PLAZA DE LA PAJA, Square

Hi, I'm Alyson, your personal guide. Together with MyWoWo, I'd like to welcome you to one of the wonders of the world.

Today I'll take you through Plaza de la Paja, which is one of the most beautiful places in Madrid! After going down Calle Don Pedro, you've reached the picturesque Plaza de la Paja.

It is an irregularly shaped, sloping square typical of medieval Madrid, and its name comes from the fact that here "paja", or straw, was fed to the mules that belonged to the chaplain of the nearby "bishop's chapel". In the last centuries of the Middle Ages, the city's most important market was held in Plaza de la Paja, but with the opening of Plaza Mayor this area lost importance, even if it continued to be preferred by the great families of the time for building their noble palaces.

Go to the center of the square where you can admire the austere granite Renaissance-style facade of the "bishop's chapel". To its left is Palacio de los Vargas, which is harmoniously integrated with the facade, but don't be fooled as it was rebuilt in the early 1900s; this palace is the only original building still standing, and is now home to a school. If you're an avid reader, you'll recognize the bronze statue of the "Reader" immersed in his newspaper at the entrance....