The Macroplaza or La Gran Plaza is a town square or plaza located in the heart of the city of

Monterrey Monterrey ( , ) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico, and the third largest city in Mexico behind Guadalajara and Mexico City. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the city is anchor ...

, Mexico. The Macroplaza is the fifth-largest plaza in the world and the largest Plaza in Mexico. It has an extension of 400,000 square metres consisting of various monuments, smaller plazas and gardens. The Macroplaza was built in the early 1980s during the governorship of Alfonso Martínez Domínguez. The construction of the Macroplaza required the demolition of several old buildings and houses including a famous movie theater. One of the most iconic monuments of the city is the

Faro del Comercio Faro del Comercio is a monument designed by the accomplished Mexican architect Luis Barragán and constructed in 1984 by architect Raúl Ferrera. It is a recognizable sight in Monterrey among many other modern manmade landmarks, such as Neptune' ...

(Lighthouse of Commerce), a 70-meter-tall modern lighthouse located in the same plaza, equipped with a green laser, that shot its light around the city at nights.

Landmarks

The Macroplaza is very famous and its features are the following monuments, buildings and pedestrian zones: *'' Palacio de Gobierno'', a neoclassical construction where the office of the governor is located. *''

'', a modern monument designed by architect Luis Barragán. At nights it shoots a green laser around the city. *'' Explanada de los Heroes'', a 19,400-square-meter esplanade located in front of the ''Palacio de Gobierno''. *''Jardín Hundido'' (aka ''Parque Hundido''), an almost hidden garden located in the heart of the Macroplaza featuring various monuments and a fountain. A Speakers' Corner, similar to that located in London's

Hyde Park Hyde Park may refer to: Places England * Hyde Park, London, a Royal Park in Central London * Hyde Park, Leeds, an inner-city area of north-west Leeds * Hyde Park, Sheffield, district of Sheffield * Hyde Park, in Hyde, Greater Manchester Austra ...

, is located in the ''Jardín Hundido''. *''

Teatro de la Ciudad The (Theater of the City) was built as the (Esperanza Iris Theatre) in 1918 and is now one of Mexico City’s public venues for cultural events. The theater is located in the historic center of Mexico City on Donceles Street 36. The former Espe ...

''. *'' Biblioteca Fray Servando Teresa de Mier'', a

public library A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil service, civil servants. There are ...

. *'' Fuente de Neptuno'' (aka ''Fuente de la Vida''), a bronze fountain representing the Roman god

Neptune Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun and the farthest known planet in the Solar System. It is the fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 times ...

. *''Capilla de los Dulces Nombres'', a 19th-century Roman Catholic chapel. *'' Plaza Zaragoza'', the old city plaza located between the Cathedral and the original

city hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

building (now the ''Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey''). *

Monterrey City Hall Monterrey ( , ) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico, and the third largest city in Mexico behind Guadalajara and Mexico City. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the city is anc ...

(aka el ''Palacio de Cristal''), the headquarters of the Mayor of Monterrey. *''

Homenaje al Sol ''Homenaje'' ( es, Tribute) is a 1996 live album, recorded during the "Metal Rock Festival" at Obras Sanitarias. The concert was a reunion of the first line-up of the Argentine heavy metal band V8, with the exception of its original bass player Ri ...

'', a monument designed by Rufino Tamayo located at the southernmost point of the Macroplaza. The Macroplaza is surrounded by many buildings such as the

Cathedral of Monterrey A cathedral is a church that contains the ''cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominations ...

, the Latino tower (''Edificio Latino''), the Museum of Contemporary Art of Monterrey (MARCO), the Acero tower (''Edificio Acero''), The Metropolitan Museum (''Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey''), the Museum of Mexican History and the Museum of the Northwest but none of them are part of the Macroplaza.

Other nearby attractions

Other attractions within walking distance of the Macroplaza include the Morelos pedestrian street to the west, the ''Plaza de los 400 años'', the Santa Lucia Riverwalk to the east as well as the

Barrio Antiguo Popularly known as the Barrio Antiguo (Spanish ''old quarter'') comprise what is preserved from the historical quarter of the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Currently located next to the Government Palace and the Macroplaza, it originally ...

Transportation

The Macroplaza is accessible via Monterrey Metro, with the Zaragoza station located in the centre of the Macroplaza, near the ''Fuente de Neptuno''. The Macroplaza also includes a parking lot area.

References

{{Reflist Landmarks in Monterrey Plazas in Mexico Tourist attractions in Monterrey

Landmarks

Other nearby attractions

Transportation

See also

References