Plaza facts for kids

The main plaza in Valladolid, Spain. It's a great example of a typical Spanish public square.

A plaza is a Spanish word for an open public space in a city. Think of it like a city square. The word "plaza" is related to the word "field."

In Spanish America, the main plaza, called the plaza mayor, was very important. It usually had three key buildings around it: the cathedral (a large church), the cabildo (the government office), and the audiencia (the law court). These plazas were often big enough for soldiers to practice their drills. They were also places where many people could gather during important events or celebrations, like a fiesta. Just like Italian piazzas, plazas are still central to community life today, often serving as market-places.

Many cities built during the Spanish colonial times in America were designed around a special square called a plaza de armas. This was a place where troops could gather and prepare.

A plaza de toros is the Spanish name for a bullring, which is a place where bullfights happen.

Plazas as Shopping Centers

The word "plaza" is also used for shopping centers today. The very first shopping center in the United States opened in Kansas City, Missouri in 1922. It was named "Country Club Plaza" and had buildings designed in a Spanish style.

When a shopping center is called a "plaza," it tries to give the feeling that it's more than just shops. It suggests it's a place where people gather and where cultural activities might happen, similar to a traditional city square.

Other Pages to Explore

• Plaza Mayor of Madrid

Images for kids

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  Piazza della Signoria, in Florence, Italy, a historic example of a traditional public square

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  Announcement of the establishment of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs on Congress Square in 1918

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  Fountain in People's Square in Shanghai, China

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  Schlossplatz in Stuttgart, Germany

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  Piazza Navona and the Fontana (fountain) del Moro in central Rome, Italy. The fountain in the background is Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi

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  Azadi Square in Tehran, Iran

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  Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium

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  Red Square in Moscow, Russia, a view from the northwest, showing historic St. Basil's Cathedral and the Spasskaya Tower or "Saviour Tower"

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  Plaza Mayor of Madrid, Spain

See also

In Spanish: Plaza para niños