Officially known as Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square), the Zócalo is the common name of the main square in central Mexico City. The space has been the site of rituals, ceremonies and parades for people living in the area for centuries, and has become a central gathering place for a variety of events in the modern Mexico City. While it features no distinct landmarks beyond the gargantuan Mexican flag in the middle, the Zócalo is proof of what it can mean for a space to become a monument that has a critical cultural and economic impact for an entire country.
An Indirect Monument to Mexican Independence
Like other famous squares in cities that range from Venice to Santa Fe, the Zócalo serves as a central hub for Mexico City, but it has done so for hundreds of years. As early at the 1400s, it served as the ceremonial hub of the Aztec city, Tenochtitlan, and the fact that it is located so close to the Templo Mayor is no coincidence. After the Spanish conquest of the city in the 1500s, the modern plaza of Mexico City was laid out which would soon see buildings like the Cathedral of Mexico City dominate the space.
Over the next few centuries, different leaders erected a variety of monuments and buildings across the Zócalo. Most of them were removed or built over to clear the space for everything from markets to benches. One of the seminal moments for the Zócalo occurred in 1813 with the dismantling and removal of the equestrian monument to Charles IV that had been erected in the space. This event also resulted in the renaming of the square as the “Plaza of the Constitution.”
In 1843, President Santa Anna made plans to build a monument to Mexican Independence in the center of the Plaza. Only the base, or zócalo, was built, which gave the square its informal name. The base was eventually built over while the space was filled with market stalls along with new footpaths, grassy areas, and garden space. Rather than a specific landmark, the most distinctive feature of the space would eventually become the flagpole with the enormous Mexican flag that is ceremoniously raised and lowered each day.
In the 20th century, the Zócalo became a key meeting place for protests and other events that attract residents and visitors from across the area. This popularity has had a profound impact on the culture and economy of the city.
From the “Day of the Dead” to Races to Ice Rinks
A walk around the Zócalo exposes visitors to the history of the area and nation but has also created incredible revenue opportunities that businesses of all types have developed. Everything from food to clothing is sold by merchants, while performances that honor the culture of the area provide entertainment to tourists. Active efforts to attract businesses and residents to the area have resulted in an economic boom that continues to grow and spread throughout the historic center of Mexico City.
This influence can be seen in terms of how the Zócalo is positioned as part of maps and tour guides. The Zócalo has become an essential stop for tours of all types, and many try to visit during festivals or concerts when the activity in the space is taken to a whole new level.
The biggest of those events is the “Day of the Dead”, which has become a major event for the entire city. There are grand ofrendas (altars honoring the dead) and stages set-up in the Zócalo as part of the Day of the Dead celebrations, but that’s not the only event that takes place in it. Activities that range from races to protests to celebrations all take place at the Zócalo, and in 2007, an artificial ice rink was even constructed at the site. These activities and events underscore the positive impact the square has had on the culture of the region.
While plans to build a monument to Mexican Independence in the center of the plaza were obviously never realized, the Zócalo has nonetheless created an even more powerful legacy that residents and visitors can experience in numerous ways.
Transforming a Space into a Monument
The influence of the Zócalo on Mexico City can be seen in everything from maps to events to naming conventions, all of which have helped to provide residents with a sense of identity as well as an attraction for tourists. This combination has seen the creation of a legacy that illustrates what’s possible when a space transforms itself into a monument.
