The plaza has historically served as the central gathering place in Latin American towns. It was required by Spanish law and served religious, governmental, and social purposes. For indigenous peoples, the plaza was also important for ceremonies and demonstrations of social hierarchy. Several examples are described, showing how plazas continue to adapt while maintaining cultural influences, serving as the heart of each community.

1. Heart of a Pueblo
Film Review by Sarah Macedo

2. PLAZA Introduction
 It literally translates to “place”
 Plazas are found throughout
Spanish America because it was
required by Spanish law to build an
open space that the city could
gather for fiestas and important
government announcements
 Today, they are used as a gathering
place for the community to listen to
music and hang out with friends
 It is the heart and soul of the
Mexican town (and is found
elsewhere in Latin America)
 Back in the day of the Mayan
people, however, the Plazas were
equally important for religious
ceremonies

3. CHICHEN ITZA
 80-100 thousand people could gather
together at the center
 Celebrations were based on their
calendar and the cycle of the year, life,
and death
 The pyramids at the plaza
demonstrated their world view (the
priests at the top)
 The Plaza was used for religious
ceremonies and celebrations to the
gods
 Built as a visual demonstration of the
social structure and with the audio
acoustics that allowed speakers to be
heard throughout the plaza
 Was a public and economic center as
well

4. Merida
 Named after Merida, Spain
 It was the Spanish capital of the
Yucatan Peninsula
 Founded in 1542 on the site of a
vanquished Maya Town
 Even though it is used as a modern
plaza, there is still a Mayan presence in
the people who congregate there
 The Spanish influence is seen in the
architecture of the plaza where
buildings are made from stone and
brick
 Called the “White City” because of the
limestone used in the construction
 Although these past influences are a
part of the plaza, it is still changing
according to the today’s people’s
culture

5. Mexico City
 Is where the symbolic flag for
Mexico is flown
 It is known as the central plaza
because it is in the center of
Mexico City
 The Spanish built the city by
designing the plaza first and
constructing important
buildings around it (both
political and religious)
 People are there performing old
Meshika rituals and expressing
modern political beliefs at the
same time within the plaza

6. Patzcuaro
 While smaller in size than the other
plazas discussed, it has a deep
relationship with its town
 Was founded during the 13th century
and was built by warriors expanding
their territory
 Spanish influence is seen in the
Spanish language, Catholic religion,
and the Architecture
 The Spanish and Indigenous people
gathered together in the same place
 It has one plaza for markets, one for a
political center, and one for religion
 The women have to go to the market
plaza everyday because they do not
have refrigerators
 Each house also has a private
courtyard which acts like a private
plaza behind the house

7. Santa Clara Del Cobre
 It is located just south of Patzcuaro
 The ancient people from this area
fashioned tools to defend
themselves in time of war using
copper
 Still has a famous copper shop in
existence today
 It takes over a week to produce a
single copper piece by hand
 It is currently run by fifth generation
artisans
 While it is set up the way a Spanish
town would, the culture is
influenced greatly by the indigenous
people
 The plaza is an expression of civic
pride and belongs to the town