Plaza Mayor (Salamanca)

The Plaza Mayor is the main square in the center of the Spanish city of Salamanca.

History

The place is located near the old Puerta del Sol, an entrance gate of the old city wall. Because there was the church of San Martín, the place formerly Plaza de San Martín was called.

At the time, the place was far larger and extended up to places that are independent courses in Salamanca today, such as today's marketplace, the Plaza del Corrillo and the Plaza del Poeta Iglesias. The Plaza de San Martín in Salamanca was therefore referred to earlier as "the greatest place in Christendom ." There were festivals, markets, proclamations, etc. instead. Also bullfights were once held in the square.

In 1724 the square was divided and reduced to its present size by the outer boundary began to enclose with buildings. The architect was Alberto de Churriguera. There were at that time also the city hall and the administration moved ( " las Casas Consistoriales " ), whereby the place was given the rank of " Plaza Mayor". As Churriguera died, completed his work of the architect Andrés García de Quiñones in 1755.

The space (called " pabellón real " German " royal pavilion" ) has, on the east side between its arches medallions that are adorned with the picture of the busts of the Spanish monarchs. This page was first built, because it served as a retaining wall.

The present appearance with floor plates of gray granite with individual markings in pink granite was completed in 1955. Until then, the place had a small garden with trees, flower beds and a bandstand. The garden was surrounded by a road with cobblestones.

Others

The Casas Consistoriales were never completed. About the two side wings each missing a tower that did not dare to build the architect Andrés García de Quiñones. This we know, because we have kept the model for building from 1745 today.

The Plaza Mayor is the main venue in the feature film 8 angle from the year 2008. Indeed, the space for the filming, however, was not used for the film, but rebuilt in Mexico. Only for the aerial photographs used in the film of the real space was filmed. The premiere of the film took place in Salamanca on 13 February 2008.