The iconic New Year's Eve countdown at the Puerta del Sol clock occurs in Madrid.
Puerta del Sol is a central square in Madrid and one of Spain's best-known public gathering places. Its clock tower provides the midnight chimes used for the traditional eating of 12 grapes, a ritual followed by people in the square and by viewers watching national television broadcasts.
The chimes are often preceded by warning sounds, including the quarter-hour signals, so participants can distinguish the preparation from the 12 midnight strokes. Crowds typically gather wearing festive clothing and carrying grapes, while broadcasters show the clock and the celebration around it.
Puerta del Sol is also associated with Madrid's symbolic Kilometer Zero plaque, from which Spain's radial roads are traditionally measured. The New Year's celebration is therefore more than a generic city countdown: it is tied to a particular historic square and clock. Barcelona and Valencia hold their own events but do not host this national chime tradition.