Plaza de la Charca Verde, Madrid

Plaza de la Charca Verde is a small, low-key square in Madrid's Prosperidad neighbourhood, postal code 28002. It has none of the grand monuments that draw crowds downtown, but it offers something different: a genuine, residential feel typical of this quieter corner of the Spanish capital.

Where does the name come from?

The current name, Plaza de la Charca Verde — literally "Green Pond Square" — replaced the earlier name Plaza de Arriba España, a reference to a Francoist-era propaganda slogan. The change is part of a broader effort in Madrid to remove street and square names tied to the Franco dictatorship. Notably, some mapping services, including Google Maps, kept displaying the old name for a time even after the official change, a discrepancy that was reported by Spanish fact-checking outlets highlighting how slow digital map data can be to catch up with real-world renamings.

What's nearby?

The square sits close to Plaza de Somorrostro and the Colegio Fundación Santamarca school, which gives it the feel of a neighbourhood gathering spot rather than a destination in its own right. About 240 metres to the northwest stands the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe church, a useful landmark for anyone approaching on foot.

Prosperidad is a residential district in the northeastern part of Madrid, well away from the tourist trail of the historic centre. For visitors, that means a stop at Plaza de la Charca Verde is less about ticking off a sight and more about glimpsing everyday life in a Madrid neighbourhood most tourists never see.

How to get to Plaza de la Charca Verde

The nearest metro station is Prosperidad, about a nine-minute walk away. Several bus lines also serve the area, including 9, 19, 40, 43, 52, 72 and 73, alongside the M-4, M-8 and M-9 interurban bus lines connecting the district to the wider Madrid region. This makes it easy to fold a visit into a longer walk through the city's less-touristed residential areas.

Frequently asked questions

Is Plaza de la Charca Verde a major tourist attraction? No — it's primarily a local square serving the Prosperidad neighbourhood rather than a stop on typical sightseeing routes.

What was the square previously called? It was formerly known as Plaza de Arriba España, a name linked to the Francoist era.

How do I get there by public transport? The easiest way is by metro to Prosperidad station, about a nine-minute walk, or via one of several bus lines that serve the area.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe church and Plaza de Somorrostro are both a short walk away.