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Wall · Toledo, Castela-Mancha
Puerta Nueva de Bisagra
Main gate of Toledo's walls, rebuilt between 1540 and 1576 with the participation of Alonso de Covarrubias. It has two round towers, the two-headed eagle of the imperial city, and a statue of Charles V in the courtyard.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Puerta Nueva de Bisagra
The gate is called Nueva to distinguish it from the Puerta Antigua de Bisagra, or Puerta de Alfonso VI, which is nearby and much smaller. The Muslim name was Bab al-Saqra. Excavations made during the restoration of the walls showed that there was already an elbow-shaped entrance there before the Christian conquest of 1085.
The current form comes from the reconstruction carried out in the 16th century, beginning in 1540, with Nicolás de Vergara, the Elder, and Alonso de Covarrubias among the masters who worked on it. The works were completed in 1576.
It consists of two bodies joined by walls with battlements, with a courtyard in the middle, where there is a statue of Carlos V. On the outside, the rusticated stone arch is flanked by two large round towers and crowned by the coat of arms of the imperial city, with the two-headed eagle. On the inside, the gate has two square towers with slate roofs shaped like pyramids.
The gate marks the boundary between the neighborhood outside the walls, the Arrabal, and the old town. From there, the Calle Real del Arrabal climbs toward the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza de Zocodover.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
10 to 15 minutes to see both sides and the courtyard.
Best time
In the morning, as a starting point for the walk up to the center. At night the gate is usually illuminated.
How to get there
It is in the north of the old town, near the bus station and the stop for the tour buses. From the Plaza de Zocodover it is about a ten-minute walk, descending via the Puerta del Sol.
Tip
Those arriving by bus or car who stop on the north side enter the city here. Look at both sides of the gate: the exterior, with the round towers, and the interior, with the slate roofs.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Puerta Nueva de Bisagra
Why is it called Puerta Nueva?
To distinguish it from the Puerta Antigua de Bisagra, or Puerta de Alfonso VI, which is nearby and is older and smaller.
What is the eagle above the gate?
It's Toledo's coat of arms as an imperial city, featuring the double-headed eagle, granted in the time of Charles V.
Can you enter the courtyard?
Yes. The courtyard between the two parts of the gate is an open passage, and there stands the statue of Charles V.