Vasco de Quiroga Square (The Big Square)

The only colonial Plaza Mayor without a temple on its sides

Vasco de Quiroga Square, affectionately known as the Plaza Grande, is one of the largest and most impressive colonial plazas in the Americas. Surrounded by the elegant viceregal architecture of its arcades and beautiful mansions, it is the social and cultural center of Pátzcuaro.

The Enigma of the Plaza Without a Temple What makes this plaza unique in the context of New Spain is its unusual design: there is no religious temple in its immediate vicinity. This singularity is due to a deep respect for the original pre-Hispanic layout of the population. The lower, flat area of ​​the center was used for commerce and housing. The ritual and ceremonial sites, on the other hand, were located on the nearby hills, which is precisely where the great Christian temples were later built (such as the Basilica and the Ex-Convent of San Agustín) respecting the original Purépecha design.

Architecture and Tribute The plaza is a perfect quadrilateral, flanked by key historic buildings, including the Municipal Palace (the former Tobacco Customs House) and the House of Shields.

• Fountains and Focal Point: The space features several fountains, with the central one serving as the focal point. It houses a bronze statue of the illustrious figure for whom the space is named: Don Vasco de Quiroga, a humanist and the first bishop of Michoacán, whose legacy remains alive in the region.

• Atmosphere: The Plaza is the best place to observe the daily life of Pátzcuaro, the understated elegance of the architecture, and the larger-scale civic and cultural events that take place there.