Plaza Mayor de Torrelaguna

An outstanding example of this ancient splendor is its Plaza Mayor. The visitor will be able to access it through the remains of the old wall by the arch of San Bartolomé or the door of the Sun. Another interesting option is the gate of Buitrago that crosses the street of the Star to, leaving to the side the Alhóndiga, to end in her.

The Plaza Mayor gathers some of the most outstanding buildings of Torrelaguna such as the Town Hall, presided over by the cardinalicio shield of Cisneros, who founded it in 1514 to serve as a warehouse or grain store. There is also the church of Santa Maria Magdalena, Gothic style with Renaissance details, basilical plant of three naves, gothic cross vault and campanile tower of the fifteenth century in three bodies with a spire. Another outstanding building is the Abbey of Franciscan Discalced Conceptionists, founded by Hernando Bernaldo de Quirós and his wife around 1560, who rest in its interior. Finally, in the square you can see the Cross of Cisneros, built in 1802 on the place where the house where the Cardinal was born.

Gonzalo Jiménez de Cisneros was born around 1436 in Torrelaguna. In 1484 he became a friar of the Franciscan Observance. From 1492 he began to hold important positions as the royal confessor of Queen Isabella the Catholic, archbishop of Toledo, inquisitor general of Castile and regent of Spain to the death of King Ferdinand the Catholic. He died at Roa in 1517, when he was to meet the future King Charles, leaving innumerable examples of his connection with Torrelaguna; some of which are perfectly visible in the Plaza Mayor.