What clock in Madrid's Puerta del Sol provides the chimes for Spain's nationally televised New Year's Eve grape ritual?
Answer
Real Casa de Correos clock
The Real Casa de Correos clock in Madrid's Puerta del Sol provides the chimes for Spain's nationally televised New Year's Eve grape ritual.
The building is the headquarters of the president of the Community of Madrid, but its clock tower is especially famous for its role in the New Year's Eve broadcast. At midnight, viewers follow its 12 chimes while eating the traditional 12 grapes.
The clock was made by José Rodríguez Losada and installed in 1866. Its visible position above the square makes Puerta del Sol a major gathering place for people celebrating in Madrid.
People sometimes call it simply the Puerta del Sol clock, which can create ambiguity in quiz answers. The most specific name is the clock of the Real Casa de Correos, the historic building overlooking the square.