The ''Plaza Vieja'' () is a plaza located in

Old Havana Old Havana ( es, link=no, La Habana Vieja) is the city-center (downtown) and one of the 15 municipalities (or boroughs) forming Havana, Cuba. It has the second highest population density in the city and contains the core of the original city of ...

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

. The plaza and its surroundings are also one of the seven ''consejos populares'' (

wards Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a priso ...

) of the municipality of Old Havana. It has a residential population of 17,426.

Overview

The plaza was originally called ''Plaza Nueva'' (New Square). It emerged as an open space in 1559, after the Plaza de Armas and San Francisco. In colonial times it was a residential neighborhood of the

Criollo Criollo or criolla (Spanish for creole) may refer to: People * Criollo people, a social class in the Spanish race-based colonial caste system (the European descendants) Animals * Criollo duck, a species of duck native to Central and South Ameri ...

plutocracy A plutocracy () or plutarchy is a society that is ruled or controlled by people of great wealth or income. The first known use of the term in English dates from 1631. Unlike most political systems, plutocracy is not rooted in any established ...

. Plaza Vieja was the site of executions, processions, bullfights, and '' fiestas'' - all witnessed by Havana's wealthiest citizens, who looked on from their balconies. The urban architectural complex of Plaza Vieja is represented by valuable colonial buildings from the XVII, XVIII and XIX and some examples of the early twentieth century.

History

Early history

Dominic Serres the Elder - The Piazza at Havana

The plaza emerged in 1559 and was originally called ''Plaza Nueva'' (New Square). It was built as a popular alternative to

Plaza de Armas The ''Plaza de Armas'' (literally Weapons Square, but better translated as Parade Square or parade ground) is the name for Latin American main squares. In the central region of Mexico this space is known as El Zócalo and in Central America as ...

, the military and government main center, the name changed when another important square emerged in town, the Plaza del Santo Cristo. In the eighteenth century the square was turned into a popular market, and was called ''Plaza del Mercado'' (Market Square) as Havana's commercial hub. In 1814 with the birth of the ''Mercado Nuevo'' (new market) in the Plaza del Cristo, the Old Square was renamed to differentiate it. The square has also been identified by other names such as Plaza Real, Mayor, Mercado, Fernando VII, Plaza of the Constitution, Park Juan Bruno Zayas and Park Julian Grimau. In 1851 members of the defeated

filibustering A filibuster is a political procedure in which one or more members of a legislative body prolong debate on proposed legislation so as to delay or entirely prevent decision. It is sometimes referred to as "talking a bill to death" or "talking out ...

Lopez Expedition The Lopez Expedition (Spanish: Expedición López) of 1851 was an attempt led by Narciso López to invade and seize control of Cuba which was then part of the Spanish Empire. The force comprising 420 Cuban emigres and American volunteers landed in ...

were executed in the square.

20th century

The original Carrara marble fountain surrounded by four dolphins was demolished in the 1930s when President

Gerardo Machado Gerardo Machado y Morales (28 September 1869 – 29 March 1939) was a general of the Cuban War of Independence and President of Cuba from 1925 to 1933. Machado entered the presidency with widespread popularity and support from the major polit ...

(1871-1939) built an underground parking lot here. Since the early 1980s, once Old Havana was declared

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

Unesco The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

, architects and restorers began a restoration project.

References

External links

{{Coord, 23, 8, 9.88, N, 82, 21, 0.22, W, scale:5000_region:CU, display=title Buildings and structures in Havana Wards of Havana Squares in Cuba Tourist attractions in Havana Streets in Havana