Plaza Mayor, Renaissance square in central Valladolid, Spain
Plaza Mayor is a Renaissance square with a rectangular layout and continuous arcades supported by granite pillars along all sides. The covered passages offer shelter while creating spaces for shops and restaurants beneath them throughout the perimeter.
After a devastating fire in 1561, architect Francisco de Salamanca led the reconstruction under King Philip II's direct oversight. This rebuild introduced a new geometric design approach that was revolutionary for Spain at the time.
The square serves as a central meeting place where locals and visitors gather beneath the arcades throughout the day. Shops, cafés, and restaurants lining the perimeter make it an active social hub for the city.
The square is easy to navigate with wide arcades offering shelter from rain and clear access points from multiple directions. Underground parking beneath the square makes it convenient for visitors arriving by car.
The square was the first of its kind in Spain to feature this closed arcade design and served as the model for hundreds of similar squares across Spain and South America. Its geometric layout became the standard for plaza design throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
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