Photos: Eduardo Pitt from Madrid, Spain, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 Ввласенко, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 León Gil de Palacio, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Eduardo Pitt from Madrid, Spain, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 Ввласенко, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 León Gil de Palacio, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Plaza Mayor and the old Habsburg quarter
Your local guide
Álvaro Nieto
View profile
Highlights
- A square used for markets and more
- Frescoes repainted after they faded
- A street once walked by kings
- Shopfronts unchanged in a century
- Habsburg Madrid, explained on foot
About this tour
This session covers Plaza Mayor and the short stretch of Calle Mayor leading toward the palace, ground I have walked professionally for years. You see the frescoed building on the square's north side and shopfronts along Calle Mayor that have barely changed in a century. I explain what the square has been used for across its different centuries.
We move at an easy pace from the square onto the street, since both reward a slower look than a quick pass through. I answer questions about the building's history and the street's older shops as we go. My grandmother's Sunday market visits here come up more than once.
This suits anyone building a picture of Habsburg-era Madrid rather than the newer parts of the city. It also works as a good link between the palace and Puerta del Sol.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Madrid before heading out.
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Plaza Mayor 21 min
The arcaded square has hosted markets and public events across its history, though today it is mostly cafes and street performers. I point out the frescoed building on the north side, repainted in the twentieth century after the originals faded.
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Calle Mayor towards the palace 21 min
The street follows the route kings once took between the old town and the palace. I show you a few of the older shopfronts that have kept their original signage for over a century.
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Your questions 9 min
Time to ask anything about Madrid: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 4 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Churros con chocolate and La Latina, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Madrid time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 10 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Madrid, showing you Plaza Mayor and Calle Mayor towards the palace live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk the square and the streets beyond it live with my phone.
Times shown in Madrid time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Wed 28 Oct · 10 seats left From 26,00 €
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