Monument to Philip III in the Plaza Mayor
In view of the equestrian statue that presides over it, that of Philip III , it is logical to think that the beautiful and harmonious Plaza Mayor in Madrid was built in a short time and under the same aesthetic patterns. But that assessment is completely wrong. The square, as seen today, is the fruit of two centuries of remodeling , from 1679 to 1790, the year in which Juan de Villanueva took charge of its rebuilding, after a fire that devastated it.
After the fire, the square was completely closed through different arches. The most famous and the tallest, is the Knifemen's Arch , so called because the cutler trades were located on Calle de Cuchilleros where it leaves. This area, the "cuchilleros" area, is one of infinite comings and goings of people as they meet many bars where to enjoy a beer with views of the square.
In fact, from the time of the Habsburgs only the Bakery House , whose last mythological decoration is by Carlos Franco and was made between 1990 and 1992. The square has been the scene of autos de fe and bullfights . Most of its balconies were given to the members of the Court so that they could contemplate those events from them.
The equestrian statue of Philip III that decorates the Plaza Mayor was a gift from Cosimo de' Medici , Duke of Florence, to the Spanish king. At first it was located at the door of the mansion of the Casa de Campo, being placed in 1848 in the Main Square as a tribute, since it was Philip III who ordered its construction. The statue is the work of John of Bologna and Pedro Tacca, so it is no longer necessary to go to Florence to see a great work of art from the Italian Renaissance.
The Main Square It was also a show center as it is today during the summers of the town with its concerts. Since its creation in the 16th century it has welcomed bullfights, cars of faith Y public executions . But the most anticipated of all the events that take place within its arcades is the Christmas market, a tradition that dates back to the 1860s.
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Address: Plaza Mayor See map
Guy: Point of interest
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