Plaza Mayor

What to expect

Plaza Mayor is the enclosed arcaded square of Habsburg Madrid, finished in 1619 under Philip III. Fires in 1631, 1670 and especially 1790 burned much of it down, and Juan de Villanueva rebuilt it in the neoclassical style you see now: uniform red-ochre façades, about 237 balconies and ten arched entrances at street level. The square measures roughly 129 by 94 metres.

It is a large, open cobbled space with cafés under the arcades and a bronze statue of Philip III in the middle. The Casa de la Panadería, the former bakery with painted façade murals, is the focal point on the north side. Expect street performers and plenty of visitors. Most people stay 20 to 30 minutes, longer if they sit down for a drink.

Don't miss

• Casa de la Panadería murals
• Bronze statue of Philip III
• The arcades and their balconies
• Arco de Cuchilleros, the southern gate
• Villanueva's arched entrances

Tips for your visit

• Café prices under the arcades are higher than in surrounding streets, so have a drink here only for the setting.
• Leave through the Arco de Cuchilleros to reach the tavern streets of Cava Baja.
• In the run-up to Christmas a market fills the square, so it is busier then.
• Combine it with Mercado de San Miguel, a two-minute walk away.