The Plaza de la Paja (Stalk Square) is located in the center of Madrid, in the so known Madrid of the Asturias and the Castilian neighborhood La Latina. This square was the center of city in the Middle Ages. During the XII and XIV centuries it was the commercial hub of Madrid. Then, after the XV century, the king Juan II de Castilla decided to build the Plaza Arrabal –nowadays the Plaza Mayor– and so the commercial activity transferred from the Plaza de la Paja.
![Plaza de la Paja Madrid Plaza de la Paja and Sant Andrew Church](https://whattodoinmadrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/plaza-de-la-paja-madrid.jpg)
©Esetena
The square is built on an irregular terrain and it is surrounded by three historical monuments: the first one is the Capilla del Obispo built between 1520 and 1535. It has a plateresque façade following gothic and renaissance styles. Additionally, there is the Palacio de los Vargas, which was also built in the XVI century. Finally, at the North of the square, there is the Jardín del Príncipe de Anglona, one of the few gardens of the XVIII century.
Address
Plaza de la Pala, 28005. Madrid, Spain.
Getting there
Plaza de la Paja is only 0.6 miles away from Puerta del Sol, so you can easily get there walking: from Plaza Puerta del Sol, go onto Calle Mayor, then turn left onto Plaza de la Villa, continue onto Calle del Cordón, then turn right onto Calle Segovia, turn left onto Cuesta San Pedro, turn right onto Calle Príncipe Anglona and finally turn left onto Plaza de la Paja.
By bus
Line 50.
By subway
Line 1 Tirso de Molina stop. Line 2 Opera stop.
Opening hours
Since it is a public place, there are no specific opening hours.