Plaza del Dos de Mayo

This popular square was the scene of glorious historical events during the War of Independence against France in the early 19th Century. The central arch was the entrance to the Monteleón barracks where the city's defenders rose to arms. The two captains, Daoiz and Velarde, who led the troops are commemorated here with statues. Other heroes of the same war, like Ruiz and Manuela Malasaña, have nearby streets named after them. The square became famous again in the 1980s as part of the movida madrileña (the name given to the explosion of creativity in fashion, theater, movies and nightlife at that time). Today, it's still full of lively bars, clubs and sidewalk cafés.