Sobre este lugar
Laid out in the nineteenth century on the orders of Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother who briefly ruled Spain, the Plaza de Oriente is one of Madrid's most graceful public spaces. Its neat gardens and hedges stretch between the eastern facade of the Royal Palace and the Teatro Real, the city's opera house. The square is famous for its rows of weathered stone statues of early Spanish monarchs, the so-called Gothic Kings, which were originally meant to crown the palace roof but were set here at ground level instead. At the centre rears a magnificent bronze equestrian statue of King Philip the Fourth, a technical marvel of its day: the rearing horse balances entirely on its two hind legs, a problem solved with advice from Galileo himself.
Datos clave
- 1843 year — The square was largely laid out under Queen Isabella II after earlier plans by Joseph Bonaparte
- 20 statues — Stone figures of early Spanish monarchs line the gardens of the square
- 1640 year — The bronze statue of Philip IV was cast, balancing on the horse's hind legs alone
📍 Plaza de Oriente, 28013, Madrid