In 1617 Philip III of Habsburg attended a bullfight in the so-called “Suburb Square” located in this area. The king found the place too small and commissioned the royal architect Juan Gómez de Mora to build a truly spacious square to host public ceremonies. To this end, the royal architect had several houses torn down to open a vast rectangular square. Gómez de Mora also created some of the main buildings here, such as the Casa de la Panadería, meaning the Bakery House, which sits on the north side. The balconies of the buildings in the square enjoyed views of the shows, so the owners were frequently asked by the authorities to host the attendants. Plaza Mayor, thus, served as a stage of propaganda for the Crown offering the king’s subjects bread and spectacles! The entire area surrounding the plaza is known as Madrid de Los Austria.