Plaza Mayor
It’s one of the most emblematic places of the city and was the center and pillar of the city for more than four centuries. The plaza Mayor, originally called Plaza del Arrabal, has survived three devastating fires which required successive reconstructions until it was completely closed off.
Felipe the 3rd begging to remodel the square in the 16th century, when the Bakery House was built in 1590. However, it would not be until the 17th century when it would acquire its present structure under the architectural orders of Juan de Villanueva.
Plaza de Cascorro
This Old Madrid style square is crammed with many street stalls during the Rastro on Sundays. There is statue representing a soldier in the center, which is a tribute to Eloy Gonzalo a local native of this area who was a hero in the War of Cuba.
Plaza de Isabel II
In the olden days it was called the Plaza de los Caños del Peral since 57 laundry basins were located here. Since many theatre men and travelling theatrical companies used to meet here, in the 19th century they decided to construct the Royal theatre.
Plaza de la Cibeles
It is one of the more emblematic places of the city. It is a great square surrounded by important buildings like the palace of Linares, the Palace of Communications, the Bank of Spain, the Palace of Buenavista and General Barracks of the Army.
The famous fountain represents the goddess Cibeles, the daughter of heaven and Earth who is reclined in a carriage being pulled by two lions. It was designed by Ventura Rodriguez, by the order of Carlos the 3rd, who also carried out many reforms in Madrid. This earned him the nickname as the best mayor of the city.
Plaza de Independencia
In the last third of the 19th century, Fernandez de los Ríos designed this square and was named in honor of the defenders of the city of Zaragoza.
Plaza de Oriente
This square back to 1811 because José Bonaparte wanted to create a space with a wonderful view of the Palace since it was built among many up a dubious neighbourhood.
Presided by the equestrian statue of Felipe the 4th the posture of the horse was calculated by Galileo Galilei, the square also has other statues of Spanish kings. At first, these figures were designed to finish off the cornices of the palace.
Square of Santa Ana
It’s a lively center for the nightlife in Madrid. The Hotel Victoria, the Teatro Español and the German Brewery which opened in 1904 are all found here. The hotel was built in 1919 and stands out for its particular turret that presides over one of its corners.
In the square there are two statues one of Calderón de la Barca and the other of Federico García Lorca
Plaza del Callao
In this square eight streets join together to transform into one of the busiest commercial areas in the world as they say. The prominent building here is the Carrión also called Capitol.
Plaza de Dos de mayo
It was inaugurated in 1869 and it owes its name to the resistance of the French attacks by a small army lead by Daoiz and Velarde on the morning of May 2 1808 the sculptures of the heroes are the work of Antonio Solá.
Arco de Cuchilleros
This famous corner is located in the Plaza Mayor Its characteristic inclination has an architectural function. Its sustains part of the Plaza Mayor.
Puerta del Sol
The origin of the most emblematic place of the capital is not very well known. The first registered details date back to the revolts against King Carlos the 1st when those in his favour built a castle with a sun carved on the front door. As time passed by it became a meeting place and from then on almost all the important events of the capital have taken place here. The mutiny of Esquilache and the May 2nd Revolt in 1808 are some examples, although the Puerta del Sol witnessed some of fortunate events like the inauguration of the first metropolitan railroad line, the first gas street lamp in 1830 and the first electric lighting.
