One of the oldest squares in Madrid - Plaza de la Villa - combines three medieval streets with excellently preserved architecture. Moreover, most of the houses located on them have not only historical, but also artistic value.
On the eastern side of Plaza de la Villa stands the House of Lujanes, a 15th-century Gothic building that belonged at the time to wealthy city merchants. In the southern part of Plaza de la Villa, the House of Cisneros has been preserved, a mansion in the Plateresque style built in 1537 for the nephew of Cardinal Cisneros. Adjoining this building on the right is the old town hall, where some departments of the Madrid city administration are located today.
In the center of the square stands a monument to Admiral Alvaro de Bazan, the leader of the Invincible Armada, which was badly battered by the Anglo-Dutch fleet during the battle of 1588. Despite the unsuccessful battle, the monument to the Spanish admiral is quite imposing, adorned with verses in honor of his victories and heroic deeds in the name of Spain.
And finally, we would like to note that this square was originally named after Saint Salvador, whose church of the same name stood here. Today, only a commemorative plaque on one of the walls of the town hall remains of the church.
