Farmacia León | Lion Pharmacy, Madrid
The Farmacia León (“Lion Pharmacy”) dates from the late 17th century, but the ceramic panels on the facade are from the late 20th century.
Plaza Mayor | Main Square, Madrid
Visiting the Plaza Mayor isn’t a bit like it was in the past (except for the pickpockets). You’re mostly going to bump into other bedraggled tourists. You’ll get a much better feel for the history at the Museo del Prado, which has a painting of an Auto-da-fé in the Plaza
Estatua Ecuestre de Felipe III | Equestrian Statue of Philip III, Plaza Mayor, Madrid
This innocuous statue has a great story attached to it. After Franco came to power, many statues of the Spanish monarchy were destroyed. Vandals went after the figure of Philip III and pulled him from his pedestal. But when the statue hit the cobblestones of the Plaza Mayor, hundreds of
Mural, Casa de la Panaderia, Plaza Mayor | Main Square, Madrid
The Casa de la Panaderia (“House of the Bakery”) was once a bakery, but it was burned to the ground in A.D. 1672. It was rebuilt in 17 months by Tomás Román. The Casa escaped the flames of the fire of A.D. 1790, which destroyed three-quarters of the Plaza Mayor,
Continue readingMural, Casa de la Panaderia, Plaza Mayor | Main Square, Madrid
BasÃlica de San Miguel | Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael, Madrid
Completed in A.D. 1745, the BasÃlica Pontificia de San Miguel is one of the city’s many Baroque survivals. It’s on the Calle de San Justo, which is why the panel above the door depicts the martyrdom of San Justo and Pastor. If you love the gorgeous garishness of this period,
Continue readingBasÃlica de San Miguel | Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael, Madrid