Plaza Mayor
Introduction
Ruta Los Imprescindibles, Paseo Hitos Cristianos
The Plaza Mayor is the result of the Christian extension outside the walls of the old town. The square is conceived as a basic element of Christian cities, as is the organisation of the streets in a grid, which is designed together with the irregular Muslim layout.
The Plaza Mayor is dominated by the town hall building, which dates from the 16th century. Despite its constant changes of name and appearance, it is still the nerve centre of Huéscar's social and administrative activity.
The most important streets of the town lead off from the Plaza Mayor: Paseo del Santo Cristo, Calle Morote, Calle San Cristóbal, Calle Nueva, Calle Comercio and Calle de las Tiendas.
Plaza Mayor
Conquest of Huéscar
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The conquest of Huéscar took place peacefully; days before the capture of the town, the Christian troops established themselves on an esplanade outside the walls in what is now the Plaza Mayor.
The conquest of the municipalities of the Kingdom of Granada was reflected by Cardinal Mendoza in the reliefs on the choir stalls of Toledo Cathedral.
The conquest of Huéscar is depicted in the lower choir of the choir stalls. The scene shows a group of Christian knights entering through one of the main access gates to the town. The absence of the king in the representation is surprising, since his presence was required in order to surrender the city.
Plaza Mayor
Outdoor square
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
After the Christian conquest, the city widened towards the outside of the wall in the vicinity of the Castril Gate, where what was to be known as the Plaza de Afuera was built, as until then the main square was the current Alhóndiga or Pósito square, known as the Plaza de Adentro.
It was later renamed Plaza Mayor. However, during the 19th and 20th centuries it was renamed Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza de la República and Plaza del Caudillo. Finally, with the arrival of democracy, it was once again renamed Plaza Mayor.
Plaza Mayor
Meeting place
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
With the Christian cities, new constructive elements such as the town halls appeared. In Huéscar, since the 16th century, the town hall has been located in the Plaza Mayor and has become the most representative building of the town.
Inside, the original wooden ceilings are still preserved, both at the main entrance and in the Plenary Hall.
The square is a privileged meeting place and throughout its history it has been a place for markets, fairs and it was even used as a bullring, before the current urban planning, hence the name of the callejón Toril as it was the place where the bulls were locked up.
Plaza Mayor
Music kiosk
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
In 1905, the Plaza Mayor was presided over by a marble fountain which today stands in the Paseo del Santo Cristo.
In 1932 it was replaced by an octagonal bandstand decorated with blue ceramics, which gave it an oriental appearance. This bandstand has undergone different modifications and reforms throughout history until the recent adaptation in 2022, in which decorative elements from the courtyard of the Penalva family manor house have also been added.
Plaza Mayor
Catastro de Ensenada
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The history of town planning in Huéscar reached a milestone in 1750, when property surveys were carried out for the first time on neighbours and outsiders, ecclesiastics and laymen, with the aim of gaining a better knowledge of the territory and the towns of the Crown of Castile.
In the kingdom of Granada, 279 towns were surveyed, with unexpected results due to the quality of the maps. Plans of the towns were drawn in perspective, collecting orographic information on the rivers, streams, crops, etc.
These surveys, the work of expert draughtsmen, are still today valuable material for researchers into archaeology, fortifications and other historical questions on an urban and territorial scale.
Plaza Mayor
Introduction
Ruta Los Imprescindibles, Paseo Hitos Cristianos
The Plaza Mayor is the result of the Christian extension outside the walls of the old town. The square is conceived as a basic element of Christian cities, as is the organisation of the streets in a grid, which is designed together with the irregular Muslim layout.
The Plaza Mayor is dominated by the town hall building, which dates from the 16th century. Despite its constant changes of name and appearance, it is still the nerve centre of Huéscar's social and administrative activity.
The most important streets of the town lead off from the Plaza Mayor: Paseo del Santo Cristo, Calle Morote, Calle San Cristóbal, Calle Nueva, Calle Comercio and Calle de las Tiendas.
Plaza Mayor
Conquest of Huéscar
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The conquest of Huéscar took place peacefully; days before the capture of the town, the Christian troops established themselves on an esplanade outside the walls in what is now the Plaza Mayor.
The conquest of the municipalities of the Kingdom of Granada was reflected by Cardinal Mendoza in the reliefs on the choir stalls of Toledo Cathedral.
The conquest of Huéscar is depicted in the lower choir of the choir stalls. The scene shows a group of Christian knights entering through one of the main access gates to the town. The absence of the king in the representation is surprising, since his presence was required in order to surrender the city.
Plaza Mayor
Outdoor square
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
After the Christian conquest, the city widened towards the outside of the wall in the vicinity of the Castril Gate, where what was to be known as the Plaza de Afuera was built, as until then the main square was the current Alhóndiga or Pósito square, known as the Plaza de Adentro.
It was later renamed Plaza Mayor. However, during the 19th and 20th centuries it was renamed Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza de la República and Plaza del Caudillo. Finally, with the arrival of democracy, it was once again renamed Plaza Mayor.
Plaza Mayor
Meeting place
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
With the Christian cities, new constructive elements such as the town halls appeared. In Huéscar, since the 16th century, the town hall has been located in the Plaza Mayor and has become the most representative building of the town.
Inside, the original wooden ceilings are still preserved, both at the main entrance and in the Plenary Hall.
The square is a privileged meeting place and throughout its history it has been a place for markets, fairs and it was even used as a bullring, before the current urban planning, hence the name of the callejón Toril as it was the place where the bulls were locked up.
Plaza Mayor
Music kiosk
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
In 1905, the Plaza Mayor was presided over by a marble fountain which today stands in the Paseo del Santo Cristo.
In 1932 it was replaced by an octagonal bandstand decorated with blue ceramics, which gave it an oriental appearance. This bandstand has undergone different modifications and reforms throughout history until the recent adaptation in 2022, in which decorative elements from the courtyard of the Penalva family manor house have also been added.
Plaza Mayor
Catastro de Ensenada
Highlights Route, Christian Monuments tour
The history of town planning in Huéscar reached a milestone in 1750, when property surveys were carried out for the first time on neighbours and outsiders, ecclesiastics and laymen, with the aim of gaining a better knowledge of the territory and the towns of the Crown of Castile.
In the kingdom of Granada, 279 towns were surveyed, with unexpected results due to the quality of the maps. Plans of the towns were drawn in perspective, collecting orographic information on the rivers, streams, crops, etc.
These surveys, the work of expert draughtsmen, are still today valuable material for researchers into archaeology, fortifications and other historical questions on an urban and territorial scale.