Plaza de Cagancha Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Plaza de Cagancha
Plaza


Country	Uruguay
Department	Montevideo Department
City	Montevideo
Barrio	Centro

Plaza de Cagancha (Spanish for 'Cagancha Square') is a public square in the Centro neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay. You can find it on 18 de Julio Avenue, which is the main street of the city. This square was first planned in 1836. It became the central spot for the "Ciudad Nueva" (New City), built just outside the old walled colonial area.

The square is surrounded by several important buildings. These include the Palacio Piria, which is home to the Supreme Court, and the Ateneo de Montevideo.

History of Plaza Cagancha
- The Column of Peace Monument
- Square's Development Over Time
Buildings Around the Square
- South Side Buildings
- North Side Buildings
Images for kids
Gallery
See also

History of Plaza Cagancha

Illustration of Plaza Cagancha in 1885

After Uruguay became independent in 1829, leaders decided to remove the old city walls. They wanted to expand the city and create the "Ciudad Nueva." This new area was designed around 18 de Julio Avenue.

In 1836, Plaza Cagancha was officially founded. It quickly became the main hub of the new city layout. On February 7, 1840, the square was named "Plaza Cagancha." This name honors a victory by General Fructuoso Rivera in 1839. He won a battle near the Cagancha stream during the Uruguayan Civil War.

The Column of Peace Monument

Fountain in the square in 1910

A tall monument called the Column of Peace was placed in the center of the square in 1867. It stands 17 meters (about 56 feet) tall and weighs 9 tons. This monument celebrates the peace that ended a civil war two years earlier. The war was fought between Uruguay's two main political groups, the National Party and the Colorado Party.

The monument features a white marble column topped with a bronze statue of a woman. This statue represents peace. Originally, she held a Roman sword. In 1889, this was changed to broken chains, symbolizing freedom. The Column of Peace also marks the Kilometre zero for all of Uruguay's national roads. This means it's the starting point for measuring distances across the country.

Square's Development Over Time

From 1890 to 1930, Plaza Cagancha became a very popular place for people to stroll. New public lighting and city improvements made it a pleasant spot. During this time, flowerbeds and steps were added to the square. In the early 1900s, a famous French landscape architect named Carlos Thays helped make the square even more beautiful.

Buildings Around the Square

Many important buildings are located around Plaza Cagancha.

South Side Buildings

On the south side, you'll find the Palacio Piria. This grand building is the main office for the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country. Nearby is the Palacio de los Tribunales, which used to be the headquarters for a transport company called ONDA.

The Jackson Palace once stood in the southwest corner. It was a beautiful Italian Renaissance-style building built in 1891. It even had Montevideo's first elevator! For many years, it served as the city's government building. However, it was torn down in 1979. Today, a modern office building with shops on the ground floor stands in its place.

North Side Buildings

On the north side of the square is the Sorocabana Building. For many decades, its ground floor housed a very popular café of the same name. Other notable places on this side include the Cine Teatro Plaza, the Ateneo de Montevideo (a cultural center), the José Pedro Varela Pedagogical Museum, and the Circular Theater. Since 1983, the Mercado de los Artesanos, a market for Uruguayan artisans, has been located on the northwest side.