Spain's New Year's Eve midnight chimes traditionally take place at Madrid's Puerta del Sol.
Puerta del Sol is one of Madrid’s best-known public squares and contains the clock whose chimes mark midnight on New Year's Eve. Crowds gather there to hear the twelve strokes and eat twelve grapes, one for each chime and each month of the coming year.
The clock is mounted on the Casa de Correos, a historic building that now houses the regional government of Madrid. Its New Year countdown is broadcast nationally, making the square a symbolic centre of Spain’s celebrations even for people watching from home.
Puerta del Sol is often confused with Plaza Mayor, another famous Madrid square nearby. Plaza Mayor is important for tourism and public events, but the iconic New Year’s Eve clock and grape countdown are associated with Puerta del Sol.