Zócalo (Puebla) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zócalo |
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Zócalo in Puebla
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| Type | Plaza |
| Location | Puebla, Mexico |
The Zócalo is a famous park and main square located right in the heart of Puebla, a lively city in Mexico. It's a popular spot for both locals and visitors!
Discovering the Zócalo
The Zócalo is the most important square in Puebla. It has always been the main cultural, political, and religious center of the city. When Puebla was first built, the Zócalo was the very first block planned. The rest of the historic city center was then laid out around it, like a checkerboard.
A Look Back in Time
The Zócalo was first built as a rectangle. But people thought it looked a bit odd, so it was later changed to a perfect square. For many years, until the late 1700s, this square was the city's main market. People came here to buy and sell all sorts of goods.
During the time when Mexico was a colony of Spain, the Zócalo was also the main place to get drinking water. A special fountain was put in the center in the mid-1500s. Many important events have happened here throughout history, and they still do today! For example, from 1566 to 1722, exciting bullfights were held right in the main square.
What You Can See Today
Today, the Zócalo is a beautiful park filled with trees. You'll find many interesting sculptures here. The most famous one is the San Miguel Arcángel Fountain. It was placed in the center of the square in 1777.
Many important buildings surround the Zócalo. These include the City Hall, a historic building called the Casa de los Muñecos, and the grand Cathedral. Most streets in Puebla are named using a numbering system. This system starts from the northwest corner of the Zócalo.
You can also spot four statues of muses, which are figures from Greek myths who inspire artists. They are placed at each corner of the plaza. Other cool sculptures include Jan Hendrix's artwork called Kiosko. You can also see the Monumento al Sitio de Puebla and Puebla de los Ángeles.
See also
- Zócalo, Mexico City
- In Spanish: Zócalo de la ciudad de Puebla para niños
