What a beautiful plaza! It’s huge, has amazing facades, and is much more shaded than Puerta del Sol. One of the largest in Europe, it’s been the focus of Madrid life since 1620 – city markets, bullfights, royal weddings, executions, dances, and especially the paseo, the evening stroll that families used to make which, among other things, allowed young men and women to “meet” each other for the first time. Often the parents would allow their daughters to walk the paseo with their girlfriends while they watched from their balconies above the plaza. If they approved of the young man making eyes at their daughter, they would call down to invite him up to their home after the paseo.

Love this panoramic photo that Marcus took. It looks like you could fold up the plaza and put it in your pocket!