- Address: Plaza Mayor, 28012 Madrid, Spain
- Area: 1 hectare
- Start of construction: 1617.
- Opening: 1619
- Architects: Juan Gómez de Mora, Juan Batista de Herrera
Few historical objects can boast of a constant change of name at every epoch, but not the Plaza Mayor of Madrid. It existed even before the Habsburg dynasty, in their era acquired its amazing appearance and exists to this day, inviting tourists to their lights.
Plaza Mayor is located in Madrid, is one of the oldest squares of the capital, and also unusual in appearance, which is attractive for visitors. Imagine a huge space surrounded by three- and four-story houses that are built close to the wall. The exit from the square is possible only through 9 gates under the arches.
On the Plaza Mayor from all over Madrid for many eras, residents flocked literally behind a spectacle and bread. The area contains about 50 thousand people, while the family of monarchs and to know comfortably placed on 437 balconies, of which a huge number of people come to the square. Weddings of kings, folk feasts and holidays, knight tournaments, executions, bullfights, bullfights - all this year after year entertained the citizens and guests of the capital. Currently Plaza Mayor continues to be one of the centers of recreation and entertainment. Here it is full of artists, musicians, poets, there are concerts and discos.
A bit of history
Approximately seven centuries ago the Plaza Mayor was called Arrabal and was located far beyond the ancient Madrid, it was just an ordinary market square at the entrance intersection. Later, the market became the largest and most important, and under Philip III at the beginning of the 17th century the square acquired a somewhat familiar look, but from wood. Above the architectural square was the famous architect Juan Gomez de More, who completed the construction in two years. Two buildings remained unchanged: the House of Bread and the House of the Butcher. By the way, it was the bakery balconies that served as open lodges for royalty, and in the house arranged receptions or siestas. Later, wooden houses burned repeatedly, they were rebuilt, but fires occurred regularly. And when in 1790 the whole eastern wing of the square burned down, the sixty-year reconstruction of all buildings began now from the stone according to the drawings of the architect Juan de Villanueva. As a result, the Plaza Mayor became a prototype for many areas throughout Spain. The monument to Philip III on the square appeared only in 1874.
How to get there?
You can reach Plaza Mayor Madrid by metro to Sol or Opera stations. You can also take buses № 3, 17, 50.
You are open to all the doors of bars, cafes and restaurants . Free musicians play for the rest. You can buy or exchange coins, see pantomime or a performance, buy souvenirs to your liking.
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