In the heart of Calle Mayor, a few steps from the Puerta del Sol, stands one of the most unique and full of history houses in Madrid: known as the narrow house of Calderón de la Barca. This building, which today bears the number 61, stands out not only for its façade of barely four meters and 36 centimeters wide-which only allowed one balcony per floor-but also because it was the home of the famous playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca during the last 18 years of his life, until his death in 1681.
Built in the mid-17th century by the architect Manuel del Olmo, the house was specially commissioned by the Patronato Real de Legos, founded by Doña Inés de Riaño, Calderón’s maternal grandmother. Her wish was that a member of the family should reside in front of the chaplaincy of the Church of El Salvador, and that is how the writer ended up living in this peculiar building, which also allowed him to hold the position of Chaplain of Honor, a distinction granted by Philip IV.
Originally, the house had only two floors, although in the 19th century, after an attempt at demolition, two more floors were added thanks to the intervention of the chronicler Ramón de Mesonero Romanos. This writer and friend of Calderón fought tirelessly to prevent the building’s disappearance, even standing guard a whole night at the door and requesting the favor of Queen Isabel II.
His perseverance succeeded in getting the City Council to grant permission to extend the house in height, but maintain its original design, which has allowed it to reach our days as a true testimony of the literary and urban history of Madrid.
Other narrow houses in Madrid
Although there are other even narrower houses in the city-such as the one at San Vicente Ferrer 24, only 2.40 meters wide, or the one at Calle Postas 6, 3.12 meters wide-the one at Calle Mayor 61 holds the honor of being the most famous and symbolic, for having been the refuge and last home of Calderón de la Barca, one of the most universal figures of Spanish theater.
Today, Calderón’s narrow house is an architectural rarity and a point of pilgrimage for the curious and literature lovers, who can contemplate the commemorative plaque on its façade and evoke, amidst the bustle of the city, the life and work of one of the great geniuses of Spanish literature.