Su questo luogo
Completed in 1619 under King Philip the Third, whose bronze equestrian statue prances in the centre, the Plaza Mayor is a vast rectangular stage sealed off from the surrounding streets by four-storey buildings and ten arched gateways. For centuries it was the setting for everything the Crown wished the people to see: royal proclamations, coronations, bullfights, markets and the chilling autos de fe of the Inquisition. The most decorated building, painted with mythological figures, is the Casa de la Panadería, the old bakery, whose balcony was reserved for the royal family. Fires repeatedly ravaged the square, and the harmonious red facades you see today are largely the result of a careful rebuilding completed in 1854. Today its arcades shelter cafes, stamp collectors on Sundays, and the famous bocadillo de calamares, a squid sandwich.
Fatti principali
- 1619 year — The square was completed under King Philip III, whose statue stands at its centre
- 237 balconies — Line the facades overlooking the square, once rented out to spectators for public events
- 9 gateways — Arched entrances connect the enclosed square to the surrounding streets of the old town
📍 Plaza Mayor 30, 28012, Madrid