Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
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The Plaza Mayor, a grand arcaded square in the center of Madrid is very popular with tourists and locals alike. The symmetrical rectangular square features a uniform architecture.
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The name of the plaza has changed over time. Originally it was called the “Plaza del Arrabal” but became known as the “Plaza Mayor”.
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It was built during the Habsburg period. It is located only a few blocks away from another famous plaza, the Puerta del Sol. Measuring 129 by 94 meters, and is surrounded by three-story residential buildings having 237 balconies facing the Plaza. It has a total of nine entrance ways.
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The square was redesigned with gardens, but those were removed in 1936. At the center of the square is a bronze statue of King Philips III, constructed in 1916 by Jean Boulogne and Pietro Tacca.
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Plaza Mayor as we know it today is the work of the architect Juan de Villanueva who was entrusted with its reconstruction in 1790 after a spate of big fires. The statue of Philip III dates to 1616, but it was not placed in the centre of the square until 1848.
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Ref: http://www.madridtourist.info/
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