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Plaza de Santo Domingo

The Plaza de Santo Domingo is one of the first “other” plazas in the City Center that international visitors will encounter after the Zócalo itself. It’s much smaller, but gives a good idea of the colonial capital city, if not of the ancient city that preceded it.

In fact, the plaza is the legendary home of Cuauhtémoc who became the last Aztec Emperor in 1520. It was quickly passed on to the Dominicans who would rule the area for most of the colonial period. And the plaza itself can certainly be understood, as it’s dominated by the Santo Domingo Temple to the north, as a traditional atrium. The open space in front of the church was used for evangelization and other conversion efforts on the northern edge of the Vice Regal Capital.

To the west, the Portal de Santo Domingo has parts that date back to the 17th century. To the east, the Old Aduanas building is today part of the SEP Museum with spectacular murals inside.

The smaller plaza to the immediate north, and directly in front of the Temple is today named Plaza 23 de mayo. Students Day, it’s when the 1929 student movement that led to the autonomy of Mexican universities is commemorated. There’s more on that movement in the UNAM Palace of Autonomy just off the Zócalo.

The 1890 sculpture of Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez is by the Italian sculptor, Enrique Alciati. He’s best known in Mexico City for having created the Angel of Independence, although he’s also the creator of numerous other monuments along the sides of the Paseo de la Reforma.

The Plaza de Santo Domingo is just the center of an otherwise imminently walkable historical neighborhood. International visitor arrive via the Metro or simply by walking from the northwest corner of the Zocalo

Heart of México Walking Route: Santo Domingo - Santa Catarina

History is confused with legend when describing this space. The plaza is presumed to have been the garden area of the Cuauhtémoc Palace long rumored to have treasure hidden in its ponds. With the passage of time, the space was preserved as a public area and served the frontier convent of Santo Domingo and the Court of the Inquisition. That made it the scene of the Autos de Fe, sad public ceremonies at which those convicted by the Inquisition were sentenced and executed. During the ceremonies held upon the arrival of new Viceroys, the colonial capital erected two triumphal arches. One was erected in the Plaza del Empedradillo, next to the Cathedral. Another stood here at the Plaza de Santo Domingo. The square was always the site of great transit, lined on one side by the Real Aduana del Virreinato (The Royal Customs House). The Plaza was also a point for the renting of carriages. Today the plaza and the surrounding buildings represent an architectural ensemble. In the center is a fountain with the statue of Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, a heroine of the independence movement. The sculpture is the work of the Italian, Enrique Alciati. It was placed here in 1890.