Zócalo

Plaza de la Constitución with the Catedral Metropolitana (1573 by Claudio de Arciniega) in the background; The Zócalo is the main plaza or square in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. Today its formal name is “Constitution Square” (Plaza de la Constitución). However, it is almost always called the “Zócalo” today. This word literally means “base” or “plinth”. Plans were made to erect an column as a monument to Independence, but only the base, or zocalo, was ever built. The plinth was destroyed long ago but the name has lived on. Many other Mexican towns and cities, such as Oaxaca and Guadalajara, have adopted the word “zócalo” to refer to their main plazas, but not all. It has been a gathering place for Mexicans since Aztec times, having been the site of Mexica ceremonies. The modern Zócalo in Mexico City is 240 meters square, making it one of the largest city squares in the world. It is bordered by the Cathedral, the National Palace, the Federal District buildings and the Old Portal de Mercaderes, the Nacional Monte de Piedad building, with the Templo Mayor site to the northeast, just outside of view. In the center is a flagpole with an enormous Mexican flag. The modern plaza of Mexico City was placed by Alonso Garcia Bravo shortly after the Conquest when he laid out what is now the historic center for Cortes. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 6/22/2009