Located in the heart of the Chilean capital, the square was established in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia as a military training camp and strategic center for the expansion of the conquest.
The most important buildings of the time were built around it, including the first cathedral of Santiago and the residence of the governors, which today is the main seat of the Central Post Office.
The Royal Audience Palace, where the National Historical Museum is now located, was also built the City Hall, the current seat of the Municipality of Santiago.
Over the years, the square has been transformed into a shopping center, because trolleys with goods used to get there. It was a meeting point for horse-drawn carriages and later for electric trams.
In the second half of the 19th century, modernization began and it became a European-style park, with fountains and gardens where cedars, araucarias, cebuses, holme oaks, and palm trees were planted.
Among his works, the American Freedom Memorial, by Italian artist Francisco Orsolino, stands out, which represents the figure of a woman breaking the chains of slavery.
In addition, there is the sculpture dedicated to indigenous peoples, by Enrique Villalobos, which was inaugurated in 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the so-called “discovery of America”.
The equestrian statue of Pedro de Valdivia with the work of the Santiago Foundation and the statue of Cardinal José María Caro in the front of the cathedral are also important landmarks.
Today, the Plaza de Armas is one of the busiest places in the city, both by Chileans and by people from different parts of the world who come to stroll, be caricatured by cartoonists who have their permanent stands there, take pictures with old cameras and even play Chess game.
(taken from orb)
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