Callao Square
View of the square in 2015
Map
Native namePlaza del Callao (Spanish)
NamesakeBattle of Callao
Typesquare
Maintained byAyuntamiento of Madrid
LocationCentro, Madrid, Spain
Postal code28013
Coordinates40°25′12″N 3°42′21″W / 40.419862°N 3.705828°W / 40.419862; -3.705828
Major
junctions		Calle de Preciados, Gran Vía

The Callao Square (Spanish: plaza del Callao)[1] is located at the centre of the Spanish capital of Madrid.

History and description

Shaped in 1861,[2] the square was formally opened in June 1866;[3] its name remembers the May 1866 battle of Callao between the Spanish naval forces under the command of Casto Méndez Núñez and the Peruvian army.[3]

The square was substantially and aggressively reformed in the 21st century.[4] The reform removed nearly all elements present by that time, except the metro station access and a big tree, turning the square into a pedestrian and homogeneous space, while adding a limited number of pieces of urban furniture.[5] Conversely, big screens were added to the surrounding buildings.[5] Located in a very commercial area of the city, the pedestrian space is often for rent to companies wanting to carry out advertising events.[6]

Buildings

Fnac in Plaza de Callao, formerly a Galerías Preciados department store until 1993)
La Adriática building| at Plaza de Callao #3 / Gran Vía #39

Buildings on the Square include:

See also

References

Citations
  1. ^ Alfaro Zaforteza 2014, p. 260.
  2. ^ Alonso Pereira 1980, p. 23.
  3. ^ a b Gea Ortigas 2012, p. 58.
  4. ^ Nieto Codina 2010, p. 72; Brandis García & Río Lafuente 2016, p. 261
  5. ^ a b Nieto Codina 2010, p. 73.
  6. ^ Brandis García & Río Lafuente 2016, pp. 257–258.
  7. ^ "Departamentos en El Corte Inglés Preciados–Callao". El Corte Inglés. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
Bibliography
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