Commissioned by Philip III, the architect Juan Gómez de Mora carried out between 1617 and 1619, a profound transformation of the old plaza del Arrabal, turning it into what is now the Plaza Mayor and giving it its main features: a rectangular square, homogeneous at the height of the village and ideal courtly representation space.
In the centre of the north side, Gomez de Mora joined the building with the Casa de la Panadería, modifying only the ground floor, although the height was lower than the rest of the hamlet that formed the plaza.
As the building was a symmetrical composition of four floors and arcade ground floor, with penthouse top floor and the sides crowned by angular towers. The fire of August 1672, the second to be produced in the square, completely destroyed la Casa de la Panadería, so the architect Tomás Román undertook the project of reconstruction and the painters Claudio Coello and José Jiménez Donoso completed the interior decoration and frescoes on the façade.
Another fire in the summer of 1790 swept three-quarters of the square, but la Casa de la Panadería was able to be saved, with its height and architectural features which became standard throughout the plaza in the reconstruction the following year undertaken by Juan de Villanueva.
The beautiful murals on its façade are the work of Carlos Franco (Madrid, 1951). In 1988, the artist, a member of the new Madrid figuration, was commissioned with redecorating the 1914 paintings by Enrique Guijo (which had deteriorated due to the climate and touch-ups). They recreate the Baroque origins of the square and the building with mythological references to the goddess, Cybele, and her wedding to Attis and details that reflect the history, traditions and identity of Madrid as the capital of Spain. Inside, there are two spaces that can be highlighted:
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The Salón Real (Royal Hall), was formerly a suite of rooms used by the monarchs until 1745. It is decorated in tiles and 17th century tapestries and has high ceilings. The frescoes on the ceiling of the main hall stand out. Today, it hosts civil weddings and Madrid City Council receptions.
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The Sala de Bóvedas (Vaulted Room), located in the basement, is used for exhibitions with a capacity for 80 people. Four-metre high vaulted ceilings can be admired here.
Tienda Casa de la Panadería
On the ground floor, inside the Plaza de Mayor Tourist Information Centre, you’ll find the city’s new official tourist shop. Designed by architect Izaskun Chinchilla, this new venue is a veritable showcase of Madrid’s life and culture. In it you can find souvenirs of Madrid made by local artisans who are reviving the arts of old trades.
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