Plaza Mayor is one of Madrid’s oldest and most iconic squares, commissioned by King Philip III and completed in 1619 on the site of the city’s former main market. Over four centuries it has hosted public markets, bullfights, royal processions, and even Inquisition trials, surviving three major fires to remain the rectangular, arcaded plaza seen today.
At its center stands an equestrian statue of Philip III, begun by Giambologna and finished by Pietro Tacca in 1616. The Casa de la Panadería, a former royal bakery now covered in vivid 1992 frescoes, houses the plaza’s tourist information center, while the surrounding arcades are lined with shops, bars, and restaurants serving Madrid’s classic calamari sandwich. On Sundays and holidays, a stamp and coin collectors’ market fills the square, and in December it becomes home to Madrid’s famous Christmas market.
Mornings between 8 and 10 AM offer the quietest visit; the square is free to enter and just steps from Sol metro station.