Green Space in Centro
While Centro hosts many buildings important to the City's architectural, political and social history, it has few trees or open green space. The huge space of the Zócalo, although once planted with trees, like a typical Hispanic plaza, is now a bare stage for public events and expositions. One does not go there to relax in the shade.
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| Zócalo in the 1930's Looking south from Cathedral to Avenida 20 de Noviembre. Photo displayed in entrance to Zócalo Metro Station. |
Alameda Central: From a Spanish Park to a French One
While there are a number of small plazas and hidden, plant-filled patios in Centro (which we will get to later), the major exception to Centro's general lack of green space is the Alameda Central, which is one of the most pleasant places in the City to take a paseo, a stroll. Completely renovated in 2012, with marble walkways and restored fountains and plantings, it is at its most beautiful in March and April when the many jacaranda (hah-cah-RAHN-dah) trees are covered with their lilac blooms.
Created in 1592 at the direction of Viceroy Luis de Velasco, it was modeled after similar parks in Spanish cities. The name comes from the Spanish word álamo, which means poplar tree, some of which were planted here. The park was part of the viceroy's plan to develop what was, at that time, the western edge of the city, whose boundary then was what is today the Eje Central, Main Axis (north-south, one-way avenue, to the Alameda's east). Notably, the Alameda Central is the oldest urban park in the Americas.
What is now the western section of the park was originally a plaza built during the Inquisition and known as El Quemadero, The Burning Place. By the 1760s, the Inquisition had virtually come to an end and in 1770, Viceroy Marqués de Croix had that plaza torn up to expand the park. The park was expanded again in 1791 by the Count of Revillagigedo (Reh-veeyah-hee-HEH-doh.), who undertook a major renovation of the cityscape.
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| Alameda Central Bellas Artes is lower right. Viewed from the Torre Latinoamericana |
In preparation for the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of the War for Mexican Independence (1810-1821) Porfirio Díaz (dictator, 1876-1911) had the park renovated in the French Neo-classic style, adding fountains of Greek gods and figures in 19th century Romantic style by the Mexican sculptor, Jesús Fructuoso Contreras, who also designed statues for the Paseo de la Reforma. In 2012, the park was completely renovated to restore its 19th century gracia, gracefulness.
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View of Palacio de Bellas Artes
from the Alameda |
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| Mercury |
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| Neptune |
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| What else are fountains for? |
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| Agapanthus |
So, if you want to stroll through a 19th century Parisian-style park where flowers bloom year round, come to the Alameda Central.
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