Plaza Mayor Square, The Magnificent Oasis of Madrid
Every football lover knows the city of Madrid. Yup, the country where the Real Madrid football club is based has tourist sites that are no less interesting than other cities in Spain. It is the Plaza Mayor.
Plaza Mayor is a square/plaza in the heart of Madrid and there is a statue of King Philips III in the center. Several events are held here frequently.
The Plaza Mayor in Madrid has become the center of the crowd and the venue for various events such as bullfights, football matches, markets, coronation of kings, and public executions.
Plaza Mayor is also often a starting point and a gathering place for tourists before exploring Madrid. Moreover, in this square there is also the Madrid Tourist Information Center and there are many guides wandering around.
While in Madrid you can enjoy beautiful buildings and gardens, such as Templo de Debod, Puerta de Alcala, Buon Retiro Park, Royal Palace Madrid and Gran Via. Apart from that, you can also visit museums such as the Museo del Prado and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Or do you want to watch the bullfighting at the Plaza del Toros del Las Ventas (Las Ventas)?
Plaza Mayor is a square in the center of Madrid, Spain. This square is one of the most famous squares in Madrid and is popular with local and international tourists. One of the most striking features of Plaza Mayor is the red brick buildings that surround it, just like the Place des Vosges square in Paris.
The average building on the edge of the Plaza Mayor has a similar architecture and consists of 4 levels. The first floor is occupied by cafes and shops, while the remaining 3 levels are residential buildings, apartments and hotels. If calculated, there are a total of 237 balconies facing Plaza Mayor.
The History of Plaza Mayor Square
Plaza Mayor was originally called “Plaza del Arrabal” and was used as the city's main market. In 1561 the square was transferred to the city of Madrid. King Philip II commissioned the Classical architect Juan de Herrera to renovate the area. Construction did not begin until the reign of Philip III in 1617. Juan Gómez de Mora continued the architectural renovation and was completed two years later in 1619. Historically, Plaza Mayor has experienced 3 major fires.
In 1631. Juan Gómez de Mora reconstructed the square after the first fire.
The second fire broke out in 1670, the architect Tomás Román was responsible for the reconstruction. The last fire consumed a third of the square and occurred in 1790. Today, the Plaza Mayor's architecture is handled by Juan de Villanueva. He handled the reconstruction after the great fire in 1790.
Previously, the buildings that surrounded the square were five stories high. Juan de Villanueva lowered the buildings around the square to three floors, closing the corners, and creating a large entrance into the square. Construction after the death of Juan de Villanueva was continued by Antonio López Aguado and Custodio Moreno, and was completed in 1854.
In 1880 Casa de la Panadería was restored by Joaquín María de la Vega. The building is part of the faade which is framed by two two-cornered towers. This place has been used for a number of purposes. Its name derives from its original use of the main town bakery. In 1921 the farm house was reformed, and again in 1935 by Fernando García de Mercadal. In the 1960s, the square closed itself off to road traffic, and added underground parking beneath the square.
The last show at the Plaza Mayor was held in 1992, consisting of a mural decoration, by Carlos Franco, from Casa de la Panadería, representing mythological figures such as the goddess Cibeles.
Today, Plaza Mayor is a major tourist spot, but it is also celebrated by the citizens of Madrid and has become a part of Spanish culture. Next to the Plaza Mayor on Arco de Cuchilleros Street is Restaurante Botin, the world's oldest restaurant.
In addition to walking and lounging, travelers can also relax in the many terrace and outdoor cafes that are around the edges. At midday, the atmosphere of Plaza Mayor can be very crowded, lots of people having lunch at the cafe, and also tourists passing by.
The atmosphere in the Plaza Mayor turns dim as night falls, when the lights start to turn on, and many cafes are ready to welcome Madrid residents and visitors who want to drink or have dinner while sitting around enjoying the atmosphere of Madrid at night.
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