The square is a large square space of 150 meters on each side, where to the north we find the magnificent façade of the Ducal Palace and to the south we can look out over the green valley of the orchards.
It was designed within a palatial complex as a parade ground by the great architect Alonso de Covarrubias in 1541, at the request of Ana de la Cerda, the grandmother of the princess of Esboli. When his son-in-law, Ruy Gómez de Silva, took possession of the town, he ordered the construction of stone arcades on the two opposing sides to transform it into a market square. The Moors brought to Pastrana in 1570 by the Prince of Éboli were masters of horticulture and managed to prepare the land to the south of the square to create orchards and introduce fruit trees.
Later, the square was a place for public shows, including bullfights; the great balcony was added to the palace to enjoy them. Today it is the nerve center of the town, its main square, although it is not called that. It owes its name to a curious story:
The Princess of Éboli was imprisoned in her palace for years by order of Felipe II. Legend has it that for the last two years of her life she was confined to her room and was only allowed to go out on the balcony railing for one hour a day to sunbathe.