Plaza de Santa Marta

In Plaza de la Virgen de los Reyes, between the statue of Pope John Paul II and the top of Calle Mateos Gago, there is an alleyway that seems endless, but it eventually leads to Plaza Santa Marta. This square owes its name to the hospital that used to be there and that was founded in 1385. Now that hospital is the Convent of La Encarnación.

There are some orange trees and a cross in the centre. The cross was designed by architect Hernán Ruiz el Joven and carved by Diego de Alcaraz in the 16th century, and comes from the Hospital of San Lázaro. It has an image of Jesus Christ crucified carved on one side and the Pietà on the other.

Legend has it that it was in this square where Don Juan Tenorio kidnapped Doña Inés.