Plaza De Mayor is located in the heart of Madrid and is rich in history, both good and bad. There is a lot to know about Plaza Mayor in Madrid, and I wanted to give a few interesting, lesser known facts.
From carnivals to bullfights, inquisitions to fires that nearly claimed the square, there is so much to know about the Plaza, and I have been here so many times, but I wanted to share a few little-known facts about Plaza Mayor that you may not come across in the local tourist guide.
1. Villanueva to the rescue
During the reign of Carlos IV, there was a fire that swept trough the center of Madrid that cause a lot of damage to a lot property, but in a moment of desperation and quick thinking, the Madrid’s chief architect Juan de Villanueva ordered that a number of buildings surrounding Plaza Mayor be demolished so that the flames running through the city would make their way to the square.
This was also the main reason for a great restoration of the square, which saw the buildings surrounding the square reduced to three floors, the corners were closed off and the access arches created.
2. The first square in Spain
Plaza de Mayor is actually one of the first “square” Plaza’s to ever be built in Spain, and is where the America’s first got their inspiration for similar designs.
The first building that went up in the square is still there today, the Bakery House, and has been here since 1590, although not a bakery anymore, it now serves as the main tourist information center in Plaza Mayor.
Opposite the old bakery is another of the oldest buildings, the “Casa de la Carniceria” designed by Juan Gomes de Mora.
3. Four posts with much to say
Those who have had both the fortune and misfortune to live in Plaza Mayor over the centuries have been witnesses to some of the best celebrations and also some of the most terrible scenes in Madrid’s history.
There are four lampposts in Plaza Mayor that at first glance appear to be identical, but each one of these lampposts depicts a series of events that have taken place here over the last half millennia.
Take a closer look, and you will find scenes of carnivals, great fires that have taken parts of the city, bullfighting and most gruesomely executions. It is estimated that some 350 people in total were executed in the Plaza Mayor.
During the inquisition, Plaza Mayor was the chosen square to carry out executions and many a soul perished here and much blood has ran through the cobblestones you walk on! Pretty harsh to think about
4. The King and his mistress
Living in Plaza Mayor was and still is quite the flex, but there used to be a rule that on the days of festivities, you would have to give up your balcony to the King and His guests.
On one such day, King Philip IV thought it would be a good idea to bring his mistress Maria Calderon, a popular actress at the time up onto the royal balcony. As you can imagine, the Queen of the time, Isabel de Borbon was not quite happy about this, and the King was forced to not do this again, and he kind of didn’t.
Instead, what the King did, was build Maria Calderon Her own private balcony on the square in a more discreet corner and the balcony has since been known as the balcony of La Marizapalos which was the nickname given to the actress for the dance she performed on stage.
5. That’s a big arch
Of the number of entrances to the square, Arco the Cuchilleros (Knifeman’s Arch) is the most famous and tallest arch, the work of Juan de Villanueva.
The arch is around 7 stories high, but you would not notice this when looking at it from inside the square. The real size is only noticeable once you see it from the other side on Cava de San Miguel.
6. The oldest restaurant in the world
Now if you were to go under the aforementioned Arco De Cuchilleros, you will find another landmark not to be missed if you are ever in Madrid. El Restaurante Botin, is considered to be the oldest registered restaurant in the world according to the Guinness book of records.
The restaurant was frequented and used in the stories of names such as Ernest Hemingway, Graham Greene, Maria Duenas, and many others.
There are even stories of spies meeting here in the restaurant, and Forbes named the restaurant 3rd in the world’s top 10 classic restaurants list.
The restaurant is most famous for serving slowly roasted lamb and pig.
7. The thieves’ hideout
Luis Candelas was born into a family of wealth and was known as an elegant man among the elite of Madrid, but He also really enjoyed a bit of crime on the side and had a group of friends that were also criminals, and throughout his life was imprisoned several times.
During His time in Madrid, along with His crew of thieves, they committed a number of high-profile robberies of money, jewels, and important documents and even robbed the Queen’s dressmaker and they would all meet in a cave below Plaza Mayor.
Today, these caves are home to one of the most well-known restaurants in the area, Las Cuevas de Luis Candela.
Now you know a little more about the square, I hope you feel a little more involved, have a more personal feeling if and when you visit Plaza Mayor, and drop me a comment and let me know what you liked the most.