Callao Square

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Callao Square
City of Madrid (18038988892).jpg
View of the square in 2015
Callao Square
Native namePlaza del Callao (Spanish)
Namesake Battle of Callao
Type square
Maintained by Ayuntamiento of Madrid
Location Centro, Madrid, Spain
Postal code28013
Coordinates 40°25′12″N3°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.

Contents

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 Galerias Preciados department store until 1993) Fnac Callao (Madrid) 03.jpg
Fnac in Plaza de Callao, formerly a Galerías Preciados department store until 1993)
La Adriatica building at Plaza de Callao #3 / Gran Via #39 Gran Via (Madrid) 39.jpg
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. 1 2 Gea Ortigas 2012, p. 58.
  4. Nieto Codina 2010 , p. 72; Brandis García & Río Lafuente 2016 , p. 261
  5. 1 2 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