Democracy Square (Spanish: Plaza de la Democracia) is a road junction and public space in barrio Tres Cruces of Montevideo, Uruguay.[1]
| Democracy Square | |
|---|---|
 Monument to the flag located in the center of the square in 2013 | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| Coordinates | 51°30′36″N 0°8′4″W / 51.51000°N 0.13444°W |
| Roads at junction | Italy Avenue, Artigas Boulevard and 8 de Octubre Avenue |
| Construction | |
| Type | Road junction and square |
| Opened | 1978 |
The square connects Italy Avenue, Artigas Boulevard and 8 de Octubre Avenue, which are three of the most important thoroughfares in the city, due to the large amount of traffic they receive as they are different entrance routes to the central business district.[2] Democracy Square, also known as Plaza de la Bandera (Spanish for 'Flag Square') due to the flagpole in its center, constitutes a busy meeting place because it is located across the Tres Cruces bus station and mall, the main bus terminal in the country.[3]
History
editThe square was inaugurated on December 15, 1978 by the civic-military regime, and was called Plaza de la Nacionalidad Oriental (Spanish for 'Oriental Nationality Square'), and a flagpole with national flag was built on it.[4] However, the underground tunnel located under the space, connecting 18 de Julio and 8 de Octubre avenues, had been inaugurated on July 18, 1961.[5]
In 1985, with the end of the dictatorship, the name of the space was changed to its current.[6]
Redevelopment
editIn 2011, a competition for proposals was launched in order to redevelop the square; the judges of the competition were the architects Marcelo Danza, Francisco Fernández and Carlos López Quagliata.[7] The one-year redevelopment works covered an area of 11,800 square meters, including the flag monument, paved spaces and green areas. The work involved the creation of a circular amphitheater −alluding to the Assembly of 1813 known as the "Congress of Tres Cruces"− with stands, the installation of a water fountain and a children's playground. In addition to a space for markets or exhibitions.[8]
The funds for the redevelopment were contributed by Gralado S.A. (concessionaire of the Terminal and Shopping Tres Cruces) in an agreement whereby the shopping center used the square as a parking lot during its expansion.[9] The inauguration took place on October 2, 2014.[10]
Monuments
edit
In addition to the flagpole with the flag, different monuments are located on the square. A sandblasted gray granite replica of the Capitoline Wolf was installed in December 1938.[11] On May 18, 1943, a statue of Joaquín "Ansina" Lenzina made by José Belloni on a hammered gray granite base was inaugurated.[12] However, it was transferred to Barrio Sur in 2020.[13]
In 2017, a monument was inaugurated in homage to the victims of the civic-military dictatorship.[14] The sculpture was a bronze representation of two kneeling people, hooded and with their hands tied behind their backs, and was created by the sculptor Rubens Fernández Tudurí in 1986.[15]
Events
editThe space has been used for different events, tributes, demonstrations and political rallies. Among the events are the homage to the "fallen in defense of democratic institutions" in their fight against the Tupamaros guerrillas,[16] and the campaign closing ceremony for the referendum on the law of urgent consideration of the Multicolor Coalition.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Plaza Democracia | Montevideo accesible". 2022-06-07. Archived from the original on 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "IM ensanchará avenidas ante saturación de vehículos - El Diario - Ciudad". 2020-05-29. Archived from the original on 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Más de 300 mil personas pasarán por la terminal Tres Cruces en las fiestas - 970 Universal". 2022-12-23. Archived from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Resolución N° 2564/978". www.impo.com.uy. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). 2013-09-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-14. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Plaza de la Democracia inaugurada | Municipio CH". municipioch.montevideo.gub.uy. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Plaza de la Democracia | Patio | Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Urbanismo | Udelar". 2018-03-14. Archived from the original on 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Inauguran remodelación de plaza de la Democracia | Intendencia de Montevideo". 2018-03-14. Archived from the original on 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Reinauguran plaza de la Democracia o de la Bandera con una inversión de $ 42,5 millones". LARED21 (in Spanish). 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Se reinauguró la plaza de la Democracia". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Monumento La Loba Capitolina | Municipio B". 2020-10-04. Archived from the original on 2020-10-04. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Ansina | Intendencia de Montevideo". 2018-06-17. Archived from the original on 2018-06-17. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "MONUMENTO A ANSINA | Municipio B". 2022-08-26. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Inauguran monumento en honor a los desaparecidos en última dictadura uruguaya". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Fue inaugurado el monumento Nunca Más". Intendencia de Montevideo. (in Spanish). 2017-06-27. Archived from the original on 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Piden retomar el acto oficial en homenaje a los caídos en defensa de las instituciones". EL PAIS. 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Coalición realizó acto de cierre de la campaña por el "NO" en Montevideo". EL PAIS. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-12-28.