Plaza de la Villa
Plaza de la Villa is a small picturesque square in Madrid, not far from its much larger counterpart, the Plaza Mayor. Among the plaza's historical buildings is the Casa de la Villa or "Town Hall" constructed in 1644 by Juan Gómez de Mora, the architect of the Plaza Mayor, and finished by Teodoro Adremans. Also on the plaza is the Casa de Cisneros, a castle built in 1537 by Benito Jimenez de Cisneros, and the oldest building on the plaza, Torre de los Lujanes, or "Lujanes Tower." All these buildings have contrasting architectural styles.

Fun Facts

• The Torre de los Lujanes was built in the 15th century in Mudejar style and is one of the oldest buildings in Madrid.


• France's Francois I was allegedly imprisoned in the Torre de los Lujanes following his defeat at the Battle of Pavia.


• At the center of the square is a statue of Alvaro de Bazan, the Spanish Admiral who planned the Armada, the fleet that attempted to invade England.

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Plaza de la Villa