Plaza Mayor de Chinchón
Ringed by 234 tiered wooden balconies painted ox-blood red, Chinchón's oval Plaza Mayor is one of the most photogenic public spaces in all of Spain. It has served as a bullring, an open-air theatre and a film set — and it still does all three.
A living stage, not a museum piece
Unlike many preserved plazas, Chinchón's is genuinely alive. Every August it hosts corridas de toros, with locals watching from the very same balconies that have overlooked the action since the 15th century.
In winter the square fills with the scent of roasting chestnuts and mulled wine, while in summer the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico stages Golden Age comedies here under the stars — a tradition that dates back decades.
Architecture and film history
The three-storey arcade was built piecemeal between the 15th and 17th centuries, giving each section a slightly different character. Look for the asymmetric arches on the north side — a charming quirk of organic medieval construction.
Orson Welles used the plaza as a backdrop for his 1966 film Chimes at Midnight, and scenes from the TV series El ministerio del tiempo were shot here. Spot the Iglesia de la Asunción tower peeking above the roofline on the south-east corner.
Plaza Mayor de Chinchón on video
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