Home of Spain's Kilometre Zero - the equivalent of the Greenwich meridian - the traditional place to welcome in the New Year, a rendezvous point and scene of permanent movement and bustle. The Puerta del Sol - the sun gateway - takes its name from an old entrance in the city wall. It acts as an access route between the modern expansion of Madrid to the old medieval streets and from the two main commercial pedestrian streets, Carmen and Preciados, which stretch from the square. The symbolic statue of el Oso y el madroño - the bear and the strawberry tree - marks the zero kilometre, the equestrian statue of Carlos III and the clock bell tower in the Palacio de la Comunidad (previously the seat of local government and Post Office house) are just some of the features of this square which is the true heart of the Spanish capital.