Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor helps explain how Cáceres expanded beyond its walls. Markets, crafts and public gatherings concentrated here, opposite an enclosed town dominated by noble and religious buildings. The western arcades, consolidated in the sixteenth century, supported commercial activity and still organise the relationship between façades and pedestrian space. Look towards Bujaco tower and the Arco de la Estrella: defence and urban circulation appear together in one view. Before entering, compare the square’s breadth with the streets you will encounter afterwards. Not everything that looks medieval belongs to the same period; successive alterations adapted this space to changing needs. It makes a useful beginning and a convenient place to return to when the walk is finished, without needing to rush straight through.