The Cartagena Car Square It is located in the historic center of the heroic city, this popular square is the anteroom of the walled center, for this reason it is one of the busiest in the city.
History of the Plaza de los Coches
The first name by which this place was known was Judge's Square, since in one of the corners is the house where the judge lived Francis of Santa Cruz the one who would take the oath of office to the new governor Don Juan de Badillo, who would replace Pedro de Heredia, founder of the city; later I take the name of Slave Square, because it was designated for the purchase and sale of slaves, let us remember that Cartagena de Indias was the main slave port for selling slaves in America; then I take the name of Merchants Square, because where the candy portal, a large number of merchants settled; then she was called grass plaza since in a building located in the place weed was sold for the animals; then I take the name of car square because cars were allowed to park in front of the candy portal, it was later renamed as equator square in 1519 to pay tribute to the border treaty between Colombia and Ecuador, the latter is its official name to date; but out of old Cartagena custom the citizens have continued to call it the car square; Other names it has had are: Plaza del Rollo, Plaza de las Negras and Plaza del Reloj.
(Also know the History of the Plaza de San Pedro Claver in Cartagena)
In the past, this place was located “Public Pillory”, where the prisoners were exhibited to make them suffer public shame; There is also a sculpture of the founder of the city Pedro de Heredia, a sculpture made by the Spanish sculptor Juan de Ávalos, it is the largest sculpture in the city and is made of polished granite; After several sketches made by the artist, it was finally decided to sculpt him with the posture of an ancient Roman magistrate, to separate him from his image as a conqueror, since Pedro de Heredia was known as one of the bloodiest conquerors of colonization, remembered for burning people alive. to the indigenous people.
Where is the Plaza de los Coches located?
The plaza is located in the cra. 7 of the walled center, behind the clock tower.
The Clock Tower becomes a portal to the past and reveals when passing through its doors a time of yesteryear of a unique city, the arches of the colonial and republican buildings contrast creating an urban landscape of the past, in the middle of the square a A man with the poses of an emperor stands with a bad face, revealing his era as a villain, and between the smiles of palenqueras and the smell of sweets escaping from the portal, a new world is revealed.
About the Sculptor Juan de Ávalos
Juan de Avalos y Taborda was a Spanish sculptor, born in the city of Mérida. His sculpture is one of the most representative of contemporary Spanish art.
