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

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

History and description

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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

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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

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References

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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