The Plaza Grau is a public square located in the center of Lima, Peru. It is located at the intersection of the

Paseo de la República Paseo may refer to: * a ''paseo'', a promenade, esplanade or public avenue. * ''Paseo'', a euphemism for a ride to summary execution during the White Terror during the Spanish Civil War Parkways and malls * The Paseo (Kansas City, Missouri), a p ...

with the

Paseo Colón 9 December Avenue ( es, Avenida 9 de Diciembre), commonly known as Paseo Colón, is an avenue in the historic centre of Lima, Peru. The street is named after the statue of Christopher Columbus located in the avenue. History The place where the P ...

, Miguel Grau Avenue and the

Paseo de los Héroes Navales The Promenade of the Naval Heroes ( es, Paseo de los Héroes Navales) is a public park located in the Historic Centre of Lima, historic centre of Lima. It occupies the first block of the ''Vía Expresa Luis Fernán Bedoya Reyes, Paseo de la Repúb ...

. It was named in honor of

Miguel Grau Seminario Miguel María Grau Seminario (27 July 1834 – 8 October 1879) was the most renowned Peruvian naval officer and hero of the naval battle of Angamos during the War of the Pacific (1879–1884). He was known as ''el Caballero de los Mares'' (Spa ...

, commander of the '' Huáscar'' monitor during the War of the Pacific.

Description

The square has a rectangular shape with rounded vertices, bordered by gardens. In the center the ''Monumento a Miguel Grau Seminario'' monument stands, made of granite and bronze, the work of the Spanish sculptor

Victorio Macho Victorio Macho (December 23, 1887 in Palencia – July 13, 1966 in Toledo, Spain) was a renowned 20th century Spanish sculptor. He is considered to be one of the greats of modern Spanish sculpture. His style was influenced by art deco. His ho ...

. It reaches a height of twenty-one meters. The body of the monument is a four-sided granitic monolith, with vertical stretch marks and stands of ascending rhythms, which, according to the author, symbolizes the land of Peru. The stands that are seen at their base symbolize the

sea The sea, connected as the world ocean or simply the ocean, is the body of salty water that covers approximately 71% of the Earth's surface. The word sea is also used to denote second-order sections of the sea, such as the Mediterranean Sea, ...

. High height of the main face or front, is the sculpture of the hero represented with his sailor uniform and with his arms crossed, between a helm and the anchors of a ship. Under it, on the pedestal, a dedication reads: "To the glory of the great admiral of Peru Miguel Grau, the Millennium Peruvian." On the side faces are symbolic sculptures about stands, representing men who reach the heights with difficulty. In the posterior face there is a commemorative plaque of the battle of Angamos. And finally, the work is crowned by the allegory of fame, which raises its arms towards the sky in clamor of immortality, and that is driven in a mythical ship by tritones and sirens.

History

The original plaza dedicated to Grau was built in

Callao Callao () is a Peruvian seaside city and Regions of Peru, region on the Pacific Ocean in the Lima metropolitan area. Callao is Peru's chief seaport and home to its main airport, Jorge Chávez International Airport. Callao municipality consists o ...

in 1890, but was renamed Plaza Emilio San Martín, after Emilio San Martín, who died during the War of the Pacific. Before the memorials to Grau and San Martín, the plaza was originally known as Constitution Square ( es, Plaza de la Constitución) and Victory Square ( es, Plaza de la Victoria). The square was inaugurated on October 28, 1946, during the government of President José Luis Bustamante y Rivero. Towards the side of the Paseo Colón, a tribune was enabled for the guests (officials, diplomats, etc.), which were received by a special commission, chaired by the

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Arturo Jiménez Pacheco. The scenario featured members of the

Armed Forces A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

Civil Guard Civil Guard refers to various policing organisations: Current * Civil Guard (Spain), Spanish gendarmerie * Civil Guard (Israel), Israeli volunteer police reserve * Civil Guard (Brazil), Municipal law enforcement corporations in Brazil Histori ...

and Battalions representating schools of Lima and

. The line was in command of Marshal Eloy Ureta, accompanied by its General Staff: General

Manuel A. Odría Manuel Arturo Odría Amoretti (26 November 1896 – 18 February 1974) was a military officer who served as the 45th President of Peru, essentially ruling as a military dictator. Biography Early life and military career Manuel Odría was ...

, Luis Solari, Juan de Dios Párcos and Manuel Forero. The ceremony began with a

minute of silence A moment of silence (also referred to as a minute's silence or a one-minute silence) is a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of r ...

in memory of the ''hero of Angamos'', followed by an air exhibition. After the exhibition, President Bustamante and Rivero, accompanied by the

mayor of Lima The following is a list of Lima's mayors through the 20th and 21st centuries. '' Alcaldes ordinarios'' of the first and the second vote Mayors of Lima See also * Timeline of Lima {{Peru lists Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded ...

and veterans of the War of the Pacific, went to the foot of the monument. Frigate

Manuel Elías Bonnemaison Manuel Elías Bonnemaison Torres ( Lima, March 27, 1862 – February 17, 1961) was a Peruvian sailor and ambassador. He was the last survivor of the battle of Angamos. Early life Manuel Elías Bonnemaison Torres was the son of Gumercinda Torres ...

, the last survivor of the ''Huáscar'' crew, was responsible for decorting the veil that covered the sculpture. Before Grau's effigy, President Bustamante read in a speech that culminated as follows:

References

{{coord, -12.05978, -77.03577, format=dms, type:landmark_region:PE, display=title Squares in Lima 1946 in Peru War of the Pacific Lima District