- Plaza de Armas
The "Plaza de Armas" (
Plaza of Arms) is the name for the main square in many Latin American cities. InMexico this space is known as ElZócalo , and inCentral America as Parque Central (Central Park). While some large cities have both a Plaza de Armas and a Plaza Mayor, in most cities those are two names for the same place.Most cities constructed by the Spanish
Conquistadores were designed on a standard military fashion based on agrid pattern , taken from the RomanCastrum , of which one of the blocks would be left vacant to form the Plaza de Armas. It is often surrounded by governmental buildings, churches, and other structures of cultural or political significance. The name derives from the fact that this are would be a refuge in case of an attack upon the city, from which arms would be supplied to the defenders.Main examples of Plaza de Armas in the Hispanic World
*Plaza de Armas of
Havana, Cuba .
*Plaza de Armas ofArequipa, Peru
*Plaza de Armas ofCusco, Peru
*Plaza de Armas ofPisco, Peru .
*Plaza de Armas of Lima, Peru.
*Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Plaza) of Concepción,Chile (where Chilean independence was proclaimed in1818 ).
*Plaza de Armas ofSantiago de Chile .
*Plaza de Armas ofSan Juan, Puerto Rico .
*Plaza de Armas ofSeville, Spain
*Plaza de Mayo (Plaza of May) ofBuenos Aires, Argentina (whereMay Revolution took place).
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