Calle de Luciente

Between calle del Humilladero and calle de las Tabernillas, in the Palacio quarter, runs a street so old its layout predates every known map of Madrid. Texeira labelled it calle de Occidente in 1656, and it was later calle del Reloj until 1835, when the council sought another name to avoid confusion with the Calle del Reloj that still survives by the Plaza de Oriente. The new name honours Alfonso Luciente, a brother of the Venerable Third Order of Saint Francis, owner of all the surrounding land, who gave its rents to the Order and to the parish of San Andrés. Répide relates that he managed to demolish some huts where Parla wine was sold; from that trade the taverns of the neighbouring street were born. At number 1 the architect Teodoro Ardemans (1664–1726), Master Builder of the council and of Philip V’s royal works, lived and died. A plaque recalls his home.