Sundials in Madrid Madrid - Spain

A little of history I Until mid XVI century Madrid was a town with only inhabitants. Until mid XVI century Madrid was a town with only inhabitants. In 1561 Phillip II moved the court to Madrid, making it the capital of the kingdom. This led to a chaotic and speculative growth. Camillo Borghese, who was the Pope´s extraordinary delegate to Philip II and later on Pope himself with the name of Paul V, describes the town in 1595 as “city of bad and ugly houses... that has no sidewalks or latrines... which produces an unbearable stench". In 1561 Phillip II moved the court to Madrid, making it the capital of the kingdom. This led to a chaotic and speculative growth. Camillo Borghese, who was the Pope´s extraordinary delegate to Philip II and later on Pope himself with the name of Paul V, describes the town in 1595 as “city of bad and ugly houses... that has no sidewalks or latrines... which produces an unbearable stench". Therefore, at this time, there were no public buildings, religious or private houses worthy of having sundials. Therefore, at this time, there were no public buildings, religious or private houses worthy of having sundials.

A little of history II When sundials were in their heigth, during the XVII and XVIII centuries, Madrid was not yet a big city. Therefore, the exuberant Baroque Central European style had no examples in the buildings of Madrid. When sundials were in their heigth, during the XVII and XVIII centuries, Madrid was not yet a big city. Therefore, the exuberant Baroque Central European style had no examples in the buildings of Madrid. This is the cause why, surprisingly, in Madrid there are no old sundials, or those existing in the past, according to some paintings, have disappeared. This is the cause why, surprisingly, in Madrid there are no old sundials, or those existing in the past, according to some paintings, have disappeared. We show some of the most remarkable, though they are not very old. We show some of the most remarkable, though they are not very old.

St. Peter’s Church Ad Vincula These two are verti- cal sundials of the XVIII century. Their state of preservation is quite bad, although the stone is good. It is unknown what was their original position. There are not operative.

St. Martin´s Church St. Martin´s Church Vertical sundial of circular shape on wooden board 2 cm thick and 60 cm in diameter. Bad preservation. Above it a streetlight has been placed. Built in 1725.

King’s Fountain Castilla’s road It is the only equatorial spherical sundial in the Community of Madrid (1780). It is 40 cm in diameter. Besides the Equator, it has two other circles representing the horizon and the meridian of the place. This type of sundials do not have gnomon and the hours are read directly by observing where the shadow line cuts the Equator.

The Royal Astronomical Observatory This sundial´s measures are 1.1 by 2 m and it was built in It goes from 6 am to 6 pm. Its gnomon is parallel to the axis of the earth and it leans on one foot pendicular to the wall. It works with precision.

Saint Ana’s Square It is located in the house nº 4 of the Plaza de Santa Ana. It dates from the early XX century. It is a meridian sundial, 1 m in diameter. It works well.

Paseo de Recoletos This equator sundial has:  a circle of 760 mm in diameter, which corresponds to the maximum polar circle, which passes through the four cardinal points,  an equatorial perpendicular semicircle to the previous one, where the solar hours are marked,  another meridian semi-circle situated in the meridian plane of the place  a gnomon parallel to the axis of the earth, It works well, although very often the shade of the trees hides the sun.

The Toledo’s Gate This set of sundials is from The main gnomon is 9 m and it can be regulated for its exact astronomical placement.

Watches made in Nuremberg This sundial was built in 1547 by G. Hartmann, pastor of St. Serbal, Nuremberg. It also works with the cup full of water by the refraction of light. It is in the National Museum of Science and Technology, in Madrid. ACHAZ’s Cup

Watches made in Nuremberg This sundial was built by Thomas Tucher ( ) in Nuremberg. It is a diptych watch, made of ivory, brass and glass, its measures are 130x93x14 mm. It is in the Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid.