French
DeutschPlaza de Armas (Havana)
Plaza de Armas | |
|---|---|
| Public square | |
 | |
| Opening date | 1520s |
| Location | La Habana Vieja, Havana, La Habana Province,  Cuba |
.svg)  Plaza de Armas | |
| Coordinates: 23°8′24″N 82°20′57″W / 23.14000°N 82.34917°W | |
Plaza de Armas is the oldest town square in Habana Vieja.[1]
Early history
[edit]Established in the early 1520s in Habana Vieja, the Plaza de las Armas was designed to serve as the original main square for the military and government in Havana.[2] As Spanish custom when they laid out a new town, open space was reserved for a public square when the city was founded in 1519.[3] The Plaza de Armas was commandeered for military use by the 1580s.[4] The name was La Plaza de Armas, translating to "Place of Arms".[5]
In 1777, a church was demolished to make way for the new residence of the governor-general.[3] The Governor's Palace was situated on Plaza de Armas and occupied one whole side of the square.[6] In 1896, the square was described as consisting of four parks with Ceiba trees and a marble statue of Ferdinand VII in the center.[7] Ramón Blanco was the last Spanish captain-general to occupy the site, and after 1899, it became the executive seat of the Cuban government.[8]
The square in Old Havana was surrounded by historic buildings including Castillo de la Real Fuerza, El Templete, the Federal Supreme Court, and the Senate building.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Clipper Guide to Cuba: Editorial Clippers - 1947 Edition. (1947). The National Tourist Commission. p. 99.
- ^ McAuslan, F., Norman, M. (2010). The Rough Guide to Havana. United Kingdom: Rough Guides Limited.
- ^ a b c "Old World Style Yields to Modern". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
- ^ McAuslan, F., Norman, M. (2003). Cuba. United Kingdom: Rough Guides.
- ^ "Havana! - "Paris of the Americas!" - "Gem of the Antilles!"". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
- ^ "A Glimpse At Havana - Society, Customs, etc". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
- ^ "Havana Has A History". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
- ^ "The Change of Rulers: Spanish Sovereignty in the Island of Cuba Ceased at Noon of New Year's Day". newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-05-27.