Madrid Travel―Visiting Plaza Mayor Square

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The Plaza Mayor has been the scene of multitudinous events in Madrid:

• Markets (Christmas Market), 
• Bullfights, 
• Soccer games, 
• Public executions, etc.

The Plaza Mayor also has a ring of old and traditional shops and cafes under its porticoes. Celebrations for San Isidro (patron saint of Madrid) are also held here. The Plaza Mayor is now a major tourist attraction, visited by millions of tourists a year.

Video 1.  Plaza Mayor Square in Madrid (YouTube link)

Introduction

The Plaza Mayor, a grand arcaded square in the center of Madrid is very popular with tourists and locals alike. The symmetrical rectangular square features a uniform architecture.  Measuring 129 by 94 meters, and is surrounded by three-story residential buildings having 237 balconies facing the Plaza. It has a total of nine entrance ways.

Figure 1.  Sol Station 

How to Access

It is located only a few blocks away from another famous plaza, the Puerta del Sol.   To reach it, you can take:

• Madrid Metro
• Cercanías Madrid
• Bus

 and exit at Sol station (see Figure 1).

Photo Gallery

On 06/24/2919, we have

Figure 2. The statue of Philip III dates to 1616

Figure 3.  Status (2)

Figure 4. Cafes

Figure 5.  One of the nine entrance ways

Figure 6.  Entrance way (2)

Figure 7.  Plaza Mayor Square

Figure 8.  A municipal and cultural building on the north side of the Plaza Mayor

Figure 9. Big snow in Madrid (2021)

References

1. Plaza Mayor Square
2. How to use the Metro in Madrid Spain