This beautiful archway is called the Arco de los Cuchilleros. It was built as part of a plan to enclose the square, after a fire had damaged Plaza Mayor in the 17th century. It served as one of its main entrances, linking it to Cava de San Miguel. Its impressive height comes from the difference in elevation between the two streets. The name comes from the Spanish word cuchillo, meaning “knife”, because this street was once lined with knife sellers, who set up shop here to be close to the butchers in the square.