 | If you follow the Calle Mayor from the direction of Puerta del Sol you will come to Plaza Mayor - the Main Square - architectally typical Spanish creation. This Castille style building surrounded by three story houses was built at the beginning of the 17th and it has a rectangular shape. Inquisition’s public executions used to be carried out here and later it became a bullfighting arena. |
The main decorative element of the square is a fresco illustrated façade of a building that used to be the head office of the bakers guild. The center of the square is taken up by a statue of Philip II on a horse. The bars located in the surrounding houses usually bring out the tables outside if the weather permits it and in the craft stores you can get original Basque berets and many other interesting souvenirs. There are many streets leading you from the square: Toledo Street will take you to Rastro Market, and on the next corner, down a staircase, you can reach the Arco de Cuchilleros - Cuttler’s Arch - where the typical Madrid taverns are located. On Sundays the square turns into a philatelist and numismatic market and every December turns it into a big and loud open air store where you can get Christmas and New Year’s knick knacks and presents. The surrounding houses are inhabited by common folk but it is also said that souls of long burned gentiles wander around.
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