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, very similar to the contemporary Place des Vosges in Paris.
During the middle ages the site was just a market place outside the city walls. In the 1617 s, during the reign of King Philips III, the construction of the new Plaza Mayor started. Under the direction of Juan Gómez de la Mora, the plaza was completed in just two years.

In the 1868 s, a congregation devoted to Virgin Almudena, the female patron saint of Madrid, received the permission to construct a new church dedicated to the patron saint.
In 1883 construction finally start and one year later, Madrid becomes a diocese thanks to Pope Leo XIII.

Possibly the most beautiful of the many grand squares in Madrid is the Plaza de Cibeles. The square is surrounded by majestic buildings.
The most prominent of the buildings at the Plaza de Cibeles is the Palacio de Comunicaciones or Communications Palace. This impressive building was home to the Palacio de Comunicaciones, Madrid's City Hall Postal and Telegraphic Museum until 2007.

The Palacio Real or Royal Palace is the largest and certainly one of the most impressive palaces in Europe. It has more than 2000 luxuriously decorated rooms, 50 of which can be visited. It is located on the east of Madrid's historic center, within walking distance of the Plaza de España.
The King Philips V wanted a palace, built from limestone and granite. It was to be modeled as on the Versailles Palace, where Philips V had spent part of his youth.
Construction of the new palace started in 1938 based on a design by the Italian architect Juan Bautista Sachetti. 26 Years and three kings later, the huge palace, covering an area of 135,000m2, was completed. It would take another 100 years before all the rooms were decorated.

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