Plaza Mayor

Bars and restaurants on the Plaza Mayor (Main Square, Plaza Mayor) are open 24 hours a day. Street musicians entertain passersby, artists offer their paintings, and vendors lure tourists with souvenirs. Since 1929, every Sunday, stamps, medals, and coins have been sold here.

From the Market to the Main Square in Madrid

The history of the square begins in the era of King Enrique II (14th century). It was built in the 17th century according to the design of Juan Gómez de Mora and was then located outside the city wall, hence it was called Arrabal, which translates to «suburb» or «outskirts.» In the Middle Ages, Plaza Mayor served as a market square and didn’t boast any architectural merits. During the reign of King Philip III, it was significantly rebuilt.

Casa de la Panadería

Since 1590, a bakery supplying bread to the royal court was located in the Casa de la Panadería (House of the Bakery). However, the building also served another function. During celebrations, executions, and bullfights, noble dignitaries and members of the royal family would be placed on its balconies, and lavish receptions were held in the opulent halls of the upper floors. The building’s walls housed the Academy of History and the Academy of Fine Arts, and today old frescoes are preserved, and the city archive is located there.

All Important Events Took and Still Take Place on Plaza Mayor

The history of Spain has always passed through Plaza Mayor. Military parades, poetry contests, popular festivals, duels of nobles, knightly tournaments, and Inquisition trials of heretics who were burned at the stake were held here. Royal processions traveled across the square, heirs to the throne were proclaimed here, and Plaza Mayor became the first place in Madrid specially equipped for bullfighting.

One of the most notable events of historical value was the opening of the square in 1620, when the farmer Isidore was canonized. Today, Saint Isidore’s Day, the patron and protector of Madrid, is the city’s main holiday, celebrated on May 15.

Statue of Philip III

In 1616, the Italian sculptor Giambologna created the equestrian bronze statue of Philip III (Estatua de Felipe III), which today occupies a place of honor at the center of the square.

Reconstruction of the Square

Many buildings on Plaza Mayor were built on wooden piles, which often led to fires. In 1631, the southern part of the square was destroyed by fire. The second fire occurred in 1672. Several houses burned down, including the Bakery, but the building was restored.

In 1790, the eastern part of Plaza Mayor suffered from another fire tragedy. The restoration work was entrusted to Juan de Villanueva and lasted a whole 60 years. The architect created a project that connected all the buildings, replaced wooden piles and columns with stone ones where possible, and added through arches to the houses. It is in this «execution» that we see the square today.

In 1985, a very important event in the history of Plaza Mayor occurred – Madrid’s Main Square was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.