Plazas and gardens
Plaza de la Paz
This town square dedicated to peace is nearly triangular, and is framed on its three sides by the city's most beautiful buildings. A bronze monument with a cantera stone and marble base adorns its center, commemorating the end of the Mexican War of Independence.
Guanajuato's main plaza since colonial times. It is without a doubt one of the oldest in the city. Although irregularly shaped, it was endowed with all of the traditional elements of a colonial plaza: columned entrance halls such as Los Arcos; the main church, now the Basilica; the Royal Houses, the building which is now home to the city government.
The plaza was surrounded by the houses of the city's most prominent residents: the marquesses of San Clemente, the counts of Valenciana, the Count of Casa Rul, the counts of Pérez Gálvez, the Alamán and Chico families, and other aristocrats of that time. The narrow streets and alleyways of San Diego or Cruz Verde, Pasaje de los Arcos, La Tenaza, Zapateros, La Condeza, Cuesta de Marqués and La Estrella all join to the plaza. This was also the site of various important regional and national events, such as the riots of the Guanajuatan miners beginning in 1766 against unjust actions of the colonial government. Provincial governer Riaño, in 1810, tried to make a stand here, awaiting Hidalgo.
The same leader of the insurgents, Miguel Hidalgo, would later walk the plaza trying to settle down his troops, who were sacking the city they had just freed from the royalists. President Benito Juárez occupied the plaza in 1858, when he declared the city capital of Mexico. In 1852, the plaza received its handsome fountain, dedicated to the Virgin of Guanajuato, where the water which flowed from the Presa de la Olla reservoir sprung from the earth, water which then went on to supply city residents.
At the fountain's edge grew several trees, which gave shadow and respite from the heat. In 1886, a garden was planted, lit by oil lamps. In 1893, the fountain was moved to the Plaza del Baratillo, where it can be found today. In 1897, the Monument to Peace was erected, a sculpture by Mexican artist Jesús Contreras, at a cost of 27,619.93 pesos. The monument was inaugurated by then president of the Republic, General Porfirio Díaz, on October 27, 1903.
Jardín Union
A beautiful triangular-shaped park located in the center of the city, this is one of the places where locals get together. On Thursdays and Sundays at 7:00 p.m., the plaza comes alive with the music of the State Band.In colonial times, this plaza was called Plaza de San Diego because of its proximity to the convent and church of the Dieguinos. The plaza served as an outdoor market and for all the traditional festivities. At times it was used as a bullfighting ring.
In 1810, the meeting between the Dieguino Belaunzarán and the Count of Flón took place here. The first demanded in the name of God that the order to behead the Guanajuatan citizens not be carried out.
In 1836, the first of the plazas trees were planted: a row of ash trees. Since the city lacked gardens and walking paths, in 1861 the main garden was planted and paths made all around it with benches and oil street lamps. It officially received the name of Jardín de la Unión, by which it is known to this day. It was and continues to be the favorite place for locals to meet in the city. It was also the first place in the city to receive electricity. The garden's gazebo was built during the presidency of Porfirio Díaz. The Jardín is triangular in shape and quite small, making it easy to find and make friends.
Plaza de Mexiamora
Picturesque, unassuming residences line this plaza, one of the oldest in the city. A finely sculpted green cantera stone fountain, among the largest in Guanajuato, adorns the plaza center, and a series of flower boxes complete the picture. This is where the narrow walking streets of Ánimas, Taza and Gallitos, Tambores, Cervatana, Calzada de Mexiamora and Hinojo meet, and so just about everyone from the neighborhood comes through this way.
The plaza is also special because house number 12 was the home of painter and town historian Manuel Leal, who left us numerous pieces of important original art, and who rescued a number of city traditions from oblivion. What's more, house number 16 was the birthplace of the first Mexican aeronaut, Benito León Acosta, born April 8, 1819.
Plazuela de San Fernando
Formerly Hacienda de San Francisco de Cervera, known years ago as "los hornos" (literally, "the kilns") this city square has been Plazuela de San Fernando since 1863. Once filled with trees and gardens according to photographic and other visual evidence, the square is now home to several fine restaurants and cafés, and a handsome baroque fountain gracing its center. At one end of the plaza stands house number 7, an outstanding example of neoclassical architecture dating back to the turn of the 19th century.
This square, named in honor of the saint of the same name and Spanish monarch Ferdinand VII, was expanded in the late 1930s and early 40s, after a school on the grounds was removed.
Cobblestones and paving blocks laid out in geometric patterns are the work of renowned visual artist José Chávez Morado. Today, the square is still the perfect spot it has always been for book shows, craft sales and open-air performances, and a center for the city's bohemian life.
Plazuela de la Compañía
This space was once the atrium and cemetery of the church Templo de la Compañía de Jesús. Its irregularly dimensioned perimeter is lined with buildings of a sober magnificence, preserved extraordinarily well: tall colonial mansions with their courtyards and entrance halls.
Scanning the scene, our attention is drawn to a fountain across from the post office, at the intersection of Calle del Sol with Calle San José. Some say the fountain was built around the middle of the 19th century; others, that it is quite a bit older, built along with the church atrium. What we do know for sure is that the fountain we see today is actually not the original, which was razed in 1917 to be later rebuilt based on a drawing by famous city chronicler Manuel Leal.
Plaza del Baratillo
Officially, this plaza goes by the name Joaquín González y González or General Manuel González. Here, there was once a market, which disappeared around 1893. In the middle of the plaza, there is a fountain of green-hued cantera stone with two basins. Upon these basins rests a column supporting a grand shell, adorned with carved dolphins on each of its four sides.
The Baratillo continues to have a commercial function, as here flowers, fruits and vegetables are bought and sold.
El Cantador
This garden park features a wrought iron fence and cantera stone columns. There are two main entrances directly across from one another, and another two secondary ones perpendicular. A plaque announces that the park was inaugurated in 1898. The four entrances lead to a central pavilion with eight Doric-capitaled striated columns. Four small fountains surround the pavilion, and two more are set along the walking paths.
We know the park owes its name, which means "the singer" in English, to popular musician José Carpio. Before Mexican independence, Carpio bought a mine hacienda where the park is today, and over time it became known as the Hacienda del Cantador. With the passing of many decades, the hacienda became run down, and it was decided that a park would be an apt replacement.
Plaza de San Roque
This plazuela , a word meaning "little plaza", spreads out in the shape of a fan, accented by an iron cross at its center reminiscent of the Cross of Cordova, Spain , surrounded by six artistically rendered wrought iron street lamps. This simple monument was erected in 1952, and is an important set piece for the yearly presentations of Cervantes's skits known as the Entremeses Cervantinos.
The plazuela was part of the Church of San Roque, and a chapel of the Brotherhood of Mercy, of the Diocese of Michoacan, was built here. Later the chapel became known as the Chapel of San Roque, named for the place.
Jardín Reforma
Architect José Noriega was responsible for the design and construction of this plaza, set on the grounds of a former corral. The corral once included the land where the Church of Belén today stands. The plaza was inaugurated sometime between 1861 and 1875, and in 1923 it was officially named Jardín Reforma.
Here, one can appreciate the side façade of the School of Architecture, University of Guanajuato. In the interior of the school is a baroque chapel which now houses the Armando Olivares Carrillo library.
The plaza features a simple cantera stone fountain at its center, symmetrical paths, and gardens with a variety of ornamental plants. The front entrance to the plaza features a Roman arch resting on another, smaller arch, joined to a series of Ionic columns.
Plazuela Hidalgo
This plaza is located in the Libertad neighborhood. It is an open esplanade built of cantera stone, walled at one end where a torch is lit every September 28th in commemoration of the taking of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas during the Mexican War of Independence. Near the esplanade is a plaza of stylized iron frog sculptures, the totemic animal of the city.
To one side of the plaza of the frogs is the park known as Los Pastitos, and at the other end, a handsomely landscaped traffic circle island where the Jardín del Cantador and the streets Calle del Barrio Alto and Calle Miguel Hidalgo meet.
