Welcome to Plaza Nueva-though you might overhear some locals still calling it "Plaza del Acuario." Picture yourself here in the early 1800s. Imagine the quiet rustle of leaves in the old Huerto de los Franciscanos, the Franciscan’s orchard, that once stood here. Suddenly, the area buzzed with life when residents from the Arrabal de San Antón neighborhood had to move in after their homes were destroyed during the War of Independence. In the mid-19th century, as the old neighborhood was rebuilt, the plaza got a new name-Hernán Cortés. Don’t be surprised if you see a “hogueras” monument still carrying that name around festival time. Fast forward to the 1980s, and the city shook things up with a controversial metal porch and waved goodbye to two rows of palm trees. The name “Plaza Nueva” stuck as a nod to the neighborhood’s modern vibe. And in 1996, the plaza’s layout changed again to the one you see now. Recent renovations have even removed the famous aquarium to create space for more walkers, meaning you can stroll freely now-just watch out for imaginary fish crossing!
Stop 14 of 18
