Plaza

Plaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be incorporated in a wing of a governor's palace, and the audiencia or law court. The plaza might be large enough to serve as a military parade ground. At times of crisis or fiesta, it was the space where a large crowd might gather. Like the Italian piazza, the plaza remains a center of community life that is only equalled by the market-place.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Public space - City square - Cathedral - Cabildo - Palace - Fiesta - Piazza

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Most colonial cities in Spanish America were planned around a square plaza de armas, where troops could be mustered, as the name implies, surrounded by the governor's palace and the main church.

Related Topics:
Spanish America - Plaza de armas

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A plaza de toros is a bullfighting arena.

Related Topics:
Bullfighting - Arena

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The Italian cognate is Piazza, the French cognate Place.

Related Topics:
Cognate - Place

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