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The delay at Sol puts the most complex Christmas setup to the test
The encampment forced a rescheduling of the Sol tree, a 45-tonne structure with 245,000 lights. Its assembly requires a special crane and six workers dedicated exclusively to the task.
A crane capable of lifting 70 tonnes must be positioned at a precise spot in the Puerta del Sol: there are tunnels and galleries running beneath the square. This limitation affects the assembly of the Christmas tree, which stands 37 metres tall and weighs 45 tonnes.
The camp delayed the work by more than a week and forced a recalculation of the schedule. The organisers hoped to finish on time if the rain allowed. The occupation also resulted in losses of more than 30 million euros for local businesses, according to this commercial report.
The tree is 14 metres in diameter and has internal counterweights of around 48 tonnes, equivalent to the weight of 24 large cars. Its structure is designed to withstand winds of up to 110 kilometres per hour. The City Council is not aiming for the tallest tree, but rather one of a suitable size to offer the best view from the square.
The Ximénez team assigns six specialised workers to the installation. They assemble the structure in sections, about 14 in total, and decorate the foliage panels by hand before hoisting them up. Each level is fitted with some of the more than 3,100 silver baubles, in various sizes, and 350 red bows. The star at the top is almost three metres tall.
The decorations are also prepared at ground level to avoid adjustments at height. The tree features 245,000 LED bulbs and the council estimates its consumption at less than 10,000 watts, equivalent to three household appliances running at once. Eight lorries, each able to carry up to 40 tonnes, are used to transport the components.
The design is handled by the Obras y Equipamientos department, unlike other Christmas pieces created by designers. Carlos Rubio, deputy director general of urban installations, and Gemma Gallego, head of public lighting, explain that the location and events at Puerta del Sol require careful coordination at every stage. Miguel Ángel Pedrajas, operations director at Ximénez, notes that the work requires special care due to the conditions at kilometre zero.
The tree costs 302,819 euros and is among the most expensive pieces of Madrid’s Christmas lighting, along with the floral ring planned for the plaza of Cardenal Cisneros, budgeted at 310,000 euros. The structure is dismantled after Epiphany and can be taken down in just over a week. Some of the decorations are reused; for example, lights created from children’s drawings are relocated elsewhere.
The Sol tree is part of a lighting display that covers more than 250 locations across the 21 districts. The installation includes another 13 illuminated fir trees and 131 cherry trees. There are also 7,458 garlands stretching 164 kilometres and 14 million LED bulbs. The City Council is allocating around 7.3 million euros to install, light, and dismantle the decorations; the switch-on is scheduled for 21 December, with Carlos Latre as guest of honour.