PLAZA MAYOR

In the heart of Madrid, it is one of the main squares in Spain. It is a meeting point for locals and tourists alike, with a fillet market held every Sunday.

This rectangular square is located in the heart of Madrid de los Austrias. This space designed for civic life was commissioned by King Philip III to the architect Juan Gómez de Mora. The Plaza was completed in 1617 and since then it has undergone many transformations due to successive fires. Its current neoclassical appearance is due to the architect Juan de Villanueva, who radically transformed the complex. However, the brick buildings, the nine entrance gates, including the famous Arco de Cuchilleros, the Casa de la Panadería and the equestrian statue of Felipe III have been preserved.

Centuries ago, the Plaza Mayor hosted markets, bullfights, popular spectacles and autos de fe. Nowadays it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Madrid, where locals and visitors alike flock to enjoy the terraces under the porticoes or to buy stamps or old coins in the numismatic and philatelic shops located in the arcades.

Address: Plaza Mayor s/n. Metro: Sol (Lines 1, 2 and 3) and Ópera (Lines 2 and 5)