Key facts
- Location
- Madrid , Spain
- Official name
- Plaza Mayor de Madrid
- Type
- Non-movable
- Criteria
- Monument
- Reference no
- RI-51-0005006
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Area
- 9400
- Image
- Madrid, Plaza Mayor, 2016, (02).jpg
Show 3 more facts
- Commons category
- Plaza Mayor, Madrid
- native label
- Plaza Mayor
- street key
- 498000
via Wikidata · CC0
~6 min read
Article
The Plaza Mayor (English: Main Square) is the principal public square in the heart of Madrid, the capital of Spain. It was once the centre of Old Madrid. It was first built (1580–1619) during the reign of Philip III. Only a few blocks away is another famous plaza, the Puerta del Sol.
The Plaza Mayor is rectangular in shape and is noted for the uniformity of its surrounding architecture. The square measures 129 metres (423 ft) by 94 metres (308 ft). A total of 237 balconies overlook the square from the residential buildings that enclose it. Access is provided by ten entrances and nine gates, each named according to their historical or geographical significance. The entrances are: 7 de Julio, Arco de Triunfo, and Felipe III to the north; Sal, Zaragoza, and Gerona to the east; Botoneras, Toledo, and Cuchilleros to the south; and Ciudad Rodrigo to the west.