At Madrid's Puerta del Sol, what clock's chimes accompany Spain's 12 New Year's Eve grapes?

Spain's 12 New Year's Eve grapes are timed to the chimes of the Real Casa de Correos clock at Madrid's Puerta del Sol.

The clock is mounted on the former Royal House of the Post Office, a historic building that now serves as the headquarters of the Community of Madrid. Its midnight chimes are broadcast across Spain, allowing people outside the square to follow the same countdown.

The grape tradition requires careful timing: participants eat one grape with each of the 12 main chimes. The clock also has preliminary warning sounds, called cuartos, which signal that the actual grape chimes are about to begin.

Visitors sometimes confuse the clock with Madrid's nearby public landmarks or with London's Big Ben. The nationally recognized New Year's broadcast specifically centers on the clock at the Real Casa de Correos in Puerta del Sol.