 |
Madrid Spain Plaza Mayor |
|
| Visit My Ireland Travel Guide • England Travel Guide, planned for 2006 |
Traveling
in Spain Home
Read about my family's night with "Walks of Madrid" This Site best viewed at 800x600 |
| As you walk down Calle Mayor from Puerta del Sol towards the Royal Palace, you might think it would be easy to spot the Plaza Mayor. From the street known as Mayor, the building surrounding the Plaza Mayor does not stand out from other structures; you will need to look closely for the passageways that are the entrances to this plaza. |
The Plaza
Mayor has been the site of executions,
tournaments, weddings, bullfights and Inquisition
trials. This very large square is
surrounded completely by one very large square
building from which onlookers perched to view the
festivities in the square below. The Plaza Mayor: This view shows one small section of the building that surrounds the plaza. (This north side is known as Casa Panaderia.) Much of the history of Madrid,
and Spain, is tied to this 17th
century plaza, and today it is still very
close to the heart of many a Madridian. Visiting
the square, you will not witness any executions,
but you might witness a coin or stamp show (on
Sundays), a free concert, or residents taking
their evening strolls. In the summer the Mayor square is full of tables. Take a seat in one during lunch or dinner and a waiter will arrive from one of the surrounding restaurants with a menu in hand. The square is often used as a central meeting location for tourist families and tourist groups. On the ground floor level of the Plaza Mayor building are cafes, bars, shops, and restaurants, most catering to the tourist. Among the shops can be found dealers in antiques, coins, and military memorabilia. |
 |
Photo
Left: Through one of the Plaza Mayor's portals
can be seen the twin towers of Catedral de San
Isidro. Philip II ordered the construction of the square as part of his plan to make Madrid the capitial of Spain. In the center of the plaza sits the statue of Philip III, straddling his horse. He is honored here for completing the construction of the square in 1619 A.D. |
Above : A small
detail of the painting adorning the section of the Plaza
Mayor known as Casa Panaderia. This painting
was added to the square after Casa Panaderia
was rebuilt in 1692 due to a fire.
 Relationship Disclosure |
| Hostal
Valencia stunning views of the Plaza Oriente |
| List of Madrid Hotels TravelNow. |
| For the best deals in Quality Madrid accommodations, book with Madrid and Beyond (see review) |
| Luxury apartment in Madrid for Rent |
| Madrid Restaurants Tour walking, wine, tapas evening in Madrid. |
| Find Madrid hotels by general location |
| A Madrid Hotel Review |
| Madrid City maps for sale |
| A
Spain Wedding
Magical Spain - a new way to celebrate fun romantic weddings with family and friends honeymoons, anniversary trips or vow renewal ceremonies. |
| Unique Accommodation Archive |
| Book your flight to Spain |
| Learn
to cook Spanish dishes Enjoy a cooking class with a professional Seville chef designed to teach the art behind the exquisite cuisine of Andalusia. |
| Book
Your Hotel for Spain TravelNow. |
| Visit my
Travel Store Featuring: Wrinkle Free Clothing, luggage, digital cameras, money belts, Jet lag products, travel door alarms and much more. |
|
|
| Learn Spanish Now! Transparent Language |
| RUNNING WITH THE BULLS OF PAMPLONA: The 'Festival of Saint Fermin' goes from July 6 to July 14. Hotels start filling up in January, book early. |
| Spain
Car Rental AutoEurope |
| Eurail Pass: The best way to get around Europe |
Copyright Notice - Privacy statement - Disclaimer - Disclosure - E-mail Jerrold - Mission & Principles
This page last updated November 2004