Cristino Martos square

Cristino Martos square is a small, low-key plaza in central Madrid, right next to Plaza de España, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. It's a spot where local history quietly meets the relaxed café life of the Argüelles neighborhood.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The square has an irregular shape, bordered by Calle de la Princesa to the south and by the meeting point of San Bernardino, Manuela Malasaña, Duque de Liria and Conde Duque streets to the north-east. It sits next to Plaza de los Cubos and is right beside the Conde Duque cultural centre. Thanks to its closeness to Plaza de España, it's only a few minutes on foot from the city centre, and the surrounding area makes for an easy walk that can be combined with Gran Vía, Calle Princesa and the nearby Parque del Oeste hillside.

Where does the name come from?

The site already existed in the mid-17th century — it appears, unnamed, on Pedro Teixeira's 1656 map of Madrid. Back then it stood next to the convent of San Joaquín, better known as the Convent of the Afflicted, home to a venerated image of the Virgin of the Afflicted. That association gave the square its long-standing name, Plaza de los Afligidos, or Square of the Afflicted. Only at the end of the 19th century, on 27 February 1895, did it receive its current name, honouring Cristino Martos y Balbi, a Spanish lawyer and politician born on 13 September 1830 in Granada. The renaming shows how 19th-century Madrid replaced older, religiously rooted place names with tributes to figures of public life.

What will you find there today?

Today, Cristino Martos square is a calm, green pocket surrounded by residential buildings typical of this part of Madrid. Cafés and restaurants line its perimeter with outdoor terraces, making it an easy stop for a coffee, a drink or a longer meal while watching the neighbourhood go by. The square is also equipped with play elements for children, which makes it a welcoming rest spot for both locals and visitors looking for a break from the bustle of Gran Vía. It reads as more of a local, residential square than a tourist attraction — most visitors pass through on the way to the nearby Conde Duque cultural centre or Plaza de España.

When is the best time to visit?

The square is most enjoyable in the warmer months, when the terraces of the surrounding cafés and restaurants are in full swing and the greenery invites a longer stop outdoors. Afternoons and early evenings are when the surrounding restaurants fill with neighbourhood regulars, giving visitors a genuine feel for Argüelles life away from the crowds of the city centre.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cristino Martos square close to Plaza de España? Yes, the square sits right next to Plaza de España, on the right side of Calle de la Princesa, making it easy to fold into a walk around this part of central Madrid.

Where does the square's name come from? The name honours Cristino Martos y Balbi, a Spanish lawyer and politician born in Granada in 1830. It was adopted in 1895, replacing the earlier name Plaza de los Afligidos, tied to the former Convent of the Afflicted.

What can you do there? You can sit at one of the café or restaurant terraces around the square, let kids use the play elements, or simply rest in the shade between stops on a walk through the area.

Is it worth combining with other nearby sights? Yes, the square is right next to the Conde Duque cultural centre and close to Plaza de España and Calle Princesa, so it fits naturally into a walking route through this part of Madrid.