Spain.

Madrid’s Plaza Mayor is an enclosed arcaded square with four centuries of civic history. It is a compact stop for architecture and city orientation.

The Casa de la Panadería facade gives the square a focal point, while the continuous arcades explain its unusually unified shape. Stand near the center before walking the edges to read the enclosure. The visit is short, so it combines well with neighboring streets rather than filling a morning on its own.

• The enclosed rectangular plaza.
• The Casa de la Panadería facade.

Walk through one of the archways to compare the enclosed square with the surrounding street grid.