Plaza de Santo Domingo

This is the second most important colonial square after the 'Zocalo'. The old plaza was twice officially renamed in the 20th century: first as the Corregidora's Garden (in honour of Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, an independence patriot), then as the May 23 Plaza (in commemoration of the National University's autonomy, won in 1929).

However, for the public the name has always been simply 'Santo Domingo Plaza'. It is one Mexico City's loveliest public squares, partly because it is surrounded by a number of buildings having great architectural and historical significance.

The Santo Domingo Convent, the Palace of the Inquisition, the old Customs House and the Evangelist Arcade were all nerve centres in Mexico's spiritual, economic and social life in colonial times. In addition, the Plaza is all the more significant because all buildings around it date from the same period, making it one of the capital's most homogeneous squares.