Plaza Mayor of Madrid

This arcaded square is the heart of Habsburg Madrid, the city's old quarter, and the ideal starting point for a visit to one of its most charming neighborhoods.

The Plaza Mayor began to take shape on the site of the old Plaza del Arrabal, where the town's most popular market was located at the end of the 15th century, when the court of Philip II moved to Madrid. In 1617, the architect Juan Gómez de Mora was commissioned to standardize the buildings in this square, which for centuries has hosted popular festivities, bullfights, beatifications, coronations, and even the occasional auto-da-fé.

The Casa de la Panadería

The Casa de la Panadería was built by Diego Sillero around 1590, but only the basement and ground floor of the original building remain. Nevertheless, it served as the model for the other buildings in the square. Among its many functions, it has served as the Main Bakery of the Town, which set the price of bread so that the neediest could afford it, royal apartments, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, and the Academy of History. Currently, it houses the Madrid Tourist Information Center. The decoration we see on the façade has not remained the same over the years due to renovations and restorations. The murals that cover the building today are the work of Carlos Franco, and feature mythological figures related to the history of Madrid, such as the goddess Cybele. The Arco de Cuchilleros (Arch of the Cutlers), however, has changed the appearance of the square on several occasions. The most devastating was that of 1790, which led to the reconstruction carried out by the architect Juan de Villanueva, who reduced the façades by two stories, enclosed the square at its corners, and erected nine access arches. Given its monumental scale, the most famous of all is the Cuchilleros (Cutlers') staircase, whose steps overcome a steep incline. The picturesque buildings on this street are striking for their height and the sloping facades, resembling buttresses. Its name derives from the fact that the cutlers' workshops were located here, supplying tools to the butchers of the Plaza Mayor, where the Casa de la Carnicería (Butchers' House), the main meat depot, is located. The statue of Philip III: This equestrian sculpture is one of the most valuable works of art located in the streets of Madrid. Designed by Giambologna and completed by Pietro Tacca in 1616, it guarded the entrance to the Casa de Campo for centuries, but Queen Isabella II loaned it to the city in 1848, which decided to place it in the Plaza Mayor.