Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor de Valladolid | Wikicommons. Autor: Jorge Franganillo

Designed by Francisco de Salamanca in the heart of Valladolid, the Playa Mayor de Valladolid did not begin construction until 1562, becoming one of the most important places in the city upon its completion. Its influence is such on the rest of the squares in our country that other cities as prominent as Salamanca or Madrid have not hesitated to replicate part of its style.

The Playa Mayor of Valladolid has several anecdotes in its history. One of the most notable takes us to the year before its construction, 1561. And that is that a huge fire destroyed the construction of the square, Salamanca coming to the rescue and subsequent construction of the area. During this new process, the square opted for rectangular proportions, completely porticoed and arcades resting on granite columns and taking the Spanish Renaissance style as a reference.

The place has witnessed all kinds of events and celebrations over the centuries, highlighting both local festivities, Holy Week, but also and more importantly as a meeting point for all the inhabitants of Valladolid. And this is one of the most prominent roles of Playa Mayor, perhaps the most: its outstanding role as a center of social and cultural life in the city.

Although it is true that various changes have been made over the years that have not completely convinced, currently efforts are being made to recover that original hegemony, starting with its distinctive red-painted facades. A place that not only serves as a meeting point for the inhabitants of Valladolid, but also as a tangible reflection between the past and present of the city.