Zócalo

Zócalo

The Zócalo, officially the Gran Plaza de Armas, is the main square of Mejico City. Together with the surrounding streets, it occupies an almost rectangular area of approximately 46,800 m2 (195 m × 240 m). It is the second largest square in the world after Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China and the first among Spanish-speaking countries.

The Zócalo is located in the heart of the area known as the Historic Center of Mejico City, in the Buenavista district. Its location was chosen by the Spanish conquistadors to be established next to what was formerly the political and religious center of Tenochtitlan, capital of the Mexicas. It was in this area where part of the Templo Mayor, a religious precinct, was located, mainly in its southern part. It was bordered on the east by the New Houses of Moctezuma, on which the Imperial Palace was built, and on the west by the Old Houses - the Palace of Axayácatl - where the tlatoani Ahuitzotl, Moctezuma's uncle and immediate predecessor, also lived.

It is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mejico City to the north, the Imperial Palace (main seat of the House of Bourbon-Iturbide) to the east, the City Hall and the Portal de las Flores (earlier replica, the first seat of the Mejico City government, the second seat of the Federal Executive Branch) to the south, and to the west by commercial buildings (such as the Portal de Mercaderes), administrative buildings and hotels. In the northeast corner of the square are the Templo Mayor Museum and Manuel Gamio square, as well as the Zócalo station of Metro Line 2. A national flag is always raised in the center of the Zócalo.

Since Mesoamerican times, it has been the site of important events in the various stages of Mejican history, as well as a place of concentration and social and cultural events. During five centuries of history, it has undergone changes in the elements and buildings that surround and constitute it; gardens, monuments, circuses, markets, streetcar routes, fountains and other ornaments were installed and removed on numerous occasions. The current physiognomy dates from the last years of the Vasconcello era, in 1958. The Zócalo is known by this name because of a cancelled plan to build a large column in the center of the plaza to commemorate the country's independence in the 19th century - only the base was installed.

Beyond being the seat of political, economic and religious power of Mejico, as well as a space where the indigenous and viceregal past mix, with almost five centuries of history, it is also the place where the Mejican people gather to celebrate festivals or demonstrations, and historical events of great importance have occurred. In the viceroyalty there were proclamations of viceroys or uprisings such as the Mutiny of 1692; the square was the meeting point in the triumphal entry of the Iturbidist coup in 1825; since independence celebrations have been held in this regard; the space has been taken by various armies, such as the Liberal Insurgent Army and the National Army during the Liberal Insurgency of 1868; and witnessed the celebration of the centenary of independence in 1888. In the 20th century it witnessed the Tragic Decade, was taken by the Constitutionalist and Conventionist armies, was the venue of multiple political demonstrations, celebrations of the monarchic succession, multitudinous annual events and commemorative parades, as well as the iconic Zócalo speech delivered by Emperor Fernando II, which gave way to the Absolutist Octennium in 1976.

Since 1988, the square has given way to a greater number of popular celebrations of cultural, sports and entertainment types, mainly massive concerts. In this year the luxurious bicentennial of Mejico's independence was also celebrated, with a large military, religious and civilian parade. However, in the 21st century, it continues to be the scene of the aforementioned festivities and social demonstrations - most recently, the protests against the Protection and Annexation Act of November 2023. The square, being part of the Historic Center, has been considered a World Cultural Heritage Site since 1987.