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By Flickr user schlaeger.

10 Great Facts about El Zócalo in Mexico City

The Mexico City zócalo, or Plaza de la Constitución, is one of the most well-known landmarks and plazas in the Mexican capital. This historic site dates back to the Aztecs and is undoubtedly one of the city’s most historically and culturally interesting destinations. With that in mind, here’s a quick rundown of the history of Mexico City’s zócalo.
This grand square, formally known as Plaza de la Constitución, was previously known as Plaza de Armas or Plaza Principal and served as the ceremonial heart of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. The Zocalo is famous because it has been a gathering place for Mexicans since Aztec times, hosting Mexican ceremonies, viceroy swearing-ins, royal proclamations, and modern religious events such as the festivals of Holy Week and Corpus Christi.  This article will focus on the 10 greatest facts about El Zócalo and here we go;

1. It was the central square in the Aztec Capital

It’s unclear when the capital of the Aztec Empire was founded but it’s assumed that Tenochtitlan was established in the year 1325. This incredible city was built on an island in Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico.

This former natural lake is now completely developed as Mexico City grew exponentially over the centuries. Tenochtitlan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas at one time.

This bustling market city was estimated to have a population of 20,000 to 40,000 people. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Zócalo is that it has served as the center of the Aztec capital since the 14th century.

read Facts about Plaza de la Constitucion

2. Considered to be the historic heart of Mexico City

Vista de la Plaza de la Constitución. By B.jars

Since the 16th century, the Zócalo has been considered the historic heart of Mexico City, the country’s capital. The square was built by the Spanish after their conquest of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec Empire’s capital, in 1521.

Following the event that brought the Aztec Empire to an end, they quickly established the square. It was built between 1521 and 1523 and first opened to the public in 1524.

The square is right in the heart of this massive city, which has over 9.2 million people in its city proper and nearly 22 million in its metropolitan area. This means that the city grew up around this important square over the course of a century.

3. The square has been used for many purposes over the centuries

Inauguration ceremony. By Gobierno CDMX

Mexico’s most important public square has traditionally been the site of some of the country’s most pivotal moments. The swearing-in of viceroys, royal proclamations, military parades, and Independence ceremonies were among the events.

It’s also frequently used for religious purposes. As it hosts a number of festivals and events during Holy Week and Corpus Christi.

The square’s most intriguing use is for cultural and artistic events. Every day, traditional Aztec dancers perform a show here, fully dressed in traditional Aztec attire.

Concerts are also held here on a regular basis, drawing crowds of up to 250,000 people.

read Fascinating Facts about the Historic center of Mexico City

4. Stands on the ruins of an ancient Aztec City

When the Spanish arrived in 1521 CE, they leveled the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and built a brand new Mexico City on top of the ruins.

The Zocalo and historic center that you see today was the Aztec ceremonial center. Tenochtitlan was the name given to it.

The ceremonial center housed 45 structures, including important temples and shrines. Nothing remains today except the Templo Mayor ruins near the cathedral.

It may surprise you to learn that stones and rubble from Tenochtitlan’s old buildings were used to build brand-new colonial monuments. The Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace, for example, were built with stones from ancient Aztec structures.

5. Its official name refers to the first Constitution of Spain

The Zócalo is officially known as the “Plaza de la Constitución.” The first Mexican constitution was drafted in 1824, and it was quickly followed by several others. After being signed in 1917, the current constitution entered into force.

Surprisingly, the square’s official name is derived from the Cádiz Constitution rather than any of these Mexican constitutions. This was Spain’s first constitution, which was signed in 1812.

Representatives from Spanish overseas colonies such as those in the Americas and the Philippines were also present, which is why Mexico City’s main square is known as “Plaza de la Constitución.”

So, what is the significance of the name Zócalo? The name Zócalo translates to “plinth,” and it refers to a proposed monumental column that was to be built on the square.

read Fascinating Facts about Palacio Nacional, Mexico

6. One of the largest squares in the World

View of the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo) after a rainy day. By ProtoplasmaKid

The Zócalo is not the largest square in the world. Because of its remarkable architecture and the fact that the majority of the square is traffic-free, it gives the impression of being enormous.

The public space has a total area of 57,600 square meters (620,000 square feet). The world’s largest square is Xinghai Square in Dalian, China, which has a total area of 1,760,000 square meters (18,900,000 square feet).

7.  Zócalo is officially located just near the center of the Universe

Officially, the Zócalo is near the center of the Universe. At least, that’s what people in the Aztec Empire believed because they saw the Templo Mayor as the center of everything.

The Teplo Mayor is only one block away and is now an archaeological site with only the ruins remaining. This was a large temple, with a total base area of 100 x 80 meters (328 x 262 feet).

8. Statue of Charles IV in the Square before independence

Before the Mexican War of Independence, which lasted from 1810 to 1821, the square was adorned with an equestrian statue of Charles IV (1748-1819), King of Spain during this turbulent period in the region.

This statue was relocated to a more appropriate location in front of Mexico City’s National Art Museum. According to the description on the base of the statue, it is only kept here for its artistic value.

9. The square took a new form after Post-colonialization  

Despite the fact that the zócalo existed during the Aztec period, it was only after colonization that it began to take the form we see today, thanks to Alonso Garc Bravo’s architectural decisions.

Previously dominated by looming silhouettes of Tenochtitlan’s temples and pyramids, such as the Templo Mayor, the zócalo is now surrounded by similarly significant and emblematic buildings, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palacio Nacional (built over the ruins of the last Aztec emperor’s former palace), the Old Portal de Mercaderes, and Federal District buildings.

10. Displays a single, but enormous,  Mexican Flag in its center

By Gobierno CDMX

In contrast to many city plazas the zócalo currently lacks monuments and statues. instead displaying a single, but massive, Mexican flag in its center.

This was not always the case; in the 17th century, despite the construction of a Parian, the plaza was teeming with street vendors and market stalls.

Furthermore, fountains were previously located at each of the plaza’s four corners, the Estatua Ecuestre de Carlos IV by Manuel Tolsá called the zócalo home for a time, and a streetcar station was built there in the nineteenth century.

However, by the late twentieth century, the zócalo had fallen into disrepair, prompting a successful $300,000,000 renovation project that restored it to its former glory.