tradition, eating a grape on each gong of the Puerta del Sol bell tower at midnight brings prosperity for the year ahead.
The Puerta del Sol is the most popular place in Spain for people to gather to eat the grapes and welcome in the new year, and the celebrations are broadcast live on television so people around the country can join in the party.
This year the maximum capacity for the central square has been set at 25,000 people, while extra police will be patrolling to make sure one of the busiest nights of the year goes without a hitch.
Revellers will be prohibited from taking certain items into the square that could be deemed dangerous, including knives, fireworks, flags, sparklers and glass bottles.
Police will completely clear the square when the metro closes at 9pm, after which visitors will be vetted at security checkpoints before being allowed to enter the square.
Despite the New Year’s Eve closure, Madrid Metro is planning to run 20 percent more trains up to January 10th, coinciding with Spain’s main festive celebration, the Epiphany, on January 6th.
Trains will pass through Sol station but will not stop. The closure will affect metro lines 1, 2 and 3. Those wishing to reach Sol are advised to get off at nearby metros such as Tirso de Molina on Line 1, Opera on Line 2 and 5 or Callao on Lines 3 and 5.
Sol metro station will also open later than usual - at 7am - on January 1st.
The closure has been ordered by Madrid’s police in a bid to limit overcrowding in Madrid’s busiest and most iconic meeting place, where every year, thousands of people gather to welcome in the New Year and eat twelve grapes - one on each gong of the bells at midnight.
The tradition of eating the twelve grapes stems from the beginning of the 20th century, when, in 1909, grape growers from Alicante encouraged the custom to sell that year’s excellent harvest.
According to tradition, eating a grape on each gong of the Puerta del Sol bell tower at midnight brings prosperity for the year ahead.
The Puerta del Sol is the most popular place in Spain for people to gather to eat the grapes and welcome in the new year, and the celebrations are broadcast live on television so people around the country can join in the party.
This year the maximum capacity for the central square has been set at 25,000 people, while extra police will be patrolling to make sure one of the busiest nights of the year goes without a hitch.
Revellers will be prohibited from taking certain items into the square that could be deemed dangerous, including knives, fireworks, flags, sparklers and glass bottles.
Police will completely clear the square when the metro closes at 9pm, after which visitors will be vetted at security checkpoints before being allowed to enter the square.
Despite the New Year’s Eve closure, Madrid Metro is planning to run 20 percent more trains up to January 10th, coinciding with Spain’s main festive celebration, the Epiphany, on January 6th.
Have you ever been to Sol to welcome in the New Year?
What do you normally do?
What is your most memorable New Year?
Comments
Normally, I use to pass this day with my family anda after dinner we eat the grapes, of course one on each gong, and after that i used to go out with my friends to celebrate the New Year's begining.
Althoug every years we used go to any Disco, this year we've changed our custom and we 've had the party at my home, wich has been a really great idea because we have enjoyed it so much. It has been might be, one of the best years since we are celebrating NY Eve together, so probably, next year we must be celebrate again at my home.
Jaime
I used to come back to celebrate New Year in Madrid but like you, I have never been in Sol Square on the stroke of midnight. For the last few years, I have spent the whole of the Xmas holidays in Scotland. I got fed up with partying - I suppose it's because of age.
I've been in Sol a lot of times but never on NY Eve, because I prefer being at home with my family to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new one. I know that some of my friends have been there at sometime and they have told me that it's a great experience.
I normally spend this day with my family and after dinner we eat the grapes, of course one on each gong, and after that I usually go out with my friends to celebrate the beginning of the New Year.
Every year we go to some disco but this year we changed our custom and we had the party at my home, which was a really great idea because we enjoyed it so much. It might have been one of the best years since we started celebrating NY Eve together, so probably, next year we should celebrate .
Be careful with:
used to
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Good start!