The Flag Square, ''Plaza de la Bandera'' in Spanish, is the biggest monument dedicated to the
Flag of Dominican Republic
The flag of the Dominican Republic represents the Dominican Republic and, together with the coat of arms and the national anthem, has the status of a national symbol. The blue on the flag stands for liberty, the white for salvation, and the ...
, is located in one of the busiest areas of the city of
Santo Domingo
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, population_density_km2 = auto
, timezone = AST (UTC −4)
, area_code_type = Area codes
, area_code = 809, 829, 849
, postal_code_type = Postal codes
, postal_code = 10100–10699 (Distrito Nacional)
, websi ...
(Dominican Republic), at the intersection of the and Gregorio Luperon. It is a patriotic monument seeks to pay tribute to one of the most important national symbols of the nation.
This is made up of representative elements linked to the ideas of Dominican liberators and at the same symbolism that contains the shield of the flag.
The Square is used with many purpose like manifestation and the celebration of any national day like the
Dominican Republic Independence Day.
History
The current Flag Square was built in 1978 during the government of Dr.
Joaquín Balaguer
Joaquín Antonio Balaguer Ricardo (1 September 1906 – 14 July 2002) was a Dominican politician, scholar, writer, and lawyer. He was President of the Dominican Republic serving three non-consecutive terms for that office from 1960 to 1962 ...
as the center of a complex of public buildings including the headquarters of
Ministry of Defense
{{unsourced, date=February 2021
A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...
, the Central Electoral Board, the Institute for Price Stabilization (INESPRE), the Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD) and the Center for Import and Investment, among others.
In February 1997, President
Leonel Fernández
Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna () (born 26 December 1953) is a Dominican Republic, Dominican lawyer, academic, and was the 50th and 52nd President of the Dominican Republic from 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2012. From 2016 until 2020, he was ...
reopened the monument after having undergone a remodeling, and renamed Flag Square (Plaza de la Bandera), replacing Independence Square, as it was originally called.
The design of the work was the responsibility of the architect Cristian Martinez and the engineer Andres Gomez Dubriel, who conceived the structure as a Latin cross, which can be clearly seen from the air, and in the center stood a replica of the
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (, , ; ) is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l'Étoile—the ''étoile'' ...
.
On both sides of the arch they were placed two angels representing the glory and honor, and center, a sculpture symbolizing the motherland, holding the fallen soldier, made by sculptor Juan de Ávalo.
In this Plaza, the January 26, 1979,
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
celebrated the first Mass of a Roman Pontiff, held in American land, projecting the square worldwide. In this mass, Pope was facing the original painting of the Virgin of Altagracia, which was taken especially from the
Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia
The Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia (Our Lady of High Grace) is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and cathedral in Dominican Republic dedicated to Our Lady of Altagracia, patroness of the nation. It is in Salvaleón de Higüey. T ...
for the occasion.
Tomb of the Unknown Dominican Soldier and Flags
The tomb of the unknown soldier who died for the freedom of the Dominicans is located in the Square.
Numerous masts in the square marking the perimeter and all of them are hoisted flags of the Dominican Republic are located. In addition, the triumphal arch of the center of the square is also used as single mast because it has a halyard with another flag of the Dominican Republic, it hoisted larger than those in the above waving masts.
References
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Buildings and structures in Santo Domingo
Triumphal arches