This gate is one of those that originally gave access to the city of Madrid. However, there were previously three other gates called Toledo gates in the vicinity, the current one dates from the first third of the 19th century and was designed by the Spanish architect Antonio Aguado, which is located in the middle of the Glorieta de la Puerta de Toledo, acting as a roundabout. It was erected as a triumphal arch in honour of King Ferdinand VII as a commemoration of Spanish independence after the French occupation.

It was the last monumental gate to be erected in the old part of Madrid. It was built between 1813 and 1827, and was restored by Madrid City Council in 1995. Due to its location in the city, it provided access from the city centre via Calle de Toledo to the roads to the south of Madrid, after crossing the Manzanares riverbed by means of the Toledo and Carabancheles bridges.

To contextualise its creation, it should be noted that in medieval times, Madrid was a walled city with controlled access to it. These accesses were called Puertas. As the city grew in size, the wall was immersed in the population and the new gates were moved. The various gates of Toledo were placed along the axis marked by the Calle de Toledo.

In terms of decoration, it is crowned by a stone sculptural group. On the north façade, the coat of arms of Madrid is held by two children. Military trophies facing south rest on the side doors.

If we look at the inscriptions, we can see that when the construction of the current Puerta de Toledo was completed at the beginning of the 19th century, the inscriptions were made. Some of them were removed during the revolution of 1854, leaving only the date of inauguration. Today, after its restoration, the complete inscription appears again. Above the main door, in the frieze below the main sculptural group, there is an inscription in Latin.