Zocalo

The major square in the heart of Mexico City is known as the Zócalo. It served as Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecs,' primary ceremonial hub before the arrival of the colonizers. Formerly known as "Main Square" or "Arms Square", the plaza's current official name is Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square). This name derives from the Cádiz Constitution, which was ratified in Spain in 1812, not from any of the other Mexican constitutions that have governed the nation. Even yet, it is now almost universally referred to as the Zócalo. Plans were for a column to be built as a symbol of independence, but only the zócalo (Spanish for "plinth") foundation was ever constructed.

Long ago, the plinth was buried, but the name endures. Not all other Mexican towns and cities have adopted the term "zócalo" to describe their central plazas, though many have, including Oaxaca, Mérida, and Guadalajara. Since the time of the Aztecs, it has served as a meeting place for Mexicans, hosting events like Mexican rituals, viceroys' swearing-ins, royal proclamations, military parades, independence celebrations, and contemporary religious celebrations like Holy Week and Corpus Christi. It has hosted foreign heads of state and serves as the primary location for both national observances and demonstrations. For than 700 years, the Zócalo and its surrounding blocks have been an important part of the city's layout and topography. The site is just one block southwest of the Templo Mayor, which, according to Aztec legend and mythology, was considered the center of the universe.

Location: Plaza de la Constitución, Mexico City