Plaza de La Independencia
Encyclopedia
Independence Square, also known as Big Square (Spanish: Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza Grande). Historic public square of Quito
(Ecuador
), located in the heart of the old city. This is the central square
of the city and one of the symbols of the executive power
of the nation. Its main feature is the monument to the independence heroes of August 10, 1809, date remembered as the First Cry of Independence of the Royal Audience of Quito
from spanish monarchy
. The environment of the square is flanked by the Carondelet Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Plaza Grande Hotel.
) and the headquarters of the archdiocese (Archbishop's Palace).
One of the founders of the city, the Captain Juan de Díaz Hidalgo, reserved to himself a lot on the corner of the square near the Archbishop's Palace, where he built his home (the only private building that endures to this day) that palace would later be called Palacio Hidalgo. Other families, also founders of the town, occupied the western end, but after the earthquake of 1627, were overturned by the serious damage that occurred in structures, and instead built the Palacio de Carondelet
.
Finally, on the eastern side of the square was constructed the structure for the nascent city council, construction was also demolished in the 1970s to build the city hall known as Municipality of Quito
, for if it fulfills the same functions as the original, is a modern building.
Only in the eighteenth century it thinks of the place as a true square, the style of European cities. The president of the Royal Audience of Quito
conceived the square landscapes, to serve as a garden for the Palacio de Carondelet
. The palace topped its steps in the square and prohibited the passage of carts through the western edge of the square, which was next to Carondelet.
The square was reformed again in the early nineteenth century; withdraw the steps of the palace, now ended in the side streets of the building, and enabled again the passage of cars by the then called Calle de las 7 Cruces (now Garcia Moreno).
ordered the construction of a monument to commemorate the centenary of the first cry of independence. The sculpture was commissioned in 1898 to France, and finished putting in the center of the square, where once was the fountain that was moved to the southwest of the square.
In a public act in 1906, the president and the mayor unveiled the monument which was named as the Independence Monument and change the colonial name of the square by the Plaza de la Independencia. Since then few or minor changes have been made in the square, which retains its importance until today.
The square is flanked on all sides by different buildings, all except the municipality, was originally built in the colonial era. Equally all, except the Palace Hidalgo, are public. These buildings are:
In addition, at the outer corners of the Plaza Grande set are four main buildings:
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
(Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
), located in the heart of the old city. This is the central square
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
of the city and one of the symbols of the executive power
Executive Power
Executive Power is Vince Flynn's fifth novel, and the fourth to feature Mitch Rapp, an American agent that works for the CIA as an operative for a covert counter terrorism unit called the "Orion Team."-Plot summary:...
of the nation. Its main feature is the monument to the independence heroes of August 10, 1809, date remembered as the First Cry of Independence of the Royal Audience of Quito
Royal Audience of Quito
The Royal Audience of Quito was an administrative unit in the Spanish Empire which had political, military, and religious jurisdiction over territories that today include Ecuador, parts of northern Peru, parts of southern Colombia and parts of northern Brazil...
from spanish monarchy
Spanish monarchy
The Monarchy of Spain, constitutionally referred to as The Crown and commonly referred to as the Spanish monarchy or Hispanic Monarchy, is a constitutional institution and an historic office of Spain...
. The environment of the square is flanked by the Carondelet Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Plaza Grande Hotel.
History
Although the first colonial town square was what today is known as Plazoleta Benalcázar, this has always been considered as tentative as it got up a path suitable for novice Spanish town of Quito. It was only in the sixteenth century, in the year 1612, when the powers of the city moved to the area around the Plaza Grande, they decided to call this way for being the largest at the time.Creation
Initially it was just an esplanade of packed dirt that was placed in a water source to supply the vital liquid to the neighbors. Being larger than the tentative square, and unemployed land still be around, some institutions decided to stand on its flanks. Thus the Catholic Church acquired land in the north and south sides, where they built the main temple of the city (Cathedral of QuitoCathedral of Quito
The Cathedral of Quito is the cathedral church in Quito, Ecuador. Located on the southern side of La Plaza Grande, it serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quito...
) and the headquarters of the archdiocese (Archbishop's Palace).
One of the founders of the city, the Captain Juan de Díaz Hidalgo, reserved to himself a lot on the corner of the square near the Archbishop's Palace, where he built his home (the only private building that endures to this day) that palace would later be called Palacio Hidalgo. Other families, also founders of the town, occupied the western end, but after the earthquake of 1627, were overturned by the serious damage that occurred in structures, and instead built the Palacio de Carondelet
Palacio de Carondelet
Carondelet Palace is the seat of government of the Republic of Ecuador, located in the historical center of Quito. Axis is the nerve of the public space known as Independence Square or Plaza Grande , around which were built in addition the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Hotel Plaza...
.
Finally, on the eastern side of the square was constructed the structure for the nascent city council, construction was also demolished in the 1970s to build the city hall known as Municipality of Quito
Municipality of Quito
The Municipality of Quito is the governing body of the city of Quito and the canton that shares its name...
, for if it fulfills the same functions as the original, is a modern building.
Sixteenth to nineteenth centuries
For several centuries after its founding, the Plaza Grande it was nothing but a paved plaza with a beautiful fountain in the center, around which rose at times a makeshift bullring to celebrate some festivities offered by the council on behalf of the Spanish crown.Only in the eighteenth century it thinks of the place as a true square, the style of European cities. The president of the Royal Audience of Quito
Royal Audience of Quito
The Royal Audience of Quito was an administrative unit in the Spanish Empire which had political, military, and religious jurisdiction over territories that today include Ecuador, parts of northern Peru, parts of southern Colombia and parts of northern Brazil...
conceived the square landscapes, to serve as a garden for the Palacio de Carondelet
Palacio de Carondelet
Carondelet Palace is the seat of government of the Republic of Ecuador, located in the historical center of Quito. Axis is the nerve of the public space known as Independence Square or Plaza Grande , around which were built in addition the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Hotel Plaza...
. The palace topped its steps in the square and prohibited the passage of carts through the western edge of the square, which was next to Carondelet.
The square was reformed again in the early nineteenth century; withdraw the steps of the palace, now ended in the side streets of the building, and enabled again the passage of cars by the then called Calle de las 7 Cruces (now Garcia Moreno).
Modern period
After continuous interventions by the authorities of the city, Ecuadorian President Eloy AlfaroEloy Alfaro
José Eloy Alfaro Delgado was the President of Ecuador from 1895 to 1901 and from 1906 to 1911. He became one the strongest opponents of pro-Catholic conservative President Gabriel Garcia Moreno...
ordered the construction of a monument to commemorate the centenary of the first cry of independence. The sculpture was commissioned in 1898 to France, and finished putting in the center of the square, where once was the fountain that was moved to the southwest of the square.
In a public act in 1906, the president and the mayor unveiled the monument which was named as the Independence Monument and change the colonial name of the square by the Plaza de la Independencia. Since then few or minor changes have been made in the square, which retains its importance until today.
Buildings
- East: Building of the Municipality of QuitoMunicipality of QuitoThe Municipality of Quito is the governing body of the city of Quito and the canton that shares its name...
(Municipio de Quito) - North: Archbishop's Palace (building of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quito) and Hotel Plaza GrandeHotel Plaza GrandeHotel Plaza Grande is a five-star luxury hotel in the historic centre of Quito, Ecuador. The hotel is located next to the Carondelet Palace and the Archbishop's Palace and faces the Old Town's eponymous central plaza, Plaza de la Independencia...
- West: Palacio de CarondeletPalacio de CarondeletCarondelet Palace is the seat of government of the Republic of Ecuador, located in the historical center of Quito. Axis is the nerve of the public space known as Independence Square or Plaza Grande , around which were built in addition the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Hotel Plaza...
(presidential palace of Ecuador) - South: Cathedral of QuitoCathedral of QuitoThe Cathedral of Quito is the cathedral church in Quito, Ecuador. Located on the southern side of La Plaza Grande, it serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quito...
In addition, at the outer corners of the Plaza Grande set are four main buildings:
- Banco del PichinchaBanco del PichinchaThe Banco del Pichincha is the largest private bank in Ecuador, by capitalization and by number of depositors. It is the primary bank of the Pichincha Group , a business group that includes the companies associated with the bank and businesses related to Fidel Egas Grijalva and his family, which...
historical building - House of Manuela SáenzManuela SáenzDoña Manuela Sáenz was born in Quito, Viceroyalty of New Granada and died in Paita, Peru. She was a revolutionary hero of South America, who also became the mistress of the South American revolutionary leader, Simón Bolívar...
, now occupied by the FONSAL offices - Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum
- Church and convent of the Inmaculate Conception